From fundraising donations to seeking federal resources, technology in the third sector is important, don't you agree? But, after all, why can we say it is the future of this segment?
To answer this question, we need to analyze the context. In 2014, Law 13,019 was published, also known as the Regulatory Framework for Civil Society Organizations. Since it took effect in 2017, all actions must be presented through transparency portals, including those of third sector organizations.
In other words, any SO (Social Organization) needs to comply with this law. What can be done to implement technology in the third sector? Why is it really important? To better understand this scenario, we spoke with the executive director of Eleva Consultoria, Emília Vasconcelos. Read on to find out why your organization should invest in technology to stand out and be seen!

Technology for people

The third sector started in Brazil as an opportunity for people to do good — that is still the main goal. The difference is that, before, individuals with common interests gathered around associations. Some managed to obtain public resources, while others depended exclusively on donations.
Today, you know it doesn't work that way anymore. Professionalization started gradually and slowly, but, little by little, the people involved began to focus their activities on the third sector. This change is important because it strengthens the activities. We believe you agree with this.
With the Regulatory Framework for Civil Society Organizations, professionalization became even more important. Before, a large part of the institutions did not even have a website. Today, it is essential to get involved with technology. Why did this change happen?
In addition to the law itself, the changes experienced by society demand this. Especially because, when we think about people, we need to consider:

• NGO workers, who must be engaged and have the necessary resources;

• third sector leaders, who need to ensure access to technologies and have a specific IT team;

• those assisted by the institution;

• donors, who can be individuals or corporate entities, from the government or not.

By investing in technology, we comply with legislation and show that our institution is trustworthy. At the same time, there is a better chance of securing resources and even increasing the number of people assisted. Had you thought about that before?

The role of technology in the third sector

Have you ever considered why technology is necessary for the third sector? In our daily lives, we use computers, tablets, and cell phones. To control our spending, we have financial apps. Our commitments are noted in our smartphone's calendar. Is your routine like this too?
Now comes the question: if this happens in your personal life, why would it be different for an organization? Here, we must remember that technology is fundamental as it is a vehicle for carrying out activities and obtaining donations and resources. As Emília highlights:
"Technology is the future for everyone. We are moving towards that, because it transforms everything. Institutions need to understand that besides creating technology, they need to teach people to understand its role in their lives." But there is even more. The role of technology in the third sector is diverse. It serves, for example, for:

• internal control;

• simplifying activities;

• carrying out campaigns to get volunteers and donations.

One of the goals of technology is to allow compliance with current legislation. Therefore, it is a secondary activity that helps to put the main purpose into practice.
Is it too confusing? Let's explain: by making it clear what your institution's gains and expenses are, your NGO starts to have a better reputation. And this is important for public engagement, obtaining resources, and donations. Thus, it becomes easier to serve your target audience, such as the homeless or helping riverside families, for example.
In addition, there is an obligation to disclose actions in transparency portals. Here, we need to clarify that this requirement is made only for institutions that use public resources. Regardless, do you think this measure is important only for social organizations that fit this criterion?
Of course not! Transparency is fundamental for all types of third sector organizations. Technology, then, serves to improve reputation, increase credibility, and bring reliability to the SO.
Without this, activities can be put into question and even end. "All of this needs to show the truth, because if it is not true, the institution can close its doors and move to another country. After all, there is a very large social control over this information" , says Emília. Despite this, there are still institutions with only one or two computers, while others have state-of-the-art technology. This scenario needs to change, don't you think? After all, technology brings security, reliability, and precision in data for the third sector.
What to do? It is necessary to use technological tools, solutions adapted to the reality of your organization. Having access to web platforms and integration systems helps to increase the quality of the services you perform every day. And that is the goal, right?
More than that, technology helps the third sector to engage with the community. In other words, it is a matter of survival and also of creating possibilities and seeking innovation.

Advantages of technological resources

We have listed below the main benefits of technology for the third sector. See what they are!

Community involvement

Reaching people is the first benefit — and one of the main ones. It is necessary to invest in technology and communication to make the work known and get more donations. Especially because it will be hard for anyone to know about your organization's actions if you do not promote them, right?
Therefore, this is a way for the NGO to stop depending solely on public resources, which might be insufficient. "If it doesn't invest in communication, if it doesn't show it exists, does great work, and really acts in the public interest, it is destined to fail" , highlights the executive director of Eleva Consultoria.

Responsibility

It is an essence of the third sector, which begins with caring for people and goes all the way to data transparency. Therefore, Emília says it is necessary to combine responsibility with engagement with civil society. See:
A global report on technology in 2017 showed that 66% of institutions already prioritize social media. Within this percentage, 92% use Facebook to communicate. Therefore, institutions are understanding how important it is to talk about themselves to the community using these technological tools.

Transparency

Being truthful is the first step for any institution that wants to make itself known. This is the transparency we have talked about so much. Today, people will search to get more information, and if they find any errors, they report them. To avoid this, you need to conduct internal control based on technology.

Ease in running campaigns

Having a technology core within the third sector is fundamental for the success of initiatives. Why? Well, we have already explained that it is to have transparency, improve reputation, strengthen internal control, and show credibility to society.
At this point, you might ask yourself, what is needed? The requirements are:

• the minimum equipment, to facilitate the work;

• people who understand the tools;

• a transparency area to display the data;

• a communication network on social media, in order to make yourself known and have investment in the area.

Technology trends in the third sector

The federal government already recognizes the need to help third sector institutions access technology. This is an advantage, because you can include expenses with tools in work plans, even though they are considered secondary.
But there are still other factors. Even if you do not have public sector investments, it is worth investing in the fact that technology is the future — as we have already stressed. Emília reinforces:
"If the institution wants to exist, it has to exist in various government spheres. For this, it must have a minimum of technology, because systems 'talk' to each other, using highly important data, from the moment a resource is received to accountability. There is no running away from it. Otherwise, you depend on community donations and will never grow. So, out of necessity, we must move in this direction. Sustainability doesn't exist if people don't get involved." This excerpt makes it clear why you need to invest in technology in the third sector. Today, this resource is like air for humans, which means it is indispensable. Therefore, it is the main trend for the segment. There's still more!
It is important to cover social networks, websites, and blogs. After all, these channels help strengthen communication and allow institutions to reach where they want. Is that what you want?

So, invest in technology, this is a valuable resource to transform the world we live in. That way, your cause will become better known and supported. Take the opportunity to partner with a company specializing in technological solutions for social projects and NGOs. With this, your institution can reach all sectors of society. Reflect on this!
Get in contact with Codebit and discover our specific solutions for the third sector!

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