Top Nonprofit Tech Lessons From the 2025 Tech Forward Conference
Hundreds of nonprofit technologists, leaders and innovators gathered in Nashville, Tennessee, this month for Tech Impact’s annual Tech Forward conference. The three-day event explored how technology can strengthen organizations and accelerate mission-driven work. Sessions ranged from practical workshops on cybersecurity and data to candid conversations about the human side of technology adoption.
Across plenaries and breakout sessions, a few themes stood out: cybersecurity is a growing risk, change management remains a barrier and data holds transformative potential when applied creatively.
NonProfit PRO attended the event. Here’s more on the themes that nonprofit leaders need to know about.
‘6 Ways Nonprofits Can Avoid Website Security Risks’
With the threats nonprofits face growing, organizations can no longer overlook website vulnerabilities. Marcus Iannozzi, chief digital officer at Tech Impact, highlighted practical steps to protect your nonprofit’s website from cyberattacks with a focus on Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates, regular software updates and incident response plans in his session, “Why IT Directors Need to Care About Website Security.”
He also urged leaders to view security as a mission issue, not simply an IT function. A breach doesn’t just put data at risk — it can disrupt programs, compromise donor trust and impact an organization’s ability to serve its community.
‘4 Strategies for Breaking Through Resistance to Change in Nonprofit Tech Projects’
Even the best technology projects can falter if staff aren’t ready to embrace them. In her session, “Mind the Gap: Making Tech Work Through Better Collaboration,” Taylor Wilder, skilled volunteer programs manager at Hands On Powered by United Way of Greater Nashville, reflected on her past reluctance to adopt new systems and how it now shapes her work guiding organizations through transitions.
Today, she helps nonprofits scope, launch and troubleshoot tech upgrades with IT volunteers — and shares practical strategies to reduce resistance to change and build buy-in across teams.
‘4 Creative Ways Nonprofits Are Using Technology and Data to Further Their Missions’
Finally, several sessions illustrated how nonprofits are thinking beyond efficiency when it comes to data and digital tools. By looking at data as more than a back-office tool, these nonprofits are advancing missions in innovative ways — from improving donor engagement strategies to elevating storytelling and service delivery.
Discover how The Bail Project, Charity: water, Everytown for Gun Safety and Heights Philadelphia applied data and technology to strengthen advocacy, improve community engagement and streamline day-to-day work.
