Outsourcing advice: free digital advice for charities

Charities attract a special breed of professionals. You’re passionate high-performers, do-gooders, and get-stuck-inners. But, because you’re so passionate about the mission, a lot of the time, you wear all the hats.

 

There’s a sector-wide tendency to do everything in-house to preserve precious funding and keep costs down. Even things that might not be your team’s strong suit, like digital.

 

As more and more functions and operational tasks come your way, your workload – and stress levels – rise.

Learning as you go might seem like a saving, but actually, it’s a bit of a false economy. Or it can be when it takes a toll on your health and wellbeing.

 

You don’t have to do everything alone. There are plenty of organisations out there that offer free expert advice and consultancy to charities to help them find the right way forward.

 

 

Why outsourcing works

 

Using outside expertise works because you can focus on where you add the most value to your charity. Time is precious and non-refundable. The more you use it for tasks outside your zone of genius, the less productive you’ll be.

 

Think about it. Learning and refining a new skill can take hours. You’ll make mistakes along the way, too. By talking to someone who’s already an expert, you’ll avoid those mistakes and focus your energy on what’s most important.

What’s more, distance brings clarity. Sometimes we’re so passionate and close to the cause that we can’t see the wood for the trees. An outside eye brings a fresh perspective to a niggling problem.

 

Lastly, using the power of your network and gathering them around your problem builds a sense of ownership and community around its solution. And that’s priceless.

 

 

Our top picks for free digital advice

 

 

Digital Candle

 

60-minutes of free, no-strings consultancy from a digital expert. Simply ask a question via their online form and they’ll match you with an appropriate digital expert, make an introduction, and away you go.

 

They’re a volunteer network of 349 vetted digital experts with vast expertise spanning all things digital. They’ve helped charities with all sorts, including:

• Volunteer management systems
• CRMs, CMS, server management, HTML/ CSS
• Data strategy, management, and science
• Digital strategy and transformation
• Social media marketing and advertising
• SEO and search advertising
• Service design, user research, UX design, online learning design
• Assistive technology

They even promise to help you find an expert if they don’t have one you need on their books!

We at Platypus run this with support from Catalyst.

 

Head to Digital Candle’s website for more information.

 

 

DigiShift

 

DigiShift is a monthly Zoom meeting attended by hundreds of charities and digital experts. 

 

It’s a great space where charities and experts come together to discuss how to create and maintain digital best practices.

 

Recent topics have included:

• Using digital technology sustainably
• Avoiding bias in data
• Designing digital supporter experiences
• De-risking digital

All hot topics in the charity sector. You’ll get the most from their live events, but if you can’t attend, listen to their podcast and access all previous recordings via DigiShift’s website.

 

 

The Curve

 

The Curve is a series of free, 90-minute workshops exclusively for charities run by Third Sector Labs.

 

They’re held regularly and build knowledge of best digital practices, raise awareness of digital tools (and make the most of them), and help charities increase their impact with digital.

 

Recent workshops included:

• Storytelling for impact
• Data science
• Smartphone video and audio
• Podcasting for charities
• Online event promotion

Even better – if you can’t attend in person, they’re all available to watch online via their website.

Look at the back catalogue and see what’s coming soon on The Curve’s website.

 

 

Coffee Connections

 

Last but by no means least, there’s Coffee Connections. Who doesn’t love a virtual brew?

 

Coffee Connections helps you build relationships with other charity professionals outside your organisation – such a valuable thing to have – by matching you with other members.

 

Every two months, you receive an invitation to meet, share, and learn from someone new.

 

Find out more about the process on Coffee Connections’ website.

 

 

The bottom line

 

Imagine you’re someone (or something) your charity supports. If you knew they had the opportunity to access free, expert advice and support, you’d tell them to make the most of it.

 

No-brainer, right? So, take your own advice and seize that opportunity.

 

Contact an expert. They’ll shine a light on your digital problem and help you find the best solution for your charity.