Non-profits and businesses discuss how new technologies can drive charity development in Russia.

21.11.2024

On November 29, Sovcombank and the Skolkovo Foundation held a conference, “Technologies for Good”, focusing on the digitalisation of charities.

The conference was held in the Skolkovo Technopark, and attended by business representatives and leading CSOs, such as the charitable foundations “Not in Vain”, “Butterfly Children”, “Naked Heart”, “Oncologica”, “Life Line”, the ORBI Stroke Foundation, the Istoki Endowment Fund, the CSO “Kitchen”, the Vladimir Potanin Foundation, Blagosfera, Philin Philgood, as well as the Presidential Grants Fund and the business D-Group.Social.

The conference programme included discussions, workshops and practical sessions on digitalisation in the charity sector.

Unlike the commercial sector, the CSO sector has a greater need for communications, said Vyacheslav Litovchenko, CEO of Sovcombank Technologies.

“For foundations, word of mouth is a separate communication tool. If someone succeeds, then it’s important for everyone to know about it. The idea of competition within charity is bad news. Informed guys in this field look to each other, rely on each other’s decisions, and share expertise,” Litovchenko said.

Some of the participating organisations are already implementing digital technologies.

“For a long time, we did not dare to start collecting donations. We were confused by the acquiring fees, the difficulty in integrating services with our website, we had to research and look for trusted contractors. If it were not for the Technologies for Good project, we would not have decided to do this for many more years,” said Konstantin Ilyin, head of the NPO, Profi Centre.

He added that the organisation has already opened a separate account with Sovcombank, the service of which was made free for the project participants.

“We use the proceeds for operating expenses and to help those in need,” Ilyin concluded.

The introduction of technologies into work helps CSOs to save money and even earn money, said Olga Goldman, Director of the NPO Clear Morning Service.

“For us the possibility to work with a current account and collect donations via a QR code, which is also not available everywhere for free, to make recurring payments is very important,” she said.

Maria Terekhova, Director of the Not in Vain Foundation, noted that the organisation is also actively using new technologies, such as the Sovcombank for Good charity programme.

“All programnes are designed, among other things, to reduce costs for various administrative things, which is what every NGO strives for, and to redistribute funding for real support, for the development of services that will be used by our beneficiaries,” Terekhova said.

Source: https://takiedela.ru/news/2024/11/21/konferenciya-v-skolkovo/