Technology Trends In Philanthropy For 2020

More AI and Machine Learning

For years AI has often been looked at as a way of solving issues in both Philanthropy and the world overall. While AI has made large impacts in a lot of different sectors, it hasn’t been as game-changing in philanthropy as most had hoped it would be. Fast forward to today, and AI has become a staple of many people’s everyday lives. Many philanthropic organizations have begun to see how much people value these tools, and are starting to find ways to incorporate them into their organizations, albeit slowly. AI in philanthropy can be used in a myriad of ways, but one of the biggest ways it’s currently being used is to find insight into the way people consume information as well as using data analytics to personalize donor communications.  Of course, the adoption of AI will bring challenges, as most change does, and it’s important organizations are conscious of those challenges.

Donor Data Security Will Be A Priority

One of the most important things for many philanthropic organizations and nonprofits are their donors. While the organizations may be a platform for giving and change, the donors themselves are the lifeblood and change wouldn’t be possible without them. Many organizations are taking this into account, and are aiming to do a better job with the protection of their donor’s data going forward. One of the best ways to approach this is to do a cybersecurity assessment. Some data storage systems even have built-in security measures, depending on what an organization uses. Blockchain is also a good option for improving security measures, as it usually requires a multi-step verification.

Blockchain Will Play A Bigger Role

Speaking of blockchain, it will likely play a larger role in philanthropy in 2020 and beyond, and has the potential to make many aspects of philanthropy far easier. The lack of trusted banking options in many developing countries is a serious problem, as well as unpredictable levels of inflation in some. This is where blockchain can make a difference. Blockchain makes the giving process more transparent and doesn’t instill large transaction fees as you might see in other forms of payment. Beyond making payment more transparent, blockchain is also used to track and distribute resources in some countries. Blockchain has the ability to surpass barriers that countries around the globe are facing, and will likely continue to do so in 2020 and beyond.