Nonprofit organizations are a segment of the population that is constantly changing and adapting to new conditions. In order to continue functioning as effective organizations, nonprofits need to implement programs that give them an edge over their competitors. One way they can do this is by using project management software. Nonprofits face many unique challenges when it comes to managing projects. There are so many different moving parts, making it difficult for non-profits to stay on top of everything. Project management software can help nonprofits streamline their projects and make sure they’re meeting their goals and objectives every step of the way. Let’s take a look at eight reasons why nonprofits use project management software:
7 ways nonprofits use project management software
1. It enables teams to be focused on the mission.
The best way to get your team focused on the mission is by making sure everyone knows what it is. This means writing down your organization’s mission statement and posting it somewhere everyone can see it. It will also help if you write down your goals, outcomes, results, and impact in one place so that everyone has access to them when needed. If you are working with a non-profit or charitable organization, then there is probably already a mission statement written somewhere but not visible to all team members. This can be frustrating because no one knows where these documents are stored or who has access to them. In this case, I recommend creating an internal wiki page for all team members and external websites such as WordPress blogs. Anyone from within your organization can read about these essential documents in one place without having to navigate through endless folders or email inboxes looking for answers.
2. It encourages collaboration between team members.
One of the most obvious benefits of project management software is that it allows team members to work from anywhere. This means you can have your team members worldwide, and they will still be able to work together on projects. Collaboration is one of the biggest benefits of using project management software. Working together on a single task at once ensures that everyone is working off the same page and in sync with each other.
3. It improves communication with donors and other stakeholders.
Communication is key to a successful project, and it should be no different for your nonprofit. Nonprofits need to build and maintain relationships with donors and other stakeholders to be effective communicators. With so many moving parts involved in running an organization and keeping up with the needs of its partners, tracking all communication channels between these groups can become overwhelming quickly. If you’re not using project management software or another communication tool like Slack or Basecamp, you may spend too much time figuring out who said what on which platform. A good project management solution should give each stakeholder access to all information on a single page, making both internal conversations easier and improving external communications by keeping everyone in the loop at once.
4. It provides a clear picture of what needs to be done.
Project management software helps you stay on track and keep an eye on your progress. It also lets you see how much time is left in the project, what tasks are still left to be done, and what tasks have already been completed. This can be especially helpful for non-profits with limited resources: If there’s one thing that nonprofits don’t have enough of, it’s time. Project management software gives them a clear picture of where things stand to know exactly where their organization is headed next and when it will get there.
5. It streamlines processes and reduces paperwork.
Project management software helps reduce the need for paperwork, reports, meetings, approval processes, and approvals. Project management software also streamlines processes that require approvals by reducing the number of people involved in that process. This can save you time and money by reducing the number of steps it takes to make a decision. There are several reasons why nonprofits use project management software:
6. It makes it easier to find the best people for the job.
Project managers have many responsibilities, but one of the most important is to find the best people for the job. Project management software helps you do this by allowing you to easily manage your team’s time, work, and progress. You’ll be able to see who is working on what at any given time, making sure that no one is overworked or double-booked. This can be especially helpful if someone has a lot of experience with a certain type of project but hasn’t worked on something quite like yours before. If someone is struggling with their workload or needs more guidance on what they’re doing next, project management software can help make sure they get it in a way that doesn’t disrupt production schedules or hurt morale among other team members.
7. It facilitates reporting for board members, funder, and other stakeholders.
Keeping your stakeholders informed is a major part of running a non-profit. You need to be able to share information with them, show them what you’ve been doing, and show them how you are using their money. Project management software facilitates this by having features that allow the user to create tasks or workflows that correspond with specific actions or events in the organization. The software also enables users to assign tasks to other users within the organization, which saves time and helps keep everyone on track with their progress. The reporting feature allows non-profit board members, funders, and other stakeholders access to real-time data about current projects while also allowing them insight into future projects. If a project fails in its intended purpose, it may need to be further analyzed for proper improvement plans to be implemented before proceeding with future endeavors.
Conclusion
We’ve covered a lot of great reasons why nonprofits should consider project management software for their business. The bottom line is that by utilizing this type of tool, you can help streamline your organization’s operations and save time, money, and energy. If you’re unsure where to start or which system would be best suited to your needs, don’t worry: we have plenty of resources to help you make an informed decision.