Community IT Innovators Nonprofit Technology Topics
Community IT offers free webinars monthly to promote learning within our nonprofit technology community. Our podcast is appropriate for a varied level of technology expertise. Community IT is vendor-agnostic and our webinars cover a range of topics and discussions. Something on your mind you don’t see covered here? Contact us to suggest a topic! http://www.communityit.com
Vulnerability Scanning for Nonprofits with Johan Hammerstrom
Most nonprofits will be asked about vulnerability scanning when they renew cybersecurity liability insurance or complete an annual audit. Do you know what it means and what you should do to comply?
The takeaways:
There is no one-size-fits-all vulnerability scanning app for your entire organization. You will need to do vulnerability scanning on various systems and the scanning will be different. As part of your incident response planning you should have an inventory of your general vulnerabilities – website, any custom apps, any customized anything, and then other apps and tools. Check in with your IT team and s...Assuaging Fears, Taking Action on Nonprofit Cybersecurity with Jennifer Huftalen
Many nonprofit staff are facing increased stress and multiplying concerns about privacy, security, and vulnerabilities. What should you be tackling first in this new political environment?
The takeaways:
Most attacks are still financially based: criminals want you to wire money to the wrong account. The good news is that cybersecurity basics that protect you from fraud also protect your organization from politically motivated attacks.Taking action – even modest first steps or reading up on the issues – goes a long way to assuage fears and stress. But when the stress is all around us, it is hard to pri...Updates: Microsoft Free Nonprofit License Renewal Updates pt 2 with Steve Longenecker
NOTE: The Microsoft policy on the end of their donation program for the free and discounted Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium and E1 licenses for qualified nonprofits is shifting frequently, and we are working to keep you updated. Please check for the most recent blog or podcast from us to ensure you have the most recent update.
This podcast provides updates to our episode from June 13th about the changes to Microsoft's donation program for nonprofit licenses. The active date of July 1st has now passed and we are learning more about Microsoft's approach to rolling...
Nonprofit Tech Board Leadership 101 with Board.dev pt 2
Board.dev Co-Founder and CEO Alethea Hannemann on how to recruit tech leadership to join your nonprofit board, and why you should have tech leaders an/or a tech committee on your board helping your organization to grow and thrive.
In part 1, Alethea presents research on the benefits of board members with tech experience and gives two case studies. In part 2, she delves into how to recruit a tech-savvy board member and takes audience questions.
Do you have tech expertise on your nonprofit board?
Board.dev was founded...
Nonprofit Tech Board Leadership 101 with Board.dev pt 1
Board.dev Co-Founder and CEO Alethea Hannemann on how to recruit tech leadership to join your nonprofit board, and why you should have tech leaders an/or a tech committee on your board helping your organization to grow and thrive.
In part 1, Alethea presents research on the benefits of board members with tech experience and gives two case studies. In part 2, she delves into how to recruit a tech-savvy board member and takes audience questions.
Do you have tech expertise on your nonprofit board?
Board.dev was founded...
Microsoft Free Nonprofit Licenses Update with Steve Longenecker
When do your licenses renew? What kind of free or discounted licenses do you have? What are your options?
Microsoft announced in the spring of 2025 that after July 1st two classes of nonprofit discounted licenses would be changing. Steve Longenecker, Community IT’s Director of IT Consulting, explains how the license discount and donation program is changing at Microsoft, and how to form a plan of action before your renewal date in this podcast with Carolyn Woodard.
Steve reviews the history of the Microsoft donation and discount programs for nonprofits and how they have changed ove...
Nonprofit IT Essentials for Challenging Times with Nuradeen Aboki pt 2
Are you worried?
In part 1, Nura and Carolyn covered introductions, policies, and resources on three main categories you may be worried about - cyber, data, and staff safety. In part 2, they go over budgeting for IT when your budget may be up in the air, what to move into the "nice to have" and what needs to stay in the "must have" column, resources on how to stay mentally healthy under stress, and how to make a plan to move you and your nonprofit forward with confidence in your priorities.
Where does your I...
Nonprofit IT Essentials for Challenging Times with Nuradeen Aboki pt 1
Are you worried?
The current situation for the nonprofit sector is highly changeable and changing fast. Every day there’s a new worry turning up around your mission, your funding, and your future.
