Bringing working innovations to the not-for-profit sector

Having adopted new working practices during the pandemic, charities must now look at how these have affected their people, processes and systems.

This could involve looking at how the workforce is coping with the shift and providing adequate support. For example, any new tools and technologies that have been brought in could require the charity to upskill its workforce. Regardless of the change, it’s always important to implement it at a sustainable pace.

It’s important to fully embrace technological solutions. Although many not-for-profit organisations are already making use of technologies such as cloud-based services and video conferencing, exploring the latest innovations can enable them to benefit from improved efficiency and find new ways to reach people.

If a gap in the charity’s internal skillset is identified, seeking external support could be the solution. Through collaboration with third party experts, charities can also provide valuable development opportunities to existing employees.

It’s important to understand that people are affected differently by change. Charities will need to ensure that individuals – and therefore the organisation – are supported to adopt and maintain change; this will include raising awareness, knowledge-building and upskilling, so charities must bear this in mind.

Charities have already had to undergo a transformation in recent months, but when not managed effectively, changes are unsuccessful, often at a financial or reputational cost. This can also take a toll on employees. By supporting their people through changes, and building on new systems introduced, charities can ensure that their operations are able to face any future challenges.