Like any other industry, non-profits battle with obstacles like budgets, resources, and time. The difference for non-profits is that these obstacles get in the way of their mission to help others, which can be devastating. While non-profit technology solutions can help, it’s often too costly or complex for most to consider.

Microsoft recognized this and formed its Technology for Social Impact (TSI) group, dedicated to serving non-profits worldwide by helping them leverage technology. HSO is a Microsoft Partner that specializes in solutions for non-profits, so we began working on a strategy to support TSI’s effort to eliminate the hurdles to technology non-profits typically face. We call it Advancing Your Mission.

Advancing Your Mission aligns with the Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit, which is purpose-built for non-profit organizations and empowers them with a connected “a la carte” structure. The Advancing Your Mission approach is also a la carte, adding HSO’s core competencies to the Cloud for Nonprofit, enabling non-profits to pick and choose only the technology required to meet their specific needs when they’re ready. This allows them to address their most critical challenges first, adding new functionality as budget, circumstances, and priorities dictate and allow for. Non-profits can better manage their budget by paying only for what they need, with the ability to spread out expenditures and break up planning, implementing, and training into smaller chunks, focused on one area at a time.

HSO breaks down non-profit technology solutions like this:

Case Management. Empowering a client-first focus with a 360-degree view of clients across every program and area of a non-profit’s entire organization, connecting them with the right services, streamlining processes, and improving reporting on spending and outcomes.

Constituent Management. Keeping everyone connected by maintaining complete profiles of funders, volunteers, donors, and anyone associated with the non-profit, identifying and tracking issues, and improving communications.

Finance and Accounting. Handling finances responsibly with improved ability to manage funds, grants, and donations, set and monitor goals, and connect spending to outcomes.

Fundraising and Engagement. Securing and growing financial support by attracting, maintaining, and deepening donor relationships, improving engagement, and increasing credibility.

Supply Chain Management. Getting supplies where they need to go efficiently by making cost-effective procurement decisions, managing fluctuating costs, and optimizing resources to stretch tight budgets.

Each solution area is powered by the Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator. And all these areas are connected on a flexible platform that gives non-profits the freedom to decide on what they need when they need it while providing a foundation to easily add more when the time is right. 

BronxConnect advances its mission with strategically chosen non-profit technology solutions

HSO has been successfully working with TSI and several non-profits to advance their mission, one of which is BronxConnect.

A community and faith-based program, BronxConnect’s mission is violence prevention through alternatives to detention and incarceration. Through asset-based mentoring that connects court-involved and high-risk youth and young adults with positive local community resources, BronxConnect helps prevent recidivism and addresses youth-initiated goals in education and employment.

We were introduced to BronxConnect through LifeWorks Austin, another HSO non-profit client, and nominated them for Microsoft’s Nonprofit Tech Acceleration (NTA) for Black and African American Communities program, which increases technology support for non-profits that serve people of color and offers a range of services, depending on need. In BronxConnect’s case, the most critical need was around in-house participant and program tracking, which we addressed with a Case Management solution.

Before, staff would have to transfer hand-written case notes from a client visit in the field onto forms. This went away with the case management solution, increasing efficiency and getting all the client information in one place, making them more effective in their work with clients. As a cloud solution, it allows for secure, remote access, which is important with sensitive information. All of this adds up to improved participation and outcomes as well as outreach.

The next step: See how your non-profit can advance its mission with a non-profit technology solution

Like BronxConnect, most non-profits have small staffs, so technology can play a vital role. That’s why the TSI team and HSO have combined forces for a digital event: Advancing Your Nonprofit’s Mission: How a Connected Technology Platform Can Empower Your Organization to Do More Good. During this interactive session, solution experts from both Microsoft TSI and HSO will walk you through how your non-profit can imagine, design, and build solutions to address the areas you need to address to advance your mission. The event will feature an interview with Felicia Lemons, Director of Training and Strategic Initiatives at BronxConnect, who will speak about the digital transformation of the organization.

Advancing Your Nonprofit’s Mission: How a Connected Technology Platform Can Empower Your Organization to Do More Good

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 | 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST – 12:00 PM PST/3:00 PM EST

SAVE YOUR SEAT