In recent years, cloud computing services have become a rapidly growing market. Cloud computing offers the opportunity to maximize daily operations while providing flexibility and reducing upfront costs.

Cloud computing has become a popular trend among small to large businesses due to its ability to offer reduced expenditures on IT, flexibility and scalability, and lower costs on staffing. For this reason, many non-profits are considering a move to the cloud.

There are many situations where moving to the cloud can prove to be a smart choice. Although migrating to the cloud is not a decision to be taken lightly, if you can identify with some of the things we discuss in this article, a move to the cloud may make perfect sense for your non-profit.

Infrastructure Costs

Is your current IT budget too small to accommodate the additional infrastructure needed to access new technology and improve security? If so, a move to the cloud will significantly reduce upfront costs, and expenses associated with implementation. Instead of being required to make a large investment, you can take advantage of a simply monthly subscription fee to access the services you need.

Hardware and Software Upgrades

Is your non-profit concerned about expenses when it comes to upgrading hardware and software? A move to the cloud means that the upgrades are automatically performed by the cloud services provider while you enjoy remote access to the latest technologies and software applications. This reduces costs associated with license fees, upgrades to new software versions, and the required infrastructure maintenance.

New Objectives and Services

Is your non-profit interested in establishing new goals and objectives and offering new services to your donors and community members? In most cases, non-profits are unable to expand into new territory as the result of technology restrictions. By using cloud services, your objectives can become a reality while reducing costs and increasing productivity.

CRM

Although CRM is known as Customer Relationship Management in the business world, non-profits use CRM applications to establish ongoing relationships with colleagues, donors, and community members, as well as manage a fund raising campaigns, and much more. Is your non-profit restricted from enhancing relationships due to costs and the inability to employ IT staff in-house?

If so, a move to the cloud will empower your non-profit with the tools it needs to succeed without the high costs associated with implementation and maintenance. It will also improve productivity thanks to the many automated tools that are included in a cloud CRM management solution.

Project Management

More often than not, non-profit organizations have multiple projects going on simultaneously. When the processes are not centralized, things can get complex. A move to the cloud will provide you with access to modern tools that provide online shared workspaces and other collaboration tools which keep everyone on the same page.

Many of the collaboration features are advanced and allow project managers to set deadlines, create reminders, and set alerts, to name a few tools. The tools are easy to use and remove the common complexities out of collaboration. This makes a cloud solution a great tool for non-profits that frequently collaborate with volunteers and other organizations.

Web Conferencing

Are your non-profit volunteers and funders distributed across multiple locations? Moving to the cloud will provide you with access to web conferencing which brings everyone together, regardless of where they are located. Web conferencing is easily accessed using your web browser and an Internet connection and allows everyone to communicate online in real-time.

Depending upon the applications you use, web conferencing often includes video conferencing. You also have access to advanced tools such as automated meeting minutes and follow ups.

Non-Profit Challenges and Future Growth

Do you feel that your non-profit is expanding while your IT budget is not? A cloud solution will allow you to prepare for the future without having to worry about depleting your IT budget. Most of the services allow for flexibility and scalability, and provide you with the ability to add or subtract services as your organizational needs change. If your needs change frequently, cloud computing can alleviate the challenges associated with determining your actual requirements by helping you to optimize resources. This is easy to do within a cloud computing environment.

If you are considering whether or not your non-profit should move to the cloud, many non-profits that have already done so will tell you it is well worth it. As more organizations of all sizes continue to migrate to the cloud, sooner or later, you will likely find your non-profit making the move as well.