Where does your IT fit into this new world? Is your IT strategy flexible, and have you revisited your IT planning, performance, and policies? As you examine your finances, what IT is essential and where can you afford to pare back without hurting your productivity and morale? Do you have some smart savings opportunities lurking in your IT...
Meet the Community IT On Site Support Team
A week in the life of the On Site Support Team - what do they do?
We’re inordinately proud of our On Site Support Team (OSST), who work with clients who need IT help in person, particularly at the nonprofit schools we serve in the DC area.
So many of us work remotely - but many nonprofits do work that can't be remote, and many of them need IT support at the office or workplace. For those clients, Community IT is proud to employ a team of customer service professionals that travel on...
Cybersecurity and SAS145 with Darren Hulem
New auditing requirements SAS145 require nonprofit auditors to consider IT risks in addition to financial risks and mitigation. Learn from Darren Hulem, cybersecurity guru and senior manager in risk advisory at GRF CPAs and Advisors on the new requirements and how they may impact cybersecurity at your nonprofit.
Darren also explores and describes other cybersecurity threats that are targeting nonprofits, and best practices to defend against them. Darren is a certified ethical hacker and certified information systems auditor.
SAS145 is a statement on accounting standards that provides guidelines on a more holistic view of your...
AI How-To for Nonprofits with Brenda Foster
Media expert and self-taught "AI Evangelist" Brenda Foster spoke to Carolyn about ways to help nonprofit staff explore and begin using AI tools to work smarter, calling AI your new assistant.
In addition to serving as Vanguard Communications’ Chief of Innovation, she is a communications researcher and strategic planner who has shaped direction and messaging for numerous successful national nonprofit and government campaigns. A former broadcast journalist, Brenda is a sought-after producer and speech, script and media writer for clients and spokespeople that include celebrities, CEOs, farmers, caregivers, advocates and youth.
Have you been dabbling in...
2025 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report with Matt Eshleman pt 2
2025 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report: Keeping Your Nonprofit Secure
Community IT CTO and cybersecurity expert Matt Eshleman delivered our annual report on trend lines and took questions live and online in this popular annual webinar.
In part 1, Matt discusses the landscape and background of cybersecurity attacks nonprofits face now, goes over the lingo and acronyms, and introduces new trends in attacks and protections. In part 2, Matt discusses the data from 2024 and takes questions.
Is your nonprofit prepared?
Drawn from anonymized data from the calendar year 2024 of c...
2025 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report with Matt Eshleman pt 1
2025 Nonprofit Cybersecurity Incident Report: Keeping Your Nonprofit Secure
Community IT CTO and cybersecurity expert Matt Eshleman delivered our annual report on trend lines and took questions live and online in this popular annual webinar.
In part 1, Matt discusses the landscape and background of cybersecurity attacks nonprofits face now, goes over the lingo and acronyms, and introduces new trends in attacks and protections. In part 2, Matt discusses the data from 2024 and takes questions.
Is your nonprofit prepared?
Drawn from anonymized data from the calendar year 2024 of c...
Community IT Voices: Tiff Parker, IT Business Manager
In today’s interview, Carolyn talks with Tiff Parker, an IT Business Manager at Community IT. They talk about her background, how she got into a technology career, and what brought her to Community IT in this role. Tiff reflects on her early interest in GIS Geo Information Systems mapping, her years as an “accidental techie” at a nonprofit with increasingly senior roles and responsibilities as she gained experience and expertise managing nonprofit IT, and her move from nonprofit IT Director to her role now providing technical and strategic guidance to multiple clients.
The Community IT ITBM service...
Microsoft Nonprofit Tech Conference Reflections with Ryan Ozimek
What does the future hold for nonprofit technology from one of the giants in the industry?
Ryan Ozimek, founder of Soapbox Engage and long time nonprofit IT thought leader, reflects on the trends and topics from this recent conference for the sector from Microsoft – particularly the embrace of AI and the potential of AI tools to impact the nonprofit sector.
In its second year, the Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit drew nonprofit sector and IT activists from around the world to discuss new tools, new partnerships, and new needs.
Listen to...
Nonprofit Data Retention Policy and Cybersecurity Basics with Ian Gottesman
Ian Gottesman is CEO of a coalition of 200+ NGOs and 20 major IT companies working together to improve cybersecurity for the nonprofit sector (NGO ISAC). He has decades of experience in executive roles in nonprofit cybersecurity in a variety of organizations.
