By Akilah Massey, Exponent Philanthropy

We all hear stories of groups less likely to be engaged with today’s technology. Often referred to as the “digital divide,” the focus tends to be on those who lack access to reliable Internet: seniors, people living in or close to poverty, and those in extremely rural areas. But when looking at the philanthropic sector, it’s easy to see another gap.

A few years ago, the Foundation Center found that less than less than one-third of U.S. foundations had even simple websites. In early 2013, the Foundation Center again found that just 34% of the country’s largest foundations had a social media presence. As technology continues to expand and change the ways we connect, are donors keeping up?

As noted by Andrew Schulz of Foundation Source, philanthropists have a unique freedom to test and explore new ideas. This is a familiar concept to the many donors who are known innovators in their communities—funding start-up programs, investing in nonprofit leadership, or testing funding models—all to solve complex problems and meet critical needs.

But why might the philanthropic sector lag behind when it comes to making the most of online tools? Why aren’t donors exploring the limits of what is possible with technology? 

Donors have the ability and should be pushing technology forward to move their missions. By identifying useful, affordable, and practical ways to use technology to affect their mission areas, they can foster innovative uses of technology among their grantees and other funders.

That’s not to say that there aren’t many donors—including our members—using online tools and other technology to enhance their work. For some, social media is a tool to highlight grantees, elevate critical issues, or stay up-to-date on a field of interest. Others find that online workspaces or cloud computing lets them share information with geographically distant trustees. And a range of collaborative tools are helping funders to work together better.

I’d love to hear your success stories with technology. And if you’re not exploring technology as a way to bolster your philanthropy, why not?

Helpful organizations: Aspiration, Idealware, NPower, Nonprofit Tech for Good, NTEN, and TechSoup

Program Director Akilah Massey focuses her energy on planning educational programs—including the CONNECT conference and upcoming 990-PF Tax Seminar—and dedicates a portion of her time to managing Exponent Philanthropy’s resources on technology tools and networks that can help members work more efficiently and effectively.