Editorial Fellowship: digital transformation and technology for social impact
Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience to receive $1.2 million in funding, to enable sector-wide digital transformation over three years
Dedicating funding to digital transformation means that non-profits are able to reach clients that are situated more remotely, or home-bound. It also allows them to invest in tools and technology that increases the organization’s efficiency, which has a knock-on effect on the impact it is able to have.
A “huge number” of non-profits have been victims of cyberattacks, risking the data of vulnerable groups, according to a new working group.
41% of Canadian small businesses that were victims of a cyber attack said it cost them at least $100,000 to recover from. The same is likely true of community organizations and small non-profits, although this is an area that has been severely under-researched. Without adequate security measures, community organizations could be exposing their clients to risks associated with cyber and data breaches, such as identity theft.
Newfoundland and Labrador will run a digital identification pilot in 2023 – what will this mean for community organizations and the people they serve?
Digital identification could alleviate certain accessibility issues, but at the same time, exacerbate inequities when it comes to digital literacy and device accessibility. It’s also unclear how exactly digital identification will benefit or intersect with the work of community-serving social purpose organizations.
“Maps can be seen as truth”: Why Indigenous communities are using digital mapping to defend their land
GIS mapping superimposes layers of data about a location over a digital map to reveal trends and gaps in an area. For social purpose organizations working at local or regional levels, this information can be critical in driving awareness and funding towards specific communities’ challenges.
How are social purpose organizations preparing for a post-Twitter world?
For many social purpose organizations, Twitter has long been a tool to advocate for, and organize movements around, particular issues. Under Elon Musk’s ownership, the sector’s ability to communicate with citizens, journalists and policymakers is now at risk.
“Food is not a patient thing, it’s urgent”: how data collection and sharing can help people in Calgary access emergency food
As the affordability crisis deepens in Calgary, more people are turning to emergency food providers. Collating real-time data on the inventory that food providers hold can help the sector coordinate to reach those in need. However, a system of this sort requires both employees and volunteers to move past “mental barriers” and engage with data processes.
Experts now say digital access can determine a person’s health — here’s why that matters to social purpose organizations
From health services to social assistance, government and community organizations are investing in online service provision. For the 19 per cent of Canadians that identified as non-users or basic users of the internet even post-Covid, this cuts them off from critical services, leaving them even more exposed to health and wellbeing risks.
A new Indigenous Connectivity Institute is launching — here’s how it will drive funding towards equitable internet access
Just under a quarter of Indigenous communities have access to high-speed internet. This year’s Indigenous Connectivity Summit emphasized the urgent need for high-speed internet in Indigenous communities, as well as more community involvement in how internet infrastructure is funded and developed.