The Digital Age of Nonprofits - looking back five years later on how the pandemic changed everything

The nonprofit world was forever changed by the pandemic. Almost overnight, organizations had to reimagine how they connected with their communities, raised funds, and delivered services. But five years on, how have they adapted to this digital era?

And So It Begins – The Shift to Digital Ops
Many nonprofits were still relying on in-person events, paper-based systems, and traditional communication methods before the pandemic. The abrupt shift to remote work forced nonprofits to have to adapt, to adopt digital tools faster than ever. Cloud-based collaboration, virtual board meetings, and the scramble to go online came with many challenges but also opened so many doors!

Virtual Fundraising Revolution
Events had to be canceled and traditional fundraising methods became impossible. Fundraising was taking a big hit, so creative solutions started to come about. There was a huge uptick in online giving, virtual galas, social media campaigns all across the board. Even small local nonprofits joined their tech savvy counterparts in this webspace. And what started as a necessity has become a pivotal part of the nonprofit sphere. As nonprofits began navigating new fundraising strategies, they also faced another challenge—bridging the digital divide.

Navigating the Digital Divide
The digital divide became evident, highlighting disparities in access for nonprofits and those they serve. There was a huge push to make sure that reliable internet was available all across the nation. To make sure that students could transition to e-learning, to still provide reliable food pantries despite pivoting to online platforms. And this was where nonprofits really shined, making sure their communities were accounted for and taken care of while the world rapidly evolved.

Adapting to the Hybrid Work Model
The pandemic also forced many nonprofits to adapt to the shifting workforce. Five years later, many continue to operate with hybrid models, balancing in-person and remote work. The shift has reshaped collaboration and workplace culture across the board. The use of integrating systems facilitates this new workplace model and allows operations to flourish. Today’s nonprofits have evolved to be more resilient, tech-savvy, and adaptable than ever before. The pandemic’s challenges forced organizations to rethink everything, and those who embraced digital transformation are now reaping the benefits. As we look to the future, the lessons learned over the past few years will continue to shape how nonprofits operate in the digital age.

From Paper to Digital: A Personal Journey in Streamlining Nonprofit Operations
During the lockdown of 2020, I was working with a higher education foundation. The need for automations and system integration was immediately highlighted as soon as staff shifted to working from home. To keep operations running smoothly, we relied on an invoice automation workflow. But before the pandemic, the process was still 100% on paper. Before, folders were delivered by courier, signed, and returned manually. Follow-ups having to be completed by phone or email. And paper checks being printed, envelopes stuffed, and delivered by snail mail.

We were already using an electronic document storage solution called PaperSave to store all of our documentation and thankfully had already begun to implement their workflow into our operations before the lockdown. With the workflow, the approvals are all gathered digitally, follow-ups can be done within the workflow, and by converting vendors to receive payments via EFT, the process could now be done remotely. Not only did it solve their immediate needs, it actually vastly improved day to day operations and is a linchpin to this day.

This project fueled my passion for helping nonprofits optimize operations through digital integration.  The implementation of their complex system integration was my baby and seeing it come to life and receive such positive feedback from both internal staff and cross-campus users made me incredibly proud.  That feeling was what prompted me to want to branch out into consulting, to help other nonprofits make this switch. My strength lies in helping these organizations tighten up their day to day so that they can go out there and make waves, improving the world every single day. 

Every nonprofit is unique and has its own needs.  My goal is to help you make the most of the systems you have in place, taking advantage of all the perks you already pay for.  And if you are looking to integrate another system to increase your efficiency even farther, I have honed my experience in helping nonprofits of every shape and size step into this new digital world.

Ready to Make the Leap?
If your nonprofit is still navigating the digital shift or ready to take the next step, I’m here to help! Let’s connect and discuss how Brazell Consulting can guide your digital journey. Don't wait to make your digital transformation. The benefits await!