Critical factors in the adoption and effective use of technology in the nonprofit sector

This thesis seeks to determine the critical factors that influence the adoption and effective use of technologies within the nonprofit sector. The analysis places a particular emphasis on the role of funders who finance technology adoption and intermediaries who play the role of catalysts, enablers, and educators in the implementation of and subsequent innovation with technology. Through reviewing the limited academic literature, surveying industry leaders, and performing cross-organizational and cross-regional comparisons, the thesis details policy recommendations for building ecosystems that can help create tech-savvy nonprofits. These critical success factors include a supportive community of foundations, significant diversity of nonprofit and for profit intermediaries, and involvement of senior leadership of nonprofit organizations. While intermediaries play the linchpin role in the networked system, policy recommendations are provided that specify how all actors can contribute to the construction of ecosystems that facilitate adoption, shared learning and effective use of technology in the nonprofit sector.