In this guide, we explain how to design a digital infrastructure for your nonprofit or activist movement. We go over various categories of tools, with advice for organisations of different sizes.

Article quality: ⭐️ (1/5)

Introduction #

This guide is written for digital organizers. In short, digital organizing is the expertise of building a digital infrastructure for grassroots movements. After reading this guide, you will understand:

• What is a tech stack?

• What categories of digital tools exist?

• Which tools does an organisation of my size need?

What is a tech stack? #

A tech stack is a collection of tools. Together, they form your digital infrastructure. Think of it as a city: you need a hospital, a school, and a town hall. As your city grows, your infrastructure requirements change. For example, first, you might only need busses, but later you also need a metro system. As your city grows organically, you might get stuck with infrastructure does not fit your current needs any more, which might also limit your growth or make it less accessible for some.

In this guide, we help you set up a digital infrastructure that fits an organisation of your size. We also give some advice on how to make sure it is scalable. But first, we explain what categories of tools exist.

Categories of tools #

Tools made by activists #

We start with a special category: movement building tools. These tools were built specifically for activists, by activists.

Having worked with commercially available tools, these activists decided the perfect tool did not exist, so they built it themselves. Their unique set of features make these tools difficult to put into a single category, so we created a separate category all together.

Internal collaboration #

The apps in this category help activists work together better. These are mostly tools that you might find in any business office.

Productivity suites #

Productivity suites are all-in-one packages for internal collaboration. They are a set of tools that work well together. But of course you can also decide to pick and choose from the individual tools below!

Communication apps #

• 💬 Chat apps: From WhatsApp to Slack, we compare chat apps that organisations of different sizes can use. And we evaluate things such as security and privacy.

• ☎️ Video calling: Since the COVID pandemic, there are lots of video calling tools to choose from. We outline the best tools for different use cases, from creative brainstorms with small groups to large general assemblies.

Project management #

Keep track of to-do's, project timelines, and divide responsibilities using these project management tools. We outline how you can get most out of tools such as Trello and Glassfrog.

Office apps #

Our guides on office apps might seem a bit boring: we all know PowerPoint, right? But do not be fooled, innovation is still happening in this office app category! Check out these guides for more secure alternatives, AI powered functionalities, and more:

• 📂 Cloud storage

• 📝 Documents

• 🎤 Presentations

• 💡Brainstorming

Data, insights and automation #

The apps in this category will help you make make more impact in less time, by making use of data-based insights, automations, and supercharged contact lists.

People database (CRM) #

Turn your mailing list into an organizing and fundraising tool by selecting the right CRM. Track interactions with your supporters, volunteers and donors, and increase their engagement.

Data insights #

• Analytics

• Dashboards

Data apps #

Automation tools #

External communication #

Website #

• Content Management System (CMS): website builder, headless or not

• Forms

• Search engine optimisation (SEO)

Other marketing channels #

• ✉️ Email marketing

• 📱 Broadcasting messages

• ❤️ Social media

Direct marketing #

• ☎️ Phone banking

• ❓ Support desk

Media libraries #

• 📸 Photo libraries

• ✏️ Vector illustration libraries

• 🎞 Video footage libraries

Quick & dirty tech stack #

Want to get started fast? These are our recommendations:

• Wordpress website & Action Network forms: about €20 per month

  • General signup form

  • Events RSVPs

  • Petitions

  • Send out mass emails using Action Network

• WhatsApp Community: free

  • Add invite link to your website or in your e-mails

  • Create group chats for different teams or local groups

  • Use the announcement channel for important updates