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Fractional CIO Service for Nonprofits

Nonprofit Leadership Teams often need strategic technical and innovation leadership, but hiring a full-time Chief Innovation Officer isn’t always feasible. A fractional Chief Innovation Officer offers a flexible solution, bringing high-level expertise to drive growth, creativity, and impact without the cost of a full-time role.

Outsource Your Innovation Needs

Fractional leadership enables nonprofits to bring on high-level, experienced tech leaders on a part-time basis. Unlike consultants who focus on short-term projects, fractional executives are embedded in the organization, offering continuity, accountability, and strategic leadership across teams without the cost or long-term commitment of a full-time hire.

Innovation and Technology Strategy Development

Get help defining and implementing an organization-wide innovation strategy aligned with your mission while evaluating and implementing digital tools and platforms that enhance efficiency, data use, and impact measurement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Break down silos by fostering collaboration across departments, ensuring innovation efforts are integrated and supported throughout the organization, from program delivery to fundraising and communications.

Change Management & Culture Building

Support Leadership Teams through organizational change, cultivating a culture of innovation by introducing new mindsets, tools, and processes that empower staff to think creatively and act on new ideas.

Vendor and Supplier Management

Get support managing external vendors and/or internal IT teams including day-to-day communications, contract reviews, and project management.

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Service Details

Our in-house Fractional CIO consultants have 10+ years of essential nonprofit technology experience that can help supports strategic decision-making, operational growth, and financial health, without the cost of full-time hires. 

This flexible model allows organizations to strengthen leadership while conserving resources for mission-focused work.

Tech Impact offers 2 types of Fractional CIO services :

vCIO Advisor  

Our Virtual CIO Advisor's main goal is to establish and coach a cross functional Tech Committee.  The Tech Committee identifies and prioritizes technology needs and opportunities and with the help of the vCIO develops strategies to act on them.  This includes helping make sure you fully use what you already have. Our experienced vCIO will create and run monthly Tech Committee calls, complete tasks identified and assigned during calls, and coach staff in specific areas including budgeting, policy creation, or specific technical topics.

Full Fractional CIO:

Tech Impact's more robust offering can take an active role in the technology areas that you request. Example responsibilities can include:

  • Development of project plans and technology budget
  • Understand compliance regulations and data security concerns
  • Conduct employee surveys to identify training needs, barriers to adoption and new ideas where technology could transform your work.
  • Help guide technical staff
  • Work with your data curious staff members to help them seek insights, tell your story, and support data driven decision making.  
  • Join executive team meetings and an annual board meeting to discuss current and possible technology use in support of your mission  
  • Help develop and maintain policies, procedures and job descriptions related to technology
  • Review help desk trends and manage relationships with key technology suppliers

Our Fractional CIO service is a monthly contract with an agreed upon set of hours per month that fits your organizations needs. Following an onboarding consultation to discuss needs and goals, our in-house expert will customize timeline, roadmap, and milestones that aligns with each organization's immediate concerns and long-term goals.

Pricing is based on an agreed upon number of hours per month with a minimum of 5 hours. Clients will receive a monthly bill based upon this number of hours - Unused hours can roll over on a month-to-month basis for up to 2 months. Future hours can be borrowed up to one month in advance. 

"This was exactly what we needed to get ourselves back on course. They worked directly with our Leadership Team and provided guidance, strategy oversight, and staff/resource planning that helped us with our short-term challenges along with long-term solutions."

"After finishing a Strategic Tech Planning project, our team recognized that we needed some ongoing help with implementing and following through with all of our goals. We didn't have the budget (or need) for a full-time CIO, and this was a great compromise. They quickly understood our most pressing needs and dived right in to help keep us on track and most important, support our Leadership Team across the organization in the areas we had gaps. It's been a great partnership."