In these challenging times for the nonprofit sector generally, many nonprofits are taking a harder look at their cybersecurity policies to better protect their organization and staff. Community IT recommends getting to a foundational level of basic cybersecurity, and you can download our free Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook to learn what that means and how to...
Microsoft Vs Google Workspace for Nonprofits pt 2
Which platform would you choose if you were starting a brand new nonprofit tomorrow?
Learn the differences, how to choose, and when to contemplate changing platforms in this webinar with Community IT Innovators CEO Johan Hammerstrom and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker. Johan and Steve together have over 40 years of experience in nonprofit IT and have worked with hundreds of nonprofit clients as they made crucial decisions about their IT platforms.
In part 1, we discuss the basic features of each platform, and acknowledging that most people working at nonprofits do not actually...
Microsoft Vs Google Workspace for Nonprofits pt 1
Which platform would you choose if you were starting a brand new nonprofit tomorrow?
Learn the differences, how to choose, and when to contemplate changing platforms in this webinar with Community IT Innovators CEO Johan Hammerstrom and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker. Johan and Steve together have over 40 years of experience in nonprofit IT and have worked with hundreds of nonprofit clients as they made crucial decisions about their IT platforms.
In part 1, we discuss the basic features of each platform, and acknowledging that most people working at nonprofits do not actually...
Matching Business Processes and Nonprofit IT with Johan Hammerstrom
Do you have a technology tool that just isn’t working? How do you get at the root of the issue and find solutions?
Sometimes IT staff and directors and executives get really into the cool details of their technology tools without considering the whole organization needs and tolerances. And sometimes executives and leaders want to change IT tools on a whim, where that IT tool is deeply embedded in the functions of the nonprofit organization, and the change impacts all the stakeholders greatly, but none of them were consulted.
How can you reconcile those two...
Cybersecurity Awareness Training Tips pt 2 with Matt Eshleman
Are your staff as ready as they can be for the next attack?
Our cybersecurity training team manages hundreds of clients and shares our knowledge on what works to keep your staff prepared, not just scared.Matt Eshleman, our CTO and cybersecurity expert answers your questions on how to manage frequent, timely, and engaging training.
Part 1 covers the cybersecurity landscape and types of threats facing nonprofits, our framework for how to think about cybersecurity and where staff training fits in your strategy, and the basic philosophy of security awareness...
Cybersecurity Awareness Training Tips pt 1 with Matt Eshleman
Are your staff as ready as they can be for the next attack?
Our cybersecurity training team manages hundreds of clients and shares our knowledge on what works to keep your staff prepared, not just scared.Matt Eshleman, our CTO and cybersecurity expert answers your questions on how to manage frequent, timely, and engaging training.
Part 1 covers the cybersecurity landscape and types of threats facing nonprofits, our framework for how to think about cybersecurity and where staff training fits in your strategy, and the basic philosophy of security...
Meet the Community IT Help Desk
A week in the life of the Help Desk Team
Ever wonder what it takes to be a help desk analyst, or what our Help Desk Team does in a typical week?
We’re inordinately proud of our Help Desk Team, the first and usually only point of contact for most staff for most clients.
Listen to this presentation on a typical week and learn about the teamwork, expertise, and continual learning that goes into providing excellent IT support service.
“You all do such an amazing job, with such great...
Anti-Doxxing and Nonprofit Staff Safety with Shauna Dillavou
Shauna Dillavou is the co-founder of Brightlin.es, a security firm working with the nonprofit sector to prevent vulnerabilities. She is a seasoned intelligence analyst with decades of experience working for the US government. She formerly was part of a team locating cartel associates by their online traces, and founded Brightlines to reverse-engineer that experience to protect vulnerable staff from online doxxing and threats to their personal safety. Unfortunately in recent years the threats against nonprofit staff have grown, making this service necessary and timely.
We know nonprofits are facing challenges in a challenging time. At Community...
Ramunda Lark Young, Founder of Mahogany Books
In this interview from December 2024, Director of Marketing Carolyn Woodard talks with Ramunda Lark Young about her journey from growing up in Tulsa Oklahoma to working in Washington DC to founding an online Black bookstore during the 2007-2008 recession.
