Most nonprofits do not have an IT department. They have a program director who is good with computers, a board member who set up the email years ago and a donor database that the whole mission depends on. It works, until someone leaves, a laptop disappears or an email account is taken over and starts asking donors for gift cards. Practical IT support for nonprofits starts with those problems.
Zippie IT is a veteran-owned company in Meridian, Idaho. We provide IT support for nonprofits, associations and charter schools across the Treasure Valley, and we keep the advice at the level a board and an executive director can use.
Where does the money go?
Budgets are tight, so the first questions are about cost. A few things to know:
- Software discounts exist. Microsoft and Google both run programs for eligible nonprofits, and TechSoup resells donated and discounted software. Eligibility and terms change, so confirm them with the vendor before you plan around them.
- The license is the smaller part of the cost. The bigger risk is how the system is set up: who has admin rights, whether sign-in is protected, whether email is backed up and who can see donor records.
- A fixed monthly fee is easier to put in a budget than surprise invoices. We quote it that way.
We help you choose between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace based on how your team works, then set it up properly. See our page on Microsoft 365 support.
Who has the keys?
Volunteers, interns, board members and part-time staff come and go, and each one may know a password to something. Shared logins for the donor database, the website and the social media accounts are common. We replace those with individual accounts and a short list of who has access to what, so removing someone takes minutes. We also make sure at least two trusted people can recover each critical account, and that none of them depends on a single person’s personal email.
What if the donor database is lost or locked?
Ransomware does not skip charities. If the database, the grant files and the financial records are gone, so is your ability to report to funders and thank donors. We set up backups that are kept separate from your main systems, test restoring them and write down who does what in the first hour of a problem. A one-page plan is better than none.
What funders and insurers ask
Foundations, government grants and insurance carriers have started asking about cybersecurity in applications and renewals. If your programs touch health information, HIPAA may apply. If donors give by card, PCI rules apply to how you take payments. Our compliance consulting and cyber insurance readiness services help you answer those questions truthfully and fix what they uncover.
IT support for nonprofits with a small team
Some organizations want us to handle everything. Others have a capable volunteer or part-time staffer and want a backup for the hard problems. Our managed IT services and co-managed IT services cover both. We explain things in plain language and we leave good notes, so the next person who takes over is not starting from zero.
Get started
For IT support for nonprofits that fits a board’s budget, begin with a free network and security review. We go through your accounts, devices and backups and tell you in plain terms, in writing, what to fix first. There is no obligation. To talk it through, contact us or call (208) 810-1795.
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Frequently asked questions
What does IT support for nonprofits include?
Help for staff and volunteers, setup and security for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, backups for the donor database and a short written plan, for a fixed monthly fee a board can approve.
Do nonprofits get discounts on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace?
Both companies offer programs for eligible nonprofits. Terms change, so check eligibility with the vendor. We can help you apply and then set the system up securely.
We rely on volunteers for IT. Can you work with them?
Yes. We can be the backup for the problems that are hard to solve, document what is in place and help volunteers follow a safe routine.
What does it usually cost?
It depends on the number of people and what you need. We quote a fixed monthly fee for ongoing support, and the first review is free.
Is a charity a real target for cybercriminals?
Yes. Criminals look for organizations with money flowing and weak protection. Fake invoices, account takeovers and donor scams all hit nonprofits.
Can you help with grant security questions?
Yes. We help you answer questionnaires accurately and fix any gaps they expose.