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Strong growth of digital uses in the associative world

Solidatech and Recherches & Solidarités have just published a barometer dedicated to "the place of digital in the associative project" : it highlights the evolution of uses from 2013 to 2016, the effects of digital within associations as well as the main levers to take advantage of it.The study shows that associations already make extensive use of digital tools: to communicate internally, to give visibility to the association, to train its volunteers and employees, to develop projects for beneficiaries, members, vulnerable groups, etc. 73% of the associations surveyed have their own website. 62% of them use social networks; this is the top item for progress (+26 points since 2013). Collaborative tools also increased significantly between 2013 (22%) and 2016 (43%), up 21 points."The latter are particularly well suited to the associative model, where the teams of volunteers, employees and administrators are often split up, with different work rhythms. They allow communication, exchange of documents or decision making in a participative way, more quickly and easily.41% of associations use open source software. New uses with a promising future 9% of them have a mobile application.As for online training, it is at the top of the list of new uses (42% in the future and 8% today): "This gap shows the interest that associative actors have today in the skills to be acquired, always with a limited budget, and to be transmitted for a greater efficiency of their action.Only 13% of associations currently collect donations online, while 41% say they may do so in the future. Digital technology at the service of beneficiaries 35% of connected associations have implemented digital projects to serve their beneficiaries or a social cause. "The complexity of the projects varies and does not necessarily imply significant technical skills, the objective being to accelerate its social impact through digital. The digital inclusion of vulnerable groups (people in precarious situations, seniors, people with disabilities) has also become an associative project in itself.The majority of associations have a very positive view of digital. "It is the sharing of information that appears as the most positive effect (85%). It would strengthen team cohesion, efficiency, monitoring and evaluation of actions, as well as its positive impact on the involvement of members, volunteers or employees.The mastery of digital tools is both a concern (49%) and a major challenge in the sense that it implies a global acculturation process (1/3 of the managers interviewed).If financial means are essential to equip themselves (42%), associations are also aware of the need to seek funding to increase their skills, either by training (33%) or by benefiting from expert advice (22%).The survey work took place in 2016 with 1,601 association leaders, 6,667 volunteers, as well as 1,084 "connected" associations that use the services offered by Solidatech.Solidatech is a digital solidarity program launched in 2008 by the Ateliers du Bocage (ADB), an Emmaus integration company, to help nonprofit organizations invest in the digital field. Recherches et Solidarités (R&S) is a network of experts serving all forms of solidarity.

