Why digital decision-making doesn’t start with the tech.
This article was written by Elysha Paige - Founder of Radiate Hiring in collaboration with Tree Hall - CEO of Charity IT Leaders.
September 2026.
If you've attended a conference, opened LinkedIn or read a charity sector newsletter recently, you've probably been told that your organisation needs to be thinking about digital transformation, data, AI or technology.
For many small and medium-sized charities, that can feel both exciting and overwhelming. The latest Charity Digital Skills Report found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of charities say squeezed organisational finances are the biggest barrier to making progress with digital. More than half (51%) also cite a lack of time and capacity, while many continue to face shortages in technical expertise.
In other words, many charities are trying to embrace new opportunities while managing limited budgets, limited capacity and no shortage of competing priorities.
The reality is that most charity leaders aren't lying awake at night wondering whether they need a CRM or a new project management tool. They're thinking about much more fundamental questions:
How do we continue to secure funding?
How do we demonstrate our impact?
How do we meet growing demand for our services?
How do we support staff and volunteers when resources are stretched?
How do we become more efficient without compromising quality?
How do we ensure our organisation remains sustainable and resilient for the future?
Digital, data and technology can absolutely help address these challenges. That might mean using data to better evidence impact to funders, reducing administrative burden so staff can spend more time delivering services, or improving collaboration and decision-making across the organisation.
Before deciding whether you need a new system, a Digital Trustee or a new member of staff, it's worth taking a step back.
When tackling questions around technology, recruitment and organisational capability, I always find myself coming back to a principle from my Business Analyst training:
Never start with the solution, always start with the problem.
When capacity is stretched and decisions need to be made quickly, it's easy to jump straight into recruiting a Data Lead, investing in a new system or exploring AI tools. But without a clear understanding of the challenge you're trying to solve, it's easy to invest time, money and energy in the wrong place.
So before you start writing a job description or signing a contract for a new system, consider these five steps to help you make stronger decisions about digital capability.
1. Be clear about the problem before you even think about solutions
Before thinking about technology or recruitment, get clear on what your organisation is trying to achieve and what's getting in the way.
Technology is rarely the challenge in itself. More often, it's a symptom of a wider organisational issue such as inefficient processes, lack of capacity, fragmented information or competing priorities. Understanding the root cause will help you make better decisions about where to invest your time, effort and resources.
Ask yourself:
What are our biggest organisational and strategic priorities?
What challenges are preventing us from achieving them?
Where are we losing unnecessary time, money or effort?
What is making it harder for our people to do their jobs effectively?
If we solved these challenges, what would success look like?
Starting with the need gives you a much stronger foundation for deciding what capability you actually need, and where digital, data or technology could help.
2. Recruitment is only one way to access capability
Once you understand the capability you need, don't assume that recruiting a permanent member of staff is the only answer.
For smaller charities in particular, competing with larger charities and the private sector for specialist digital, data and technology skills can be difficult, particularly when it comes to salary. At a time when many organisations are facing financial pressures, it is worth considering the full range of options available.
Think more broadly about how you could access the skills you need.
Could you:
Develop or train someone already in your organisation?
Bring in a Digital Trustee, volunteer, consultant or managed service?
Partner with another organisation to share expertise or even a role?
Explore mentoring or secondment opportunities with larger organisations?
Design work around specific outcomes or projects rather than traditional full-time roles and fixed working patterns?
Some charities are finding creative ways to access capability, from shared appointments and sector partnerships to short-term specialist support. Focusing on outcomes rather than headcount can also help you tap into talented individuals who may not be available for a conventional 9 to 5 role.
Being flexible about how you access capability can open up a much wider pool of skills and experience while making the best use of limited resources.
3. Don't just solve problems, look for opportunities
Digital, data and technology shouldn't only be about fixing what isn't working. They can also help you think differently about what your organisation could achieve.
While it's important to address today's challenges, it's equally important to consider future opportunities. The right capability can help charities expand their reach, improve service delivery, strengthen fundraising and create new ways of delivering impact.
Ask yourself:
Could we use data more effectively to understand and demonstrate our impact?
Could technology help us reach or support more people?
Could we deliver our services in new or more accessible ways?
Could we use digital tools to generate income, strengthen fundraising or build new partnerships?
What could we do differently if some of our current constraints were removed?
The opportunity might not always be obvious, so make space to think beyond immediate challenges and consider how digital capability could help your organisation create greater impact in the future.
4. Before choosing a solution, understand what's possible
You don't need to be a technology expert to make good decisions about digital, but it helps to understand what your options are.
Once you're clear on the need or opportunity, invest some time in exploring the possibilities. Not every challenge requires a new system, and not every opportunity requires a specialist hire. The more informed you are, the more likely you are to identify solutions that are proportionate, affordable and effective.
You could:
Speak to people across your organisation about what they need and where they see opportunities.
Learn from other charities. What have they tried, what worked and what would they do differently?
Connect with sector networks and communities, such as Charity IT Leaders, and follow what others in the sector are doing.
Bring in a consultant or specialist to help you explore your options where you don't have the expertise internally.
Speak to potential suppliers, but be clear on the problem you're trying to solve before getting drawn into a particular solution.
The goal isn't to become a technology expert yourself. It's to understand enough to ask good questions, weigh up your options and make informed decisions.
5. Focus on capability, not job titles
If recruitment is part of the answer, resist the temptation to jump straight to a job title.
It's easy to decide that what you need is a Digital Manager, Head of Technology or Data Lead. The challenge is that those titles can mean very different things in different organisations.
Instead, start with what you actually need someone to achieve.
Ask yourself:
What outcomes do we need this person to deliver?
What problems do we need them to solve?
What skills and knowledge will they need to do that?
What experience is genuinely essential, and what could be learned?
What capability do we already have internally, and where are the gaps?
Defining the capability first will help you design the right role, set realistic expectations and recruit more effectively. It can also help you identify whether the need is actually for a single person, a combination of support options or capability development within your existing team.
Making your first digital hire
If recruitment is part of your answer, a new set of questions emerges: what skills do you need, what should the role look like and how do you attract and assess the right people?
These are some of the topics we'll be exploring in our webinar on October 14th at midday, where we'll share practical advice to help charities make informed recruitment decisions and build the capability they need for the future. Visit the Charity IT Leaders events page to book your place. Places are free to all charities and charitable organisations.
Making your first digital hire
If recruitment is part of your answer, a new set of questions emerges: what skills do you need, what should the role look like and how do you attract and assess the right people?
These are some of the topics we'll be exploring in our webinar on October 14th at midday, where we'll share practical advice to help charities make informed recruitment decisions and build the capability they need for the future.
You can sign up for the webinar here: Beyond Recruitment: Smarter Ways for Charities to Build Digital Capability.
