Tech Insights

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Top IT Challenges for Nonprofit Organizations and How to Solve Them with Managed Services

June 23, 20259 min read

Summary:

  • Nonprofits often struggle to access and afford IT support because of tight budgets and a general lack of resources. This can lead to extensive, days-long downtime and expensive call-out costs.

  • Old hardware, poor data storage and access policies, and disconnected remote work tools slow everyone down. HaaS, cloud migration, wraparound IT support, automated backups, and other Managed IT services resolve these issues for good. 

  • Cybersecurity threats, compliance risks, and software conflicts are impossible for most nonprofits to manage. Managed IT comes with features like real-time threat detection, secure backups, disaster recovery, and safety training for staff—plus access to talented experts who can help.

  • Tech stacks and tools can start to fragment if they aren't carefully selected, integrated, and implemented. Managed IT includes strategy, which ensures CRMs, donation platforms, shared dashboards are neatly integrated and as interoperable as possible.

Nonprofits rarely have the luxury of staffing a full in-house IT department. Budgets are usually tight, teams are already stretched thin, and every cent that goes out has to be accounted for and justified. When problems crop up, downtime can last for days as employees scramble to fix the problem on their own.

Managed IT can help nonprofits make the most of their resources and get the help they need with more cost-effective technology. Below, we'll show you how our services address the five most common pain points and how you can find the best partner for your needs.

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1. Hardware & System Upgrades

It's hard to invest in new systems or hardware when you're working on a razor-thin budget and have to carefully justify every dollar that goes out. That's why most nonprofits usually end up using the same old, outdated infrastructure for months or years after it's obsolete.

This leads to a number of challenges:

  • Devices crash, freeze, or become too slow to use effectively.

  • Unsupported software stops receiving updates, creating security risks.

  • Older systems can’t integrate with modern tools or platforms.

  • Staff waste time troubleshooting instead of doing their actual work.

But there's another more serious issue: older infrastructure almost always costs more to repair than replace. Groups may end up paying more in the end than they would if they bought new hardware from a vendor—and that's a hard pill to swallow.

How to Solve it With Managed IT

Managed IT excels at reducing the burden of high upfront costs for IT. Nonprofits who go with this option get access to skilled tech experts who can roll out updates, fix minor problems, and provide on-the-spot help with upgrades that won't break the bank.

These services are particularly helpful:

  • Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS), which makes it possible to pay a fixed monthly fee for hardware.

  • End-to-end support with IT planning, procurement, installation, and maintenance/updates.

  • Scalable 24/7 IT help desk services so help is always just a call, ticket, text, or email away.

Revotech offers adaptable IT packages that make it possible for nonprofits to access enterprise-level tools and IT support for a fraction of the cost. Whether you need help upgrading Wordpress or your physical hardware, we can help.

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2. Data Management, Storage, & Access

Donor records, information on clients, financial records, and internal documents need to be organized, stored, and protected at all times. When nonprofits don't have a data management strategy in place, these files can end up scattered across devices and accounts.

This leads to a number of negative outcomes:

  • Staff get locked out of important files or systems when they're working off-site.

  • Teams waste hours recreating, correcting, and updating outdated documents.

  • Volunteers and employees may share confidential information over insecure channels.

  • Projects and applications stall out because no one can find the right information.

Everyone should be able to find the right files fast without worrying about version conflicts or unauthorized access. Setting up a secure, centralized storage and access point is the best way to resolve these issues.

How to Solve it With Managed IT

Managed IT can help nonprofits centralize and protect their data by migrating critical information and systems into the cloud safely and securely. This lowers the risk of data loss or exposure, but it also helps ensure that everyone can access the information they need right from where they are.

A solid provider can help you implement:

  • Role-based access controls with flexible permissions that keep data safe.

  • Automated backups that make it easier to recover from outages or accidental deletions.

  • Secure mobile access so teams in the field can stay informed, in touch, and up-to-date.

  • Support for Office 365 so you can stay in touch and communicate at all times.

Nonprofits should never attempt to migrate into the cloud on their own. Revotech can help you plan to make the switch and manage the process without putting your data at risk.

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3. Managing a Hybrid or Remote Workforce

Remote work styles help nonprofits keep costs down and pull from a much larger pool of talent without changing locations. But trying to keep everyone connected and productive can be a real challenge, so many organizations just let people work however they see fit.

This leads to several potential problems:

  • Remote staff struggle to access shared systems and files reliably.

  • Personal devices used for work can put sensitive data at risk.

  • Communication gaps lead to delays, confusion, and duplicate work.

  • Staff rely on a patchwork of tools that don’t always work well together.

Complex setups like these need the right oversight to be useful and effective. Hybrid work environments need to be carefully managed by an expert to stay stable.

How to Solve it With Managed IT

Managed IT helps nonprofits develop seamless platforms for communication and collaboration that feel intuitive to use and don't put data at risk. Company intranets, VPNs, endpoint protection, email filtering, and 24/7 monitoring ensure that everyone can focus on work, not the latest IT problem.

