Tech trends for charities in 2022

COVID-19 forever changed the charity sector. Service delivery moved to websites and videoconferencing platforms, fundraising shifted to online donations and virtual events, donor engagement became almost entirely digitised, and professionals adapted to remote working.

Many of these trends are set to continue, even as social distancing restrictions are eased. Charities around the world have experienced an accelerated form of digital transformation, which is likely to continue long into the future.

It started with necessity – organisations shifting to digital largely due to lockdowns – but many charities noticed the huge benefits of the shift. And they are building on these successes, keeping digital momentum going and adapting to meet the demands of the future.

It’s essential that charities look forward to see the most exciting digital trends and stay ahead of the curve.

Skip to read about contactless payments.

Skip to read about the future of social media.

Skip to read about Blockchain and transparency.

Skip to read about automation and AI.

Skip to read about the use of virtual reality.

Skip to read about cloud-based storage.

Skip to read about gaming for fundraising.

The continuing importance of contactless payments for charities

COVID-19 led to the implementation of social distancing restrictions. It meant wearing masks in public spaces, avoiding handshakes and hugs, and generally keeping our distance. The move away from physical contact led to changes in daily operations.

Contactless payments went from a luxury to a necessity. Many charities had already gone contactless prior to the pandemic, but the emergence of COVID-19 cemented that shift. Digital, contactless, and cashless payments became essential to maintain fundraising efforts.

Contactless and digital payments for charities will likely become even more important. The good news is that almost any charity can implement contactless payments. It simply involves setting up a point of sale (POS) device equipped with radio frequency identification.

The POS device immediately receives payment without any contact between the card and the machine. Such devices have become affordable in recent years, particularly with the general shift towards cashless interactions in the wider economy.

There are several other digital payment options available for charities, ranging from QR codes to donate buttons, all of which the sector has broadly and quickly adopted.

Many charities have already switched to digital payment options, which has improved the ease with which users can donate. In 2019, for example, the Mayor of London partnered with TAP London to create easy mediums for cashless donations for homeless people.

The two parties set up 35 donation centres serving at least 22 charities that supported the homeless, raising more than £7,000 in the first few weeks. The venture demonstrated how easy it is to adapt traditional giving methods.

Platforms like Beam help charities with cashless donations. Beam ensures donations are secure and convenient for donors. It also provides a platform where donors can monitor where their money has been donated and the services that the charity delivers.

Charity social media platforms of the future

Social media has become essential for charities during COVID-19. Major social media platforms – such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter – remain important for spreading awareness and fundraising. Popular new platforms – such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Clubhouse – are allowing charities to spread their reach.

Social media offers charities an easy route to promoting their cause. The platforms each provide ample opportunity for charities to communicate with potential donors, reach a new audience, and raise awareness about essential elements of service delivery.

Here are some of the likely post-COVID-19 social media trends.

Charity livestreams are going mainstream

Livestreaming will certainly continue as a key fundraising device. It provides one of the easiest ways for charities to showcase their service delivery options. During lockdown, for example, many organisations have offered live tours on Facebook, Twitch, and Instagram, which highlights some of the essential work they are doing.

Livestreams offer an intricate look at a charity’s day-to-day operations. They provide a platform to showcase service delivery, offering potential donors an insight into how their money might be spent. Charities can record the hard work of their volunteers, share authentic aspects of service delivery, and document the vital work that they are doing in their communities.

For more information, check out our article: How to fundraise with Instagram stories.

The continuing growth of TikTok

TikTok was one of the big success stories from 2020. The growth of the relatively new platform does not seem to be slowing, either in terms of the number of users or its general importance for charities. With the platform still evolving, charities should get involved as soon as possible.

TikTok provides a particular opportunity when it comes to engaging with a younger demographic. Many charities have already noticed its importance.

Macmillan Cancer Support began experimenting with TikTok in November 2020. They adopted an influencer-driven approach, teaming up with cancer survivor and amputee Bernadette Hagans, to take a light-hearted look at a serious subject.

The British Red Cross has launched a second TikTok channel dedicated to sharing simple first aid tips, which has proved very useful.

The success of charitable ventures proves that TikTok offers vital space for charities, particularly in terms of providing ‘user-generated’ content.

Check out our Charity guide to TikTok for advice and tips.

Should charities join Clubhouse?

Founded in 2020 by Paul Davidson and Rohan Seth, Clubhouse is an audio-only social media app.

Reaching more than two million weekly active users when only available on iOS – Clubhouse is certainly one to look out for in the future.

Clubhouse is currently invitation-only, but charities should not have too much trouble getting invited. The platform has no photos, graphics, and videos – it is purely about social interaction.

Clubhouse is organised into rooms and a feed known as the ‘hallway’ or ‘corridor.’ There are also ‘clubs’ hosting regular rooms that you can follow.

Charities should question whether there are opportunities to raise awareness and fundraise on the platform. They should ask themselves questions before getting involved, such as:

• Does it provide opportunities for fundraising?
• Does your content suit the format?
• What audience are you trying to reach?

If these questions generate a positive response, Clubhouse might just be the perfect app for your charity. For more information, check out our article: Should charities join Clubhouse?

Blockchain is solving trust and tracking issues for charities

According to a Charity Commission report, public trust in charities remains below pre-2014 levels, with an overall rating of just 6.2/10. One of the key elements that diminishes public trust is the absence of accountability and the potential of fraud.

Blockchain ensures transparency with data and minimises fraud. It allows donors to monitor how charities use donations, which incentivises future donations, as donors are more likely to give if they trust the organisation and can visibly track how money is spent.

Digital financial platforms, such as Alice, are solving transparency issues by introducing Blockchain into the charity sector. Based on the Ethereum Blockchain Network, users can track payments made to a particular charity and set conditions around how money may be spent. And, importantly, users can pull back donations if charities do not meet the conditions.

Charity organisations, such as St Mungo’s, are using the Alice platform to improve donation services. St Mungo’s used Alice for an appeal to raise £50,000 to help lift 15 people out of long-term rough sleeping by delivering concentrated personalised support.

Alice worked to freeze donations until the charity provided evidence that money was spent to meet the defined goals. Donors were also able to track when the suggested goals were met.

Blockchain can improve transparency in the charity sector, but it also provides lots of other services. It also helps with tracking supplies, for example. The health sector has used Blockchain during the pandemic to ensure supplies are delivered without delay, with up-to-date information, and without waste.

Because all updates on Blockchain are time-stamped, users can find out where products or supplies are at a certain time with reliable information, which minimises the risk of counterfeit, failures of compliance, and possible delays.

The benefits of Blockchain are clear. The question for charities is how they can use the new technology to improve operations.

For more information, check out our article: Blockchain for charity fundraising: behind the buzzword.