In addition to a website where you can find curated lists of books to fit any interest, Mahogany Books now has 2.25 in-person stores in DC and hosts author events and a podcast.
What did it take for Ramunda to believe in her vision of owning a bookstore where Black Books Matter, and how did she follow t...
2025 Nonprofit Tech Round Table pt 2
Expert Tips on Current Trends:
Webinar 2025 Nonprofit Tech Round Table
Download the Community IT Acceptable Use Policy Template for AI Tools in the Nonprofit Workplace.Steve and Matt also share a veritable "grab bag" of new tools, new chips, and other new issues to keep an eye on that will impact the nonprofit sector using IT in 2025.
Join CTO Matthew Eshleman and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker, moderated by Carolyn Woodard fr...
2025 Nonprofit Tech Round Table pt 1
Expert Tips on Current Trends:
Webinar 2025 Nonprofit Tech Round Table
Download the updated Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook
Join CTO Matthew Eshleman and Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker, moderated by Carolyn Woodard from Community IT, in a lively and specific discussion of all things nonprofit tech for 2025 and beyond.
4 New Year's Resolutions with Carolyn Woodard
Set four intentions to make 2025 safer, saner, and more fun for your IT staff and your nonprofit.
Now is the month to set intentions for the year ahead. We know nonprofits are facing challenges in a challenging time. Be intentional about setting expectations for yourself and your organization this year and you will take some of the stress off.
Director of Outreach and podcast host Carolyn Woodard walks through four resolutions you can make to make 2025 easier on yourself.
Put self-care first – set yourself up for mental and physical health so you can...Using Google Groups with Steve Longenecker
If your organization uses Google Workspace you have access to Google Groups. Kind of like a listserv but so much better.
What are Google Groups?
If your nonprofit uses Google Workspace, you can use Google Groups to manage tasks via an email group, with granular controls and monitoring if you need it. Google Groups can improve security for email addresses like “donate@mynonprofit” or “info@mynonprofit” if that email directs to a group and is not its own account that’s credentials could be hacked.
Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker explains the ins and...
Top Nonprofit IT Stories of 2024 with Senior Staff at Community IT
Welcome 2025! It's going to be a big year for nonprofit IT and as is our tradition, our senior staff weighed in with the biggest stories of 2024, the most overlooked trends, and what they will be keeping an eye on in 2025.
We hear from Senior Engineer David Dawson, Director of IT Consulting Steve Longenecker, IT Business Manager Erik Solce, IT Business Manager Team Lead Norwin Herrera, Chief Technology Officer Matthew Eshleman, Senior Consultant Nuradeen Aboki, CEO Johan Hammerstrom, and Carolyn Woodard, Marketing Director and webinar and podcast host on what we are seeing in our sector.
P...
Going Server-less with Norwin Herrera
Is your nonprofit ready to go server-less? What's holding you back from going to the cloud?
Norwin Herrera is an IT Business Manager with Community IT and has decades of experience in IT and as a nonprofit IT consultant. In his work with clients over the years he has learned some of the barriers to moving entirely into the cloud, and gives some advice in overcoming that inertia.
Starting with saving money, using a more secure and more current technology, and then throwing in convenience - moving to the cloud is the right move to ma...
Cybersecurity Readiness for Accountants with Matt Eshleman
Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofit Accountants, Hosted by Jitasa University
Join Matt Eshleman, cybersecurity expert and author of the re-released Community IT Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook, in a short presentation on how to use the playbook to protect your organization if you are a financial manager or accountant.
In this video, you will
Learn about the free downloadable Playbook on Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits and how financial officers and accountants can utilize this Playbook Learn the most common scams and trends in cybersecurity for nonprofitsUnderstand the current cybersecurity landscape and the role of AI in...New Nonprofit Auditing Requirements SAS145 with Johan Hammerstrom
New nonprofit auditing requirements SAS145 now include IT and cybersecurity compliance. Are you ready?
In 2022 the AICPA Auditing Standards Board (ASB) issued Statement on Auditing Standards (SAS) No. 145,Understanding the Entity and Its Environment and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement. The new standard became effective for audits of financial statements for periods ending on or after Dec. 15, 2023. For more on SAS 145 changes, read this article in the Journal of Accountancy.
