![]() In addition to helping nonprofits share data with donors, the IoT can also let nonprofits capture data about donors. A sensor on a water well, for example, could collect data indicating if well maintenance is needed while also tracking water use - a key measure of impact allowing donors to see the benefit of their donations. Take the case of a nonprofit that works to provide water to children in developing nations. A theoretical use case from Deloitte exemplifies the way that smart devices can support operational goals while also shining a light on organizational success stories. IoT data can go a long way to help nonprofits capture and communicate that impact. As Nicholas Fandos writes in an article for The New York Times, “Given the vast options at their fingertips, they want to be able to see and measure how those gifts are making a unique impact.” Organizations that are transparent in their use of funds and able to demonstrate concrete results are most likely to succeed in engaging support, in both time and financial contributions, from this generation. For nonprofits, that data could translate directly into donor dollars.Ĭonsider the idea that millennials, the up-and-coming generation to which nonprofits will be looking for financial support, put a premium on being able to see the impact of their giving. The real power of the IoT comes from the data and insights that such devices generate. IoT Data Helps Nonprofits Share Impact with DonorsĪlthough connected sensors and other smart devices may be the most visible part of the IoT, they’re akin to the tip of the iceberg. MORE FROM BIZTECH: See how one city is using the Internet of Things to achieve its mission. And, with more than 10,000 downloads of the app, HabitatMap reports a robust community of users that range from schools to citizen scientists. While the AirBeam device captures the air pollution data, it’s the digital connection that makes it possible to share it. ![]() Scaling up participation via apps and wearables, technologies that are already familiar to users, is a logical next step for nonprofits that want to expand their reach. ![]() The AirCasting app, created by Brooklyn-based HabitatMap with a Google mapping-development grant, puts data into the hands of activists - literally - while increasing the number of advocates working to identify and locate areas where air pollution is a problem. Take the AirBeam, a wearable device that gathers information on air pollution, tracks air quality using maps and graphs and sends the information to a crowdsourced platform. But some organizations are already taking advantage of this technology and coming up with creative ways to incorporate smart tools into their missions. Internet of Things applications, or the use of connected devices to collect, share and disseminate data, may seem far on the horizon for nonprofits. ![]()
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