Non-Profits and Technology Usage Survey
Preliminary Results

In order to learn more about the information technology usage and needs of non-profit organizations, the City of Seattle Department of Information Technology, in conjunction with King County's Community Services Division and NPower, distributed a survey to approximately 700 organizations. As a part of the City's Information Technology Indicators Project, this survey was designed to guide the City, the County, and other funders in offering technology assistance to non-profits. The preliminary results of the survey are presented here.

Methodology

King County mailed their surveys to human service providers in King County who are funded by King County Community Services Division, United Way, and the City of Seattle Human Services Department. The City of Seattle Department of Information Technology sent a shortened version of King County's survey to a list of Seattle area non-profits compiled by NPower. Whenever possible, the Department of Information Technology e-mailed surveys using the survey tool "zoomerang.com." Those organizations with no e-mail contact were sent a survey by mail. One reminder follow-up was sent via to those organizations that were contacted via e-mail, but no other follow-up was done. Organizations were given one month to reply, returning the surveys no later than March 1, 2001. The overall response rate was 35%.

Demographics

Size of Organizations

There were 238 non-profits with offices in Seattle who responded to the survey. These organizations range in size from 0 to 2500 employees. The average number of staff at these organizations is 53 and the median is 10. Because of the range of sizes, the median may be a better indication of the size of the responding organizations.

Size of Organizations by Number of Staff

Operating Budget

In many cases, the size of an agency's annual operating budget is a better measure of size than is the number of staff. Of the 238 Seattle organizations that responded to the survey, only 169 reported their annual operating budget. The graph below shows the spread of organizations, based on their reported budget.

Size of Organizations by Annual Operating Budget

Size of Annual Technology Budgets

Technology Budgets range in size from $0 per year to $50 Million per year. The 208 organizations that answered this question have a combined technology budget of 58 Million dollars. However, when you remove the one organization that reported a $50 Million technology budget, the other 207 organizations have combined technology budgets of about 8 Million dollars. The mean amount spent by these organizations is approximately $38,900. Considering the spread of budgets, a better measurement of technology budgets for the responding organizations may be the median. The median reported by the 207 organizations is $5000 a year.

* Many organizations reported their technology budget as a range. For the purposes of this graph, the lowest number in the range was chosen.

Technology Planning and Support

Only two out of five (40%) of organizations said that their agency has a technology plan.

Just over three-quarters of the organizations (78%) say that they have reliable access to technology support. A sampling of 139 of the organizations that state they have reliable access to technology support were asked for more information about this support. Almost 2 out of 5 (38%) organizations who report having adequate access to technology support use a paid consultant. Just other one-third (29%) use a volunteer.

Agency's Access to Tech Support
(Base: Sampling of Agencies with Access to Technology Support)

Access to Computers and the Internet

Almost all (97%) of organizations report having at least one computer in their office. When asked about their agency's use of computer technology, more than 4 out of 5 organizations (82%) state that their use is extensive, meaning that computers play an "indispensable role in programs and administration."

Use of Computer Technology

Almost all organizations surveyed have Internet access (96%), and eight-six percent provide e-mail addresses for their staff. More than four out of five (82%) of organizations have a web page. Almost three-quarters (72%) have a Local Area Network in their office.

Information Technology Access

Quality of Information Technology

One-third (33%) of the organizations surveyed say that they do not have enough computers for all staff who need them. More than a third (37%), say that the computers that they do have are not adequate for the tasks that staff need to perform.

Fewer than three-quarters (72%) of organizations say that all staff who need to access the Internet and e-mail are able to do so. Even fewer (65%) say that their Internet and e-mail systems are adequate. Only 58% of respondents said that their current networking situation was sufficient for their needs.

Quality of Information Technology

Technology Assistance

Respondents were asked to identify what sort of training or assistance would help them use technology more effectively. This was an open-ended question, so results varied greatly between organizations. The most regularly seen responses were basic training for staff in software and hardware (35%), and the need for increased technology support and troubleshooting (24%). Other common responses included inexpensive access to updated equipment and software (20%), assistance with web page design and hosting (12%), and assistance with database design and use (11%).

Requested Assistance

Additional Comments

The results presented here are only based on preliminary analysis, and there is a need to perform further analysis on this data in order to draw better conclusions about how to best respond to organizations' technology needs. However, these results do show some important gaps in technology planning and training for non-profit organizations.

Although almost all organizations (82%) said that their use of information technology is "extensive" and indispensable to their program operations and management, only 40% of organizations have a technology plan in place. Many organizations reported their technology budgets as estimates or ranges, which may indicate a lack of tracking or varied definitions of what the technology budget includes.

Organizations prioritize technology as being essential to their work, and yet they are not finding the funding to maintain their infrastructure and update their equipment and skills. Many organizations commented that the consultant or volunteer that they use for their technology support is essential, but very expensive or not available to solve the day-to-day problems that their staff face. Troubleshooting and a lack of staff training remain major needs for many organizations.

Indicator Index