There’s never been a more critical time for nonprofits to invest in cloud technology. The concerns that keep NPO leaders up at night — cybersecurity threats, funding shortfalls, efficiency pressures, and maximizing impact — can all be addressed by implementing technology that has a proven track record of success in the private sector.
As vice president of SaaS Ops at Bonterra, I’m speaking from experience. In 2024, Bonterra migrated seven of our products in our partnership with AWS cloud, and we’ve already seen efficiencies and benefits as a result. We were able to complete our migration in a third of the time it typically takes, and now have the expertise to help our customers do the same. If your organization is thinking about investing in cloud technology, here are the reasons to do so today.
Why you need cloud now more than ever
1. It’s cost-efficient.
Buying cloud technology is like renting versus buying a house. Subscription-based cloud models reduce the up-front investments in hardware and staffing. This makes costs predictable, and clients only pay for what they use.
A modernized tech stack is top of mind for every for-profit business looking to innovate. It should be no different for social good organizations and nonprofits. While I know resources can be short, an investment in cloud technology will provide heightened efficiency, security, and the ability to grow your impact.
Renata Kowalczyk is the CEO of Wilmington Alliance. Using Bonterra Case Management software enabled by cloud technology, Renata’s team built a dashboard that keeps their network up to date on their quantitative impact. She says that cloud technology is worth the investment for any nonprofit. “Think of it as: You cannot afford not to do that, and you don’t have to start big. You can start small, building up. If you care about the community you serve, you owe it to them to be more organized, more on point, more ready,” she says.
2. Serve your community from anywhere.
Remote work provides inclusivity and accessibility to your nonprofit staff. But it requires team members to have secure access to information. Cloud makes this possible by providing one centralized data hub, complete with participant and donor information, policies and procedures, and everything you need to report impact from across the organization. This capability also proves vital for nonprofits with multiple locations.
Arab American Family Support Center serves the immigrant community with 10 locations in New York City and surrounding areas. It’s imperative that their data accessibility be seamless regardless of which office they are working from. Quality Assurance Specialist Omar Ebid says that cloud technology has reduced inefficiency and improved communications. “One program may be based in Queens or in the Bronx, and being able to have that centralized database will help us find the client in the system and not create a duplicate profile so that we have up-to-date information for our funders,” says Omar.
3. Infrastructure is secure and resilient.
The cost of employing full-time security personnel is prohibitive for many nonprofit organizations. With a cloud platform, customers share the cost of robust security protocols and expert teams. For example, AWS employs tens of thousands of engineers worldwide, which gives customers an incredible knowledge base to draw from. Data is secured by industry-leading software and backed up in different locations, so if one area goes offline, it’s still accessible.
Take this example: During the LA wildfires, over 10% of nonprofits in L.A. County were in zip codes that were burned or under evacuation orders. Those who were operating on manual or on-prem data management faced technical setbacks when their communities needed them most. Migration to cloud would have enabled those nonprofit teams to have continued access, no matter where they were relocated during evacuation.
It’s not just natural disasters to consider — power outages, cyberthreats, staff changes, and tech upgrades can also take an organization temporarily offline. With cloud, organizations can be more resilient and maintain seamless operations despite setbacks.
4. Quickly scale up — or down — depending on your needs.
For those who use in-house servers, outgrowing infrastructure will trigger investments in time and money. Cloud platforms offer flexible computing options, so in times of greater demand, customers scale up. This will be crucial to organizations like Arab American Family Support Center, whose community will be greatly impacted by recent changes in immigration policy.
“I’ve been here for almost six years, and every year presents a unique challenge, but there has been no greater challenge than the one that we’re facing right now,” says Senior Director of Implementation and Strategy Maia Dillane. “We’re seeing policy changes every single day that have an impact on the communities that we serve and that we need to adapt to.” Cloud enables organizations to be agile and meet the growing or reducing needs of their communities faster and with more efficiency.
5. You’ll be prepared for future tech innovations.
Depending on the size of your organization, it can take months to migrate operations to a cloud platform. As new applications roll out, organizations that are cloud-enabled will be able to quickly take advantage of enhanced data gathering, reporting and fundraising applications.
The “network effect” of working with AWS and Bonterra means customers gain fast access to cutting-edge solutions and expertise. We spent time mapping out each product to AWS systems, so that once we were ready to execute, it went very quickly. We pass these learnings on to our customers. The more you can integrate the tools you have available and templatize your processes, the more quickly you’ll be fully utilizing your tech stack and maximizing impact. This reduces time and friction for your staff and increases impact on the people you serve.
Bonterra’s mission is to increase giving in the U.S. to 3% of GDP by ‘33. Efficiencies like those gained with cloud technology will help us get there. The investment in time and resources has never been more worth your while, and the communities you serve only stand to benefit.
