Nonprofit technology comprises information and communication technologies that support the goals of nonprofit, nongovernmental, third sector, grassroots, and other mission-based organizations.
The membership association for this field is NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network.
Practitioners within nonprofits are varied and include accidental techies, nonprofit IT staff, and program staff. Providers to nonprofits providing technology support are sometimes known as eRiders or circuit riders, or more broadly as NTAPs (nonprofit technology assistance providers).
Some of the work of nonprofits is done in communities or regions that are negatively affected by the digital divide. This usually results in a number of very creative solutions.
Many nonprofits are under-funded but rich in ingenuity, which often leads to the deployment of open-source solutions. Another advantage of open-source solutions is that creativity permeates the organization, making the normal business model much different than in businesses. Open-source products can often be modified to fit these creative business models around the world.
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