01 · Take the assessment
Answer honestly: “Partly” is a useful answer.
For each statement choose No, Partly or Yes. Ideally answer together with a programme lead, someone from finance or fundraising, and a field team member.
Your answers stay in your browser. Nothing is sent to EdZola unless you choose to contact us.
02 · Reading your results
What each stage means and what to do next.
Your overall score places you in one of four stages. Most NGOs we meet are Foundational or Developing, which is a normal starting point.
| Stage | What it usually looks like | Sensible next step |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational (0–39%) | Spreadsheets, paper forms and inboxes; reports built by hand | Model your core records and systemise one workflow, often field data collection |
| Developing (40–64%) | Some tools in place but disconnected; data typed twice | Create one source of truth with a programme MIS and an internal owner |
| Connected (65–84%) | Core systems linked; reporting partly automated | Tighten M&E indicator definitions and close data protection gaps |
| Data-led (85–100%) | Trusted data used in decisions every month | Add AI for bounded jobs with human oversight |
03 · A full assessment
What a deeper technology assessment covers.
This self-check gives you a direction. A full assessment, like the Digital Systems Discovery we run with NGOs, goes workflow by workflow.
What we review
- Every workflow from intake to report: who enters what, where, and when
- The tools in use, their licences, costs and overlaps
- Data quality: duplicates, missing fields, definitions that change between reports
- Reporting obligations to funders, boards and government
- Access, consent and personal data handling against India’s DPDP Act
What you get
- A map of your current systems and data flows
- A prioritised list of problems, by cost and risk
- A target system design and a phased implementation roadmap
- A requirements document you can use with any vendor
- An honest view of what not to build yet
04 · Running it with your team
Make the assessment a conversation.
The scores matter less than the discussion they start. This is a simple way to run it in one meeting.
Pick three to five people from different teams
Programme, field, finance or fundraising, and leadership see different problems.
Answer separately first
Everyone completes the self-check on their own, then you compare.
Discuss the biggest disagreements
If leadership answers “Yes” and the field team answers “No”, that gap is your first finding.
Agree the one workflow to fix first
Choose by staff time lost and risk, not by which tool is newest.
Repeat every six to twelve months
Track whether the weakest area improved after each release.
05 · Common questions
Questions about nonprofit technology assessments.
What is a nonprofit technology assessment?
A nonprofit technology assessment is a structured review of how well your systems, data, people and processes support the work: what tools you use, where data is duplicated or lost, how reports are produced, who owns each system and how personal data is protected. Its output is a short, prioritised list of what to fix first, not a shopping list of software.
What does a nonprofit technology assessment include?
It reviews six areas: how data and records are kept, which systems and tools are used and whether they connect, how reporting and M&E work, how donors and grants are managed, whether staff adopt and own the systems, and how personal data is secured and protected.
How often should a nonprofit assess its technology?
Once a year, and before any major system decision such as buying a CRM, building an MIS or applying for a technology grant. Repeating the same assessment shows whether investments improved the weakest areas.
Who should take part in a technology assessment?
People from different parts of the organisation: leadership, a programme lead, a field team member, and someone from finance or fundraising. Differences in their answers usually reveal the real problems.
How is this different from an IT audit?
An IT audit checks devices, networks and security controls. A nonprofit technology assessment looks at whether systems support the work: programme delivery, reporting, fundraising and decision-making, as well as data protection.
Is the EdZola technology assessment free?
Yes. The self-check on this page is free and your answers stay in your browser. If you want a deeper review, tell us about your organisation and we will suggest a practical next step.