How Low-Code Platforms are Revolutionizing Nonprofit Management

The world of nonprofit management is constantly evolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging on a daily basis. From fundraising and donor management to program development and impact assessment, nonprofit organizations must navigate a complex landscape of tasks and responsibilities in order to achieve their goals.

In recent years, however, a new tool has emerged that promises to revolutionize the way that nonprofits operate: low-code platforms.

These innovative software solutions allow organizations to build custom applications and workflows quickly and easily, without the need for extensive coding expertise. By streamlining processes and automating tasks, low-code platforms can help nonprofits become more efficient, productive, and responsive to the needs of their communities.

In fact, according to Gartner, by 2024 more than 65% of application development activity will be on low-code platforms, up from less than 20% in 2019.

Low-code platforms have already become widely adopted in the finance, insurance , manufacturing and retail sectors. Let’s look at how low-code platforms are transforming nonprofit management and offer insights into how nonprofits can successfully adopt and integrate these technologies into their operations.

Case Studies

Nonprofits across the world are adopting low-code platforms to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and deliver better services. One such organization is Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), a global humanitarian nonprofit that provides aid to refugees.

The NRC adopted the open-source Corteza low-code platform to manage their data and match donors to beneficiaries. NRC needed a fast and scalable solution to process and store large volumes of data at the highest level of performance. In particular, the solution needed to be able to handle large amounts of applications, processing the applications and storing them while meetings all EU data requirements and regulations. The solution also needed to integrate with their existing systems, including Twilio and their Global Template Library.

The NRC uses Corteza as a hybrid solution that manages the entire transaction cycle from application to registration to transaction, all protected by the highest security protocols due to the high risk of cyber attacks from malicious operators, including the security services of unfriendly countries.

“This digital response [to the Ukraine crisis] is not just transformational for NRC,” says Christopher Hoffman, who lead the implementation. “It’s also transforming the sector and allowing it to operate succinctly with the people we’re trying to serve.”

Another nonprofit using a low-code platform is Habitat for Humanity. This organization  aims to provide safe and affordable housing for people in need across the world. The organization implemented Salesforce to automate the process of matching donors with volunteers and efficiently manage and track volunteer engagement and donations. This has led to better donor engagement and more successful volunteer opportunities. According to Salesforce.org, Habitat for Humanity has been able to save approximately 6,000 hours per year in volunteer and donation management since implementing the low-code platform.

Best Practices and Future Outlook

Low-code platforms are revolutionizing nonprofit management by providing organizations with the tools they need to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and deliver better services to their communities. However, while low-code platforms offer many benefits for nonprofit management, successful implementation requires careful planning and execution. Tips include:

• Ensure data security and privacy: Nonprofits should prioritize the security and privacy of the data they collect, store, and share. Low-code platforms often provide built-in security features, but nonprofits should still take additional steps to protect sensitive data and comply with data privacy regulations.
• Test and iterate: Nonprofits should adopt an agile approach to low-code application development, testing their solutions early and often and making necessary adjustments along the way. This can help them catch issues early and ensure that the final product meets their needs and the needs of their stakeholders.
• Foster a culture of innovation: Nonprofits should encourage staff and volunteers to think creatively and proactively about how they can use low-code solutions to improve their operations and services. This can help them stay ahead of the curve and continue to drive impact.
• Embrace open-source solutions: Many low-code platforms are built on open-source technologies, which can provide nonprofits with more flexibility, transparency, and cost savings. Nonprofits should consider open-source platforms when selecting a low-code solution.
• Leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning: Low-code platforms are increasingly integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, which can help nonprofits automate processes, improve decision-making, and deliver personalized services. Nonprofits should explore how they can leverage these technologies to achieve their goals.

Looking to the future, the potential of low-code platforms for non-profit management is vast. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more advances in low-code and no-code platforms for non-profits. In particular, there is an emerging shift towards full no-code platforms, which allow users to build applications without need for any coding knowledge at all. This can be particularly beneficial for non-profits that may not have the resources to hire dedicated IT staff.

In addition, we can expect to see more integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in low-code platforms. This can enable non-profits to automate routine tasks, analyze data more effectively, and make better-informed decisions.

Another area of development is the increasing focus on mobile applications, as more and more people access the internet and conduct business on their mobile devices. Low-code and no-code platforms that offer mobile app development capabilities will become increasingly important for nonprofits that want to reach their audiences effectively.

Overall, the future of low-code and no-code platforms for nonprofits is exciting, with endless possibilities for innovation and growth. Nonprofits that stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and best practices will be better positioned to maximize their impact and achieve their mission.

Open-Source Platforms

When it comes to choosing a low-code platform, it’s important to consider not only the features and capabilities of the software but also the licensing model.

Licensing models for low-code platforms can vary widely, from open source to proprietary. Open source platforms, provide the source code for free and allow users to modify and distribute it to varying degrees based on the exact license. For example, an Apache 2.0 license is the most liberal and gives users complete control over the code, including to use, modify or sell it onward. This can be a cost-effective solution for non-profits with limited budgets, as they can use and scale the platform without incurring significant licensing fees.

Proprietary platforms, on the other hand, are typically offered through a subscription or licensing model, which often becomes very expensive to scale. Non-profits should carefully consider their needs and budget when choosing a licensing model for their low-code platform, and ensure that the model aligns with their organizational goals and values. Additionally, nonprofits should be aware of any restrictions or limitations that may come with a particular licensing model, such as limitations on customization or distribution of the platform.

Open-source low-code platforms are becoming increasingly popular in the non-profit sector due to their flexibility, affordability, and collaborative nature. The benefits of using open-source software include:

1. Cost savings: Open-source software is typically free to use and distribute, which can help nonprofits save on licensing fees and other costs associated with proprietary software.
2. Flexibility and customization: Open-source software can be customized to fit the specific needs of a nonprofit, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability.
3. Avoiding vendor lock-in: Not being dependent on a specific vendor for software solutions is crucial for any organization, because it can limit options and increase costs in the long run.
4. Security: Open-source software is often subject to rigorous security testing and auditing by the community, which can help identify and fix security vulnerabilities more quickly.
5. Collaboration and knowledge sharing: Open-source software encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing within the community, which can help nonprofits learn from others and stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the field.
6. Ethical considerations: Nonprofits may prioritize ethical considerations, such as data privacy and transparency, which can be better addressed through open-source software that is transparent and accountable to the community.

Additionally, open-source software aligns with the values of many non-profit organizations by promoting openness, collaboration, and sharing of knowledge. With open-source low-code platforms, non-profits can benefit from a community of developers and users who are dedicated to creating powerful, effective, and user-friendly software solutions that can help them achieve their missions.

As such, open-source low-code platforms are a natural fit for nonprofit organizations looking to streamline their operations and deliver greater impact to their communities while saving on costs and staying true to their values.

Conclusion

Low-code platforms are revolutionizing non-profit management by streamlining processes, automating tasks, and reducing costs. The future of low-code platforms for non-profits looks promising with the trend being towards no-code platforms, AI and ML integration, as well as a focus on mobile applications.

Planet Crust is the principle developer and supporter of Corteza, a 100% open-source low-code solution stack for a sustainable future. By empowering people and organizations anywhere in the world – be they sole developers, small businesses, large enterprises, local or global non-profits, healthcare providers or governmental organizations – to control and share their data and the applications they build with it without giving up their digital freedom, Corteza aims to increase human-kind’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to the varied challenges the world faces and, in so doing, give the world a platform to overcome these challenges and work itself towards a sustainable future.

Try Corteza today to to experience the freedom, flexibility and performance Corteza offers.