Not-for-profits across Australia are being asked to deliver more services with fewer resources. Rising operating costs, growing demand, and tighter funding cycles are the reality. The question is: how can we continue to serve communities effectively when the old ways of working simply don’t stretch far enough?
The answer is clear: digital readiness.
The wake-up call
The 2024 Digital Technology in the Not-for-Profit Sector Report by Infoxchange surveyed 765 NFPs across Australia and New Zealand. The findings were sobering:
- Only one third of organisations believe their IT systems work well.
- Just 22% feel confident they can measure the impact of their services.
- One in eight organisations had already experienced a cyber security incident, yet fewer than 20% have an information security policy, and only 12% provide regular staff cyber awareness training.
In an era where trust is mission-critical, these gaps represent serious risks, not only to operations, but to reputation, funding, and the communities we serve.
Why CEOs need to lead
Digital maturity isn’t just a “tech team” responsibility. It’s a leadership responsibility. Organisations with a clear digital transformation plan report higher satisfaction with technology and greater resilience under pressure.
The PwC NFP CEO Survey (2023) underscores this: 75% of NFP CEOs believe skills shortages are already impacting their organisation, and 77% say training is critical to adapting to new technology.
Put simply: if you’re not factoring digital into your organisational strategy, you’re already behind.
Doing more with less
Digital tools are not just about efficiency; they’re about unlocking capacity. The 2025 Nonprofit Technology Impact Report (Sage) found:
- 41% of organisations struggle with lack of process automation.
- 35% say reporting is time-consuming.
- Only 9% describe themselves as “highly data-driven.”
Automation and smarter systems mean staff spend less time wrestling spreadsheets and more time on frontline service delivery.
Digital equity is a mission issue
It’s not just about back-office processes. The people we serve are often those most at risk of digital exclusion. The Australian Digital Inclusion Index shows that Australians in public housing score 11.6 points lower than the national average on digital ability. Older Australians, people with low incomes, and those in remote regions also face steep digital divides.
If we as NFPs are not digitally ready ourselves, we can’t bridge those divides for others.
For CEOs, digital readiness is no longer optional, it’s a strategic priority. That means:
- Embedding digital transformation plans into your strategic agenda.
- Investing in staff training and upskilling.
- Allocating budget to cyber security and data protection.
- Using technology to measure impact and demonstrate value to funders.
As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” In 2025, digital literacy is education’s frontline — for staff, boards, and communities alike.
The NFPs that thrive will be those that see digital readiness not as a cost, but as a multiplier of impact.
Not sure where to start? Let Momentum help you. Enquire now.
