The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the Third Sector to the limit. From adopting remote working solutions to embracing different fundraising models; the sector has had to adjust to a new normal, and fast.

The Not for Profit industry is one of the biggest sectors to have been impacted by the pandemic in the UK, with revenue and charitable donations dropping by 25% in just six months. Events like the Virgin Money London Marathon, which is the world’s biggest one-day fundraising event, would have raised more than £66 million for thousands of charities if it had not been cancelled due to Covid-19.

Many Not for Profit organisations are now looking to new opportunities as a result. The London Marathon, for instance, created The 2.6 Challenge which Timico and many other organisations got behind to raise £10 million. You can watch our 2.6 challenge video below:

1. Maximising online donations

The digital landscape has become a vital part of charity activities over the last few years, with online fundraising pages like JustGiving and mobile applications making donating quick and easy.

 

 
Charities used to use high street vendors to drum up support or hold events to raise awareness of important issues. However, when the UK went into lockdown in March 2020, the streets emptied, and events were cancelled, and these avenues were no longer viable solutions for fundraising. Online resources, therefore, became the main foundation for encouraging donations and communicating.

As we move into a post-pandemic world, Timico is expecting online activities to remain a strong focus for charities. Mobile phone applications provide a smoother donating process, social media is a useful tool for engaging communities and the ability to report and see data in real-time helps optimise results. All these digital solutions will need to be supported by an advanced IT infrastructure and a secure cloud-based application, to ensure a seamless online experience.

2. Adapt to remote working models

The Not for Profit industry, like many other sectors, had to adapt to a new working from home model during lockdown. Thankfully, some organisations had already employed a remote desktop infrastructure with cloud capabilities, which enabled employees to utilise software from any location with ease, making that move to home working much easier.

 

 
Moving forward, several businesses are looking to adopt a hybrid-working model post-pandemic, which includes both home and office-based working. The right technology needs to be in place to ensure employees remain connected, productive and secure, no matter the location.

Service providers can offer a web-based cloud facility, like Microsoft 365. It is a flexible, cost-effective solution, which will remove the need for expensive on-premise equipment such as servers and routers, as well as removing the additional cost to managed and maintain those.

3. Cyber security

With remote working comes a greater security risk and charities have always been privy to cybersecurity attacks, due to the ownership of sensitive and valuable information. In fact, 26% of charities reported cyber attacks in the last 12 months.

During this challenging time, protecting your organisation from cyber-attacks has never been more pressing. GDPR has placed further emphasis on protecting public data, and it is important that charities keep the trust of its members and donators.

All aspects of data and security information needs to be proactively monitored and secured. Having a solution in place to recognise security breaches will ensure data remains intact and protected.

4. Rely on an IT managed services provider

 

 
Organisations and charities no longer have the resource, manpower or expertise to leverage their IT infrastructure to its best ability. There will always be benefits to consolidating all requirements via one IT services provider, including improved integration across teams, increased support and staff productively. It also enables charities to save money on expensive overheads, whilst taking away the cost of an in-house IT expert.

If you’d like us to take you on a digital journey, we’re ready to offer you advice, consultancy, and assistance. Reach out to us today for a free consultation.