--- title: What to Consider When Creating Your Tech Budget description: Find out the best way to approach creating your tech budget for long term planning. image: https://blog.techboston.com/hubfs/tech%20budget%202.0.png --- ### Search engine Use this form to find things you need on this site Search × [![We're better together.](https://blog.techboston.com/hubfs/Tech_Networks_of_Boston_June2018/Images/Logo_without_motto-copy-web.png)](https://techboston.com) - [About TNB](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/) - [Overview](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/) - [Annual Report](https://techboston.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-Benefit-Report.pdf) - [Mission](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/mission/) - [Partnerships and Affiliations](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/partnerships/) - [Certifications & Awards](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/certifications-awards/) - [Blog](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/blog/) - [Free Resources](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/resources/) - [Job Opportunities](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/careers/) - [Services](https://techboston.com/our-services/services-overview/) - [Overview](https://techboston.com/our-services/services-overview/) - [Integrated Services](https://techboston.com/our-services/integrated/) - [Managed Services](https://techboston.com/our-services/managed-services-2/) - [Project Services](https://techboston.com/our-services/project-services/) - [Case Studies](https://techboston.com/case-studies/) - [Using IT to Increase Productivity and Reduce Costs](https://techboston.com/case-studies/increase-productivity/) - [Updating Technology for Growing Needs](https://techboston.com/case-studies/updating-technology/) - [Shifting to Remote Work in the Midst of a Crisis](https://techboston.com/case-studies/remote-work/) - [Protecting Your Organization in the Wake of Cybercrime](https://techboston.com/case-studies/cybercrime/) - [Integrating Technology for Mission Driven Success](https://techboston.com/case-studies/integrated-technology-success/) - [Events](https://techboston.com/events/) - [Upcoming Events](https://techboston.com/events/) - [Past Roundtable Events](https://techboston.com/past-roundtable-events/) - [TNB’s Dialogue Series on Nonprofit Data and Evaluation](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/blog/best-practices-data-evaluation/) - [Contact Us](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/contact-us/) - [Home](https://techboston.com/) - [About Us](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/) - [2022 Annual Report](https://techboston.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2022-Benefit-Report.pdf) - [Blog](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/blog/) - [Certifications & Awards](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/certifications-awards/) - [Case Studies](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/case-studies/) - [Job Opportunities](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/careers/) - [Mission](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/mission/) - [Partnerships and Affiliations](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/partnerships/) - [Events](https://techboston.com/events/) - [Services](https://techboston.com/our-services/) - [Contact Us](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/contact-us/) # What to Consider When Creating Your Tech Budget [Home](https://techboston.com) / What to Consider When Creating Your Tech Budget Return to Previous Page [![image-1](https://blog.techboston.com/hubfs/tech%20budget%202.0.png)](https://blog.techboston.com/hubfs/tech%20budget%202.0.png) [View large](https://blog.techboston.com/hubfs/tech%20budget%202.0.png) [nonprofit technology](https://blog.techboston.com/tag/nonprofit-technology), [budgeting](https://blog.techboston.com/tag/budgeting), [IT budgeting](https://blog.techboston.com/tag/it-budgeting) ### What to Consider When Creating Your Tech Budget When your nonprofit purchased computers, servers, and basic software you might have thought you had covered your technology needs. However, there are many issues, small and large, that can increase your tech costs year after year. Nonprofits often don’t have large IT budgets or dedicated internal IT staff, so it can be difficult to make purchasing and budgeting decisions for your organization. We hope to give you a few tips to help make your budgeting process easier.   First, you’ll want to review what systems your team is currently using and think about how your organization plans to grow and change over the next year and beyond. Typically, devices like laptops become obsolete within a few years and you will need to get a new server, or [migrate your data to the cloud](https://blog.techboston.com/cloud-computing-what-is-it-and-why-should-your-organization-use-it), after a few years of operation. Other technology needs, like your operating system, should be upgraded every few years to ensure you’re safe from security threats and your devices are running as smoothly as possible (read about Windows 7 End of Life [HERE](https://blog.techboston.com/windows-7-end-of-life-and-the-impact-on-your-business)). While it may be tempting to rely on repairs and patches for longer than recommended, this could end up costing you more in the long run than simply spending on new devices and software.   