Information & Technology: Policies and Practices

1. A nonprofit should have information systems in place that provide timely, accurate, and relevant information.
   
   
2. In order to allow for cost-effective technology purchases, nonprofits should have a written technology plan that is integrated into its short and long term strategic and operational plans and includes assessment and funds to make necessary technology upgrades.
   
   
3. As appropriate to its technology resources, a nonprofit should have technology use and security policies that address staff use, and that prescribe how all organizational information is gathered and stored, how accuracy is maintained, how and what information is backed up, and to whom information is made available.
   
   
4. A nonprofit should designate responsibility for maintaining the organization's information systems to more than one staff person, volunteer, or board member; one person should be primary and at least one should be back-up. All staff should have current training to use those systems that are relevant to their work and should know who to report problems to.
   
   
5. A nonprofit should monitor ongoing technological developments that have the potential to impact its information systems or mission.