The primary function of a non-profit should be to fulfill its goal, not worry about IT. Learn how non-profits can use managed services to maximize operational efficiency while minimizing IT expenditures.
It seems like a contradiction in terms that non-profits are supposed to make profits, but that’s the way things work in the non-profit world. Since your number one priority is to provide the support needed to achieve your worthwhile goal, you need to raise as much money as possible to plow back into your cause – whether that is providing a needed service, conducting research, or spreading the word. But the big irony is that raising money costs money. Potential donors want to know that the majority of their donations will go towards doing good, so you want to keep your administrative expenses as low as possible. That’s easy enough when you’re just a one or two people operation, but it gets tougher as your organization grows.
Many non-profits find that technology expenses eat up a huge portion of their budget. This requires staffing, software, and hardware just to start out. Then you’ve got to worry about keeping up-to-date and maintaining online security. IT management can become a real money pit, draining funds away from your stated purpose. Considering all the out-of-pocket costs involved in managing technology, you might be asking yourself whether it is really possible for a non-profit to manage to make profits.
The great news is that the answer is yes, with something called managed services. At Nachman Networks, we provide managed IT services that help non-profits in Washington DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland manage the technical end of your business, while you concentrate on achieving your non-profit goals. Here’s how it works:
If you are managing your own IT needs, you are responsible for choosing software, worrying about security, and managing the day-to-day functionality. If something goes wrong, you might need to bring in an IT expert at an added cost to fix the problem. On the other hand, managed services can be used to eliminate as much of the internal IT management needs as desired.
As the name implies, managed services are services that are managed by an outside company. In this case, a Managed Services Provider, or MSP, is contracted to manage the information technology needs of the non-profit organization. The MSP provides a defined set of services based on its contract with the non-profit. The contract could cover individual services, or the entire IT gamut, depending on the needs of the organization. Examples of managed services for non-profits might include:
The main benefit of using managed services for a non-profit is the lower administrative costs. With an MSP, your organization does not need to purchase, maintain and upgrade the necessary hardware and software to operate efficiently. You don’t need to have a team of computer pros on hand and don’t have to spend your time worrying about your IT needs. Simply meet with your provider, communicate your needs, agree on a plan of action, and then concentrate on what you do best – providing a valuable service to your constituents. While you’re running the organization, the MSP is providing:
Find out how managed services can make a difference for your non-profit organization.
Contact Nachman Networks today at (703) 600-3301 or sales@nachnet.com and ask us how your non-profit can manage to make more profits with managed services.