Services like these are especially helpful:

  • Device management keeps company-issued devices safe and secure.

  • Cost-effective VoIP for calling donors, clients, and partners at an affordable rate.

  • Redundancies and fail-overs that keep remote teams working when systems fail.

Revotech can also help nonprofits screen and hire new staff or volunteers with AI-driven recruiting services. You focus on the mission, while we focus on helping everyone work more effectively.

Cybersecurity experts work on a system hacked by ransomware.

4. Cybersecurity Risks & Compliance Issues

Up to 46% of all data breaches occur at businesses or organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees, and most nonprofits fit squarely into this category. Most nonprofits don't have their own cybersecurity specialists on staff, so they're especially vulnerable to these kinds of cyberattacks.

Not having access to IT support raises the risk for:

  • Phishing attacks aimed at staff, volunteers, or donors.

  • Ransomware attacks that lock staff out of donor databases and internal files.

  • Breaches that violate PIPEDA, PIPA, and other privacy laws.

  • Data leaks that erode public trust and damage fundraising efforts.

Nonprofits cannot plan for and mitigate issues like these on their own. Attacks are growing more sophisticated and bad actors are now using AI and other technologies to hide their tracks. They can fly under the radar for months or years before they finally attack.

How to Solve it With Managed IT

Think of a managed IT partner as your nonprofit's digital security watchdog. It's their job to work around the clock to spot and stop threats before they become a crisis. Cybersecurity experts like these know how to work proactively and reactively to keep your organization's data, people, donors, and clients safe.

To get the protection you need, look for:

  • 24/7 monitoring and threat detection to catch issues before they spread.

  • Endpoint protection and encrypted backups that keep data safe and secure.

  • Regular risk assessments and system hardening to stay ahead of emerging threats.

  • Security awareness training to help your staff learn to follow best practices for safety.

Revotech can help you build a protection strategy for a fraction of what it costs to hire your own in-house security specialist. We stay on top of emerging technologies and evolving attack vectors for you so you never have to worry about what comes next.

A stressed woman burdened by too many tech tools.

5. Disconnected Tools & Platforms

It's common for nonprofits to build their tech stack one tool, system, or platform at a time. Without a clear strategy in place for managing all of these moving parts, integrations and pathways can quickly become a tangled, disorganized mess.

This leads to a number of frustrating outcomes:

  • Donor platforms, CRMs, and communication tools stop integrating seamlessly.

  • Staff need to enter data manually in multiple locations, which eats up precious time.

  • It becomes impossible to keep track of logins, passwords, critical files, and key updates.

  • Tools start conflicting with one another, crash, or glitch out at the worst possible time.

Platforms need to "talk" to one another seamlessly in order for teams, staff, volunteers, and donors to work together for the greater good of the mission. But making that happen—and ensuring that integrations stay intact over time—takes a significant amount of knowledge and skill.  

How to Solve it With Managed IT

Managed IT isn't just about retroactively fixing what's broken right now. It's about building a long-term IT strategy for your tech stack that maps out what tools you should use, how to integrate them, and how to scale their use as your organization grows.

To solve this pain point, look for services like:

  • Full support for integrations, like CRMs, donation platforms, collaboration tools, and more.

  • Shared dashboards and reporting tools that improve visibility and aid decision-making.

  • Ongoing support for incompatibilities, conflicts, and inefficiencies to maximize performance.

With Revotech, you get access to full-service or co-managed IT services for your entire tech stack. That's a great way to make the most of what you have now and plan for the future.

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How to Find a Managed IT Provider You Can Trust

A good provider will take the time to get to know your nonprofit, your mission, and your IT goals before they start pushing to close the sale. They should function as an extension of your own staff instead of feeling like a vendor or hardware seller who only offers reactive support.

Look for qualities like these in every potential provider:

  • Transparent, upfront pricing with no surprises, hidden fees, or markups.

  • A willingness to develop long-term partnerships that help you reach your goals.

  • Clear, proactive, and effective communication that doesn't leave you guessing.

  • A proven track record of success in the nonprofit or charity sector.

  • At least 10 years of experience in the IT industry (more is better!)

  • A strong focus on customer support to ensure your needs are met.

At Revotech, we're always happy to walk you through what makes us the perfect choice for nonprofits who need managed IT. Our services check all the right boxes, and we have the reviews to prove it.

Smiling IT technicians standing in front of a server farm.

Get Affordable IT Support for Nonprofits With Revotech

Technology should help your organization make a difference in the world, not stand in the way of your efforts, but that's exactly what happens if you don't have the right help. Managed IT services level the playing field for nonprofits by delivering cost-effective, scalable IT solutions that keep essential systems and tools updated, protected, and operational.

Don't let IT problems increase the burden on frontline staff or leave you struggling to recover from data loss, cyberattacks, and downtimes on your own. Schedule an appointment with Revotech and let us build you the perfect IT support package for your needs.


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