Grantmakers Information Technology Survey Report 

V. Challenges/Emerging Issues 

Technology Issues That Grantmakers Are Not Prepared to Address 

Online Grantmaking/Online Donor Information 

The foundation sector lags behind much of the corporate sector, where many corporations 

have been forced by competition to provide online services for business to business and 

business to consumer operations. The need for online operations is becoming 

increasingly important for community foundations that  compete  with financial services 

firms providing donor services.  

This need is exemplified by many of the survey responses, which include but are not 

limited to: 

 Web based grant applications  

 Online scholarship applications  

 The inevitable use of electronic means for receiving gifts, processing grants, 

receiving grant applications  

 Competitiveness with financial services firms' donor services issues  

 Donor extranets  and  accessibility to fund information online  

 Retail e commerce in support of our operating foundations  

 Electronic contributions, grant suggestions and investment transaction transfer of 

data  

 Developing an on line presence for board members to grant information and 

other non grant documents  

Expansion and Maintenance of Website 

The second most challenging issue for foundations is the use of their website. Challenges 

with respect to the website range from how to expand and develop the website further to 

how to maintain the content and upgrade the hardware and software.  

Ninety one percent (91%) of foundations use their websites to provide general 

information about the foundation and its programs. Other common uses for foundation 

websites are to provide information about issues the foundation funds and to publish 

foundation reports.  

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