For the first time, SAS No. 145 now provides explicit definitions for the terms general information technology (IT) controls, IT environment, and information-processing controls. ...
Year-End Cybersecurity Tips with Matt Eshleman
It won’t be a surprise that AI is on everyone’s mind. Matt also shared some thoughts on some year end cybersecurity tips and maintenance to ensure your cybersecurity practices – and permissions – are up to date.
Nonprofit Cybersecurity expert and Community IT CTO Matt Eshleman offered these year-end cybersecurity tips.
6 Tips for Nonprofit IT in December with Carolyn Woodard
If you find yourself with a little downtime, what should you work on?
The Gala is back! If your nonprofit is focused on an end of the year fundraising event, you may find yourself and your IT team with a little extra time on your hands this December as the rest of your staff are pulled away from their desks and are calling the help desk less frequently. Carolyn Woodard reviewed our recent webinars and podcasts for advice on what projects you might want to start now to be ready to hit the ground running in the...
De-Stress! Self Care in Nonprofit IT Roles with Carolyn Woodard
Are you feeling burned out?
Nonprofit IT can be exhausting. Learn how to de-stress to better tackle your job and help your nonprofit succeed.
There is so much stress in managing nonprofit IT.
There are conflicting agendas, tight budgets, and unrealistic demands.
A lot of us have been burned by IT projects in the past that still give us nightmares. The tool was expensive, required a huge project to implement, took a ton of time, didn’t work, everyone hated it, the training was terrible, and the vendor or consultants or your boss left...
Design an IT Roadmap to Create Value with Johan Hammerstrom
Do you have an IT roadmap at your nonprofit?
As a nonprofit leader, how can you design an IT roadmap to create value for your organization?
On October 3, 2024 the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership partnered with Community IT Innovators to provide a workshop: Design an IT Roadmap to Create Value for Your Nonprofit.
To fully utilize the power of IT to support your nonprofit, you need to have a plan. View the workshop video to learn the steps to create your own IT roadmap and incorporate IT strategy into your leadership and budget p...
Consejos Para Organizar Archivos en la Nube con Norwin Herrera
Las mejores prácticas para organizar sus archivos en la nube para lograr seguridad y eficiencia.
La organización de archivos en la nube es algo que puede parecer una prioridad menor, en particular con el aumento de las herramientas de búsqueda potentes y ahora con el auge de la búsqueda con inteligencia artificial (IA). Carolyn habló con el invitado Norwin Herrera, IT Business Manager Team Lead de Community IT, para responder a preguntas sobre por qué es importante crear un sistema de organización de archivos, tanto para una may...
Cloud File Organization Tips with Norwin Herrera
Best practices on organizing your files in the cloud for security and efficiency.
Cloud files organization is something that can seem like a low priority, particularly with the rise of strong search tools and now with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) search. Carolyn spoke with guest Norwin Herrera, IT Business Manager, to answer questions about why it’s important to create a file organization system, both for increased cybersecurity in the world of AI, and for the productivity and efficiency of your staff. Cloud file organization tips include prioritizing the project, clearly labeling files, and creating st...
Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook with Matt Eshleman pt 2
Is your nonprofit struggling to understand cybersecurity fundamentals?
Are you unsure what level of protection you need or can afford?
In part 1, Matt discussed the cybersecurity landscape for nonprofits and some of the changes that prompted this update to the Playbook. In pt 2, Matt walks through the "foundational" suggestions and takes audience questions.
October is Cybersecurity month! Community IT Chief Technology Officer Matt Eshleman walked through our revised Playbook on Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits in a webinar designed to get your nonprofit prepped to face cyberliability insurance requirements and ever-evolving threats.
Learn th...
Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits Playbook with Matt Eshleman pt 1
Is your nonprofit struggling to understand cybersecurity fundamentals?
Are you unsure what level of protection you need or can afford?
In part 1, Matt discussed the cybersecurity landscape for nonprofits and some of the changes that prompted this update to the Playbook. In pt 2, Matt walks through the "foundational" suggestions and takes audience questions.
October is Cybersecurity month! Community IT Chief Technology Officer Matt Eshleman walked through our revised Playbook on Cybersecurity Readiness for Nonprofits in a webinar designed to get your nonprofit prepped to face cyberliability insurance requirements and ever-evolving threats.
Le...