Reviewing the systems your team currently uses gives you the opportunity to determine whether you’re spending too much on programs you don’t need or can replace with something else. Do you use Google Docs *and* Office Online? Are you using a CRM with email marketing functionality but still using a separate tool like MailChimp to deliver your campaigns? Are you paying for everyone to have access to Adobe Creative Suite when only two team members use it? Make sure you’re not spending in unnecessary places so that you can create more room in your budget for essential costs.   It is also important that you consider the way your company will grow over the next few years, and how you can anticipate future needs now. The systems you use should be scalable, and you should have plans for onboarding new hires as well as helping current employees transition roles smoothly. For instance, if you currently use Salesforce for nonprofits and you have under 10 users, you’re well within your budget (since its free!). However, if you expanded the team that uses Salesforce, or want other team members to start using it to manage data, will you be able to afford that growth? Or will you have to take time and resources to move over to another software that is better aligned with your budget and size needs? Planning for growth is essential, and it can be risky to handle everything ad-hoc.   Finally, you’ll want to determine what your plan is for handling tech when it reaches end-of-life or needs to be upgraded. Not only do you have to budget for the purchase of new tech, but you also must budget for properly discarding your old technology. Creating a set of guidelines for your technology purchases can help you manage costs by determining how often devices need to be upgraded, what functionality is needed by role, and how hardware is to be sourced (preferred vendors, etc.). The cost of updating technology like your operating systems is also important to factor in, including the labor and downtime that might be incurred during the process.   Technology budgeting is an involved process and it can be difficult to manage alone. Chances are, your nonprofit doesn’t have a robust IT department, and it may be difficult to navigate technology projects. It is important to take a holistic approach to your IT budget and planning, because it impacts the way your business operates every day. If you have questions about how to start or need help, please [contact us](mailto:sales@techboston.com). 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September 09, 2019 at 10:30 AM by Veronica Moreno-Nestojko … nonprofit technology , nonprofit technology support , technology resources , Boston MSPs , Boston IT support #### 6 Tips for Nonprofit Technology Management August 16, 2018 at 12:19 PM by Ashley Fontes … b corporation , best for the world , nonprofit technology [![Tech networks of boston announced as 2018 Best for the world honoree](https://blog.techboston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/best%20for%20the%20world.png?width=387&name=best%20for%20the%20world.png)](https://blog.techboston.com/tech-networks-of-boston-announced-as-2018-best-for-the-world-honoree) #### Tech networks of boston announced as 2018 Best for the world honoree June 20, 2018 at 07:23 PM by Ashley Fontes … Tech Tips , budgeting , IT budgeting [![Tech Budgeting Done Right](https://blog.techboston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/budgeting.png?width=387&name=budgeting.png)](https://blog.techboston.com/tech-budgeting-done-right) #### Tech Budgeting Done Right June 14, 2017 at 07:52 PM by Ashley Fontes … ### Leave a Reply [![updatedblogad](https://blog.techboston.com/hs-fs/hubfs/updatedblogad.png?width=312&name=updatedblogad.png)](https://techboston.com/about-tnb/contact-us/)                    ### Contact Us 1 Wadleigh Place South Boston, MA 02127 Phone: 617.269.0299 Fax: 888.527.9333 ### GET UPDATES ### Resources [Server Failure and Recovery](https://techboston.com/resources/server-failure/) [Plan a Successful Email Migration to the Cloud](https://techboston.com/resources/email-migration/) [How to Align Your Staff on Technology Use and Policies](https://techboston.com/resources/technology-policies/) [Data Loss and Recovery: A Guide](https://techboston.com/resources/data-loss-recovery/) [Assess Your IT Needs: Is an MSP Right For You?](https://techboston.com/resources/assess-it/) [IT Audits and Assessments: What Are They Good For?](https://techboston.com/resources/it-audits-assessments/) [The Right Time to Change Your MSP](https://techboston.com/resources/change-msp/) [Privacy Policy](https://techboston.com/privacy-policy/) © 2021 Tech Networks of Boston