Technovate partnership supports digital infrastructure in the non-profit sector

Ontario Trillium Foundation partners with private, public and non-profit organizations to accelerate digital transformation in the non-profit sector by addressing immediate technological needs and supporting organizations to build their digital capacity.

COVID-19 has magnified the systemic barriers and underlying challenges that have always been present. Non-profit organizations face operational and digital challenges during a time when demand for their services and programs continues to increase. Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic underscores an urgent reality: The baseline of digital preparedness at global non-profits is lower than we imagined and requires new funding and support. 

As the nation continues to recover and nonprofit organizations are shifting(ed) to online programming and rethinking delivery, a multi-sector collaborative (Technovate) has been formed to address technological and digital needs of the non-profit sector. Technovate focuses on the short-term technological requirements while also supporting organizations in the longer-term to integrate technology and develop skills to transform programs, services, and work culture equitably.
The Technovate collaborative includes the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), RBC Community Investment, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility, Community Foundations Canada, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and Canadian Internet Registration Authority.

“Technovate is about more than the adoption of technology; it is a commitment to building digital skills, capacity, and infrastructure to help unlock the knowledge, expertise, and collective strength of the social purpose sector and the communities they serve.” Doug Gore, Lead, Partnership Development, OTF.

Technovate is calling on the private, public and non-profit sectors to come together and prioritize digital development, by investing funds, skills and resources.

Digital infrastructure is not a “nice to have”, but critical for community organizations to have to fulfill their mandates and requires investment in developing digital capacity-building infrastructure. Leveraging resources and skills across sectors will enable more resilient organizations who value social, cultural, and economic recovery across communities.

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