Nonprofit engagements improved by Microsoft Azure

20 October 2023

“We need data to apply for grants, poor donor outreach capabilities and the ability to scale instantly”. These are pain points experienced by most organizations around world that rely on grants to carry out their mission for the greater good. I have covered many articles and workshops on how Microsoft has positioned itself as great major donor to these NGOs by providing solutions which include raising donor propensity or making it easier for organizations to find the right donors that provide them grants they need to operate and deliver to society but let us explore what Microsoft Azure has in store for NGOs, as data has become the most important resource and commodity in this day and age we can invest in.

Challenges and Solutions

Most of us who have dealt with an NGOs would know that 80% of all nonprofit revenue come from grants and that since 2021, there has been an increase of 12.1% in giving to nonprofits. Microsoft has identified this trend and has further invested in further solutions, together with their “Tech for Social Impact” team, that can be delivered seamlessly.

- An obvious challenge that every organization faces is the need for quality data to further apply for grants. Some nonprofits are unable to provide donors with sufficient data to apply for further grants or even show progress of their current workings. A major requirement would also be to retrieve such sensitive data more securely.

- Microsoft Azure delivers better data collection and management methodologies. One of these methods would include better data collection and progress reporting that most donor institutions require to provide funding. This also includes more compliant way of maintaining sensitive data with better software, storage, and database options.

- Poor donor outreach capabilities are being experienced all over. The inability to personalize and effectively scale outreach to donor audiences and most are unable to provide them with modern digital engagement experiences which most of them expect already.

- Microsoft have personalized these experiences by modernizing engagements with donors in terms of CRM, AI cognitive services and predictive analytics solutions that are now available.

Some success stories

As the charitable arm of Derby County Football Club, Derby County Community Trust (DCCT) in America, understands that enhancing lives through the power of sports is more than just fun and games—it requires serious dedication to protecting sensitive information and enabling organizational efficiencies. That’s why DCCT counts on Azure to help manage identities and control access to applications and content across its environment. And since it no longer requires third-party security products, they also benefit from cost-savings. Now, DCCT can rest assured that all employee devices—along with its entire device estate—are compliant, secure, and centrally managed.

By moving its business systems to the cloud, the Players Association converted the capital costs associated with refreshing servers and storage systems every few years into a predictable monthly operating cost, freeing up staff to develop new member services.

Further support for organizational values

Microsoft is dedicated to providing nonprofits with the technology and resources they need to drive positive impact.

Also, Nonprofits that invest in Microsoft Azure solutions will:

- Empower their staff to do more with less every day, improving talent satisfaction and retention.

- Enjoy Microsoft-provided training and community support, enabling staff to learn and advance their career.

- Lower their carbon footprint.

- Build a relationship with Microsoft, a global leader in corporate responsibility, committed to supporting the needs of the nonprofit sector.

Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit harnesses the power of Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Dynamics 365, Azure, and LinkedIn to boost the positive impact of the nonprofits around the world.

If you would like to join the ranks of assisting NGO’s in your market, please contact our Surestep Ambassador team This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to further book a session for further guidance.

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