FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 16, 2006

CONTACT: Katrin Verclas (413) 687 9877 or katrin (at) nten (dot) org

New Study Finds Growing Tech Divide between Large and Small Nonprofits

San Francisco, CA and Amherst, MA — Nonprofits are experiencing a growing digital divide with small organizations spending significantly less on technology infrastructure than larger organizations, finds a study released this week.

The study is the first of its kind to look at IT salaries, investments, sophistication, and satisfaction in nonprofit organizations. In addition to a growing technology gap in the sector, the study shows that nonprofits of all sizes say they do not have enough technology staff. More than 1,000 nonprofits participated in the study.

"Technology is and should be an absolutely critical dimension of the work of every nonprofit organization," says Katrin Verclas, executive director of NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network and a co-author of the study. "Nonprofits must invest in their technology and IT staffing, and donors and funders must support it. The work of nonprofits has never been more important than today. Nonprofits need adequate staff and IT investments to be online, to communicate with their constituents, to handle data efficiently and securely, and to deliver vital services and programs. This study helps nonprofits identify critical key metrics to evaluate how they compare in their IT investments."

Some key findings:
> Large nonprofits and early technology adopters invest significantly more in IT. Non-tech savvy nonprofits have a median IT budget of $667 per employee, compared to $2,500 for their more high-tech counterparts.

> Smaller organizations are significantly behind on IT investment and adoption. 41% of small organizations reported no salary expenses related to technology, and an astonishing 20% reported an IT budget of zero.

> On average nonprofits have one staff member with some IT responsibility for every five organizational staff members but salaries for IT staff vary widely between smaller and larger organizations.

> More than 50% of nonprofit organizations feel they are understaffed in their IT areas.

> More than 95% of nonprofits routinely outsource specific IT functions.

The study analyzes data on nonprofit IT salaries for different job functions, IT budgets and expenditures, satisfaction in IT staffing, and level and areas of IT outsourcing in more than 1,000 U.S. nonprofits. The study is available online at www.nten.org/research/itstaffing [0].

About NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network - www.nten.org

NTEN aspires to a world where all nonprofit organizations skillfully and confidently use technology to meet community needs. NTEN is the membership organization of nonprofit technology and program staff and technology providers.

NTEN facilitates the exchange of technology knowledge and information within the nonprofit community. NTEN provides social networking and professional development opportunities, discounts on products and services, and research, advocacy, and education on technology issues affecting the nonprofit sector.