Mastercard has launched Changeworks, the core mission of which is to support Canadian not-for-profits by helping them improve their technology and data capabilities.
Canada is home to outstanding not-for-profits delivering critical social programs and services, but many of these organizations have not been able to adequately invest in technology infrastructure and digital skills, according to a statement from Mastercard.
A majority believe digital adoption is important and the resource crunches could be more effectively managed through digital technology, the company says. However, 55% of charities polled say they do not have the funding, or the skills, expertise and knowledge for digital adoption, according to data from The 2021 Digital Skills Survey by national not-for-profit CanadaHelps.
“Canadian not-for-profit organizations are vital contributors to our country’s economic health and social fabric, but many lack the necessary technology infrastructure and digital skills to deliver on their mandates and increase their impact,” said Sasha Krstic, president of Mastercard in Canada.
This has created obstacles for delivering programs and services, scaling impact and reach, and bringing in donations critical to support work. The pandemic made this situation even more challenging as not-for-profit organizations faced decreasing revenue and increasing demand for services.
“We aim to provide support, resources and expertise to help empower them do what they do best,” said Krstic. “It’s about creating a ripple effect that will make Canadian society stronger, more inclusive, and more equitable for everyone.”
To put Changeworks’ commitment into action, Mastercard announced this week that made its first anchor grant to CanadaHelps to launch a digital transformation program for charities across Canada. The grant will fund the development and piloting of a new program, CanadaHelps’ Charity Growth Academy, to help small and medium-size charities use tech and data to transform their strategies, operations, and fundraising.
“The prioritization of digital transformation is well understood and underway in the business world, and charities need the same support to go digital that has been offered to small businesses,” said Lizz Bryce, SVP, Community and Strategic Initiatives at CanadaHelps.
CanadaHelps recently began accepting donations via bitcoin and cryptocurrency.
Leave a Reply