• Inclusion

Published on 24/11/16



Digital technology is shaking up and transforming the nonprofit sector

Like the rest of society, associations are currently in the midst of a digital transition and express the need to be supported, from a technical and ethical point of view, in order to mobilize the tools adapted to the implementation of their projects. The needs exist at all levels of the association: governance, internal communication, complementarity of physical actions and digital tools, external communication, development of specific projects in the digital sphere... " For an ambitious policy of associative life and the development of a society of commitment" Report submitted on June 8, 2018 to the Prime Minister by the Mouvement Associatif)  The approximately 1.3 million associations in France (200 new ones are created every day) bring together 13 million volunteers and 1.8 million employees, i.e. 10% of private employment. Associations are also the primary place of commitment. Voluntary work in associations mobilizes nearly 25% of the French population.Whether they work for access to employment, culture, environmental protection or fight against discrimination and exclusion, associations rely heavily on digital technology: to communicate and simplify interactions between members of the association, to mobilize the public, to carry out large-scale initiatives, to mobilize ...These operational contributions do not reflect the depth of the transformations of the associative fact, when its actors seize the digital: to democratize their governance, to explore new economic models, to co-produce knowledge, to engage in approaches of open social innovation... Strong growth in digital uses in associations Solidatech and Recherches & Solidarités had published in 2016 a barometer dedicated to "the place of digital in the associative project" : it highlights the evolution of uses from 2013 to 2016, the effects of digital within associations as well as the main levers to take advantage of it.It emerges from the study that the associative world is already making a wide use of digital tools: to communicate internally, to give visibility to the association, to train its volunteers and its employees, to develop projects in the direction of the beneficiaries, the members, the fragile public... 73% of the associations surveyed have their own website. 62% of them use social networks; this is the top item for progress (+26 points since 2013). Collaborative tools also increased significantly between 2013 (22%) and 2016 (43%), up 21 points."These tools are particularly well suited to the association model, where teams of volunteers, employees and administrators are often split up, with different work rhythms. They allow to communicate, to exchange documents or to make decisions in a participative way, more quickly and easily".41% of associations use open source software. Read more... Visibility, interaction with the public, calls for donations: the communication of NGOs now goes through social networks Whether it's to raise public awareness of the causes they promote, to publicize their actions, to mobilize the public during the campaigns they launch, or to raise funds, NGOs and humanitarian associations have learned in recent years to take advantage of social networks.The Barometer "NGOs, social networks and citizen engagement in 2017" highlights the crucial issue that the presence of NGOs on social networks now represents.According to this Barometer, 100% of the 50 associations surveyed are present and active on social networks, 84% of NGO managers post messages, articles, news of the association. Read more ... Getting involved on the net: digital technology, a facilitator of volunteering in associations According to a survey commissioned by France Bénévolat and conducted by IFOP, 25% of French people gave time to an association in 2016 (23% in 2010 and 24.6% in 2013). This proportion, which is increasing, varies from 21% among the under 35s to 35% among the over 65s, and from 27% among men to 23% among women. It varies widely according to the level of education, from less than 20% among those with little or no education, to more than 30% among those with a higher education degree.Beyond this base of one in 4 French people, the report "La France bénévole 2018, Franchir le pas mise en relation", prepared by Recherches & Solidarités, wonders about "the passage to the act of about 15 million French people potentially volunteering" ..."Here, as in many other areas, the Internet appears to be a facilitator and gas pedal. Associations can use their own websites and social networks to propose volunteer missions. Volunteering offers are online on the websites of dedicated associations such as Tous Bénévoles, France Bénévolat, Bénénova, or on platforms such as Diffuz. Read more... A label and a national training plan on digital for associations Fonda, Mouvement associatif and HelloAsso launched on June 25 in Bordeaux, within the framework of the HelloAsso Summer Universities, a national plan of digital training for the associative sector.This plan aims to enable associations to take control of the new Internet tools to facilitate the management and deployment of their activities (internal collaboration, digital communication, online data management, participatory financing, mobilization ...). Read more ... The needs for digital support according to the heads of the association movement's networks Digital technology is both a lever and a challenge. It is a lever because it offers tools and resources that can be used at all levels of a project, from its development to its deployment, including its structuring. It facilitates internal exchanges and organization, but also opens up perspectives for facilitating links between actors in a territory or enabling collective development. It can facilitate the involvement of all stakeholders, simplify the sharing of information, contribute to the economic model, or allow a project and its results to be better known.The mastery and appropriation of digital tools are thus becoming major issues. Indeed, to reach its full potential, digital technology must be appropriated by the actors. Digital support must therefore focus on mastering basic uses, but it must also be accompanied by a real reflection on digital strategy to ensure that the tools used are relevant and adapted to the structure's project, to be able to adapt to new situations and to anticipate new needs and new practices. The work of Recherches & Solidarités has made it possible to pinpoint the uses of associations in terms of digital technology and those to be developed.As far as support is concerned, an ecosystem is in the process of being created, notably around initiatives such as RéZolutions numériques or Social Good Week, but it still needs to be consolidated to ensure the complementarity of each of the players.Hello Asso will soon be setting up the Hello Asso Academy, aimed directly at support professionals, to work on digital support methods. We can also mention webassoc.fr, a community of experienced web professionals who make their skills available to solidarity associations on a voluntary basis.Concerning computer equipment, ADB Solidatech offers access to hardware and software at adapted costs. The digital impact is increasingly important for associations. It is thus structuring to apprehend both the opportunities but also the risks of this digital mutation. The associations that are progressively seizing this opportunity need a collective approach to the issue in order to better face together the impacts of digital technology not only on their operations but also on the causes they defend.The 12 co-authors of this note are: ADASI, ADEMA, Avise, Don en Confiance, France Bénévolat, IDEAS, La Fonda, Le Mouvement associatif, Le RAMEAU, Passerelles & Compétences, Pro Bono Lab and RNMA.Evolution of the support of associative structures: Findings, needs and avenues for reflection Note of July 10, 2017

• Inclusion

Published on 23/07/18



Nonprofit sector: new initiatives and resources to better leverage digital

The use of digital technology has become widespread in recent years in associations. Seven out of ten volunteers declared in 2016 that they communicate by e-mail with other members of their association, and more than six out of ten said they use the Internet in the context of their missions (research, reports, monitoring, etc.).Digital continued in 2018 to disrupt and transform the nonprofit sector. In particular, 2018 saw the launch of a national digital training plan for associations, the rollout of ICT4NGO (a digital skills assessment platform for the association sector) and the launch of OpenAsso, a new tool to serve associations. Associations: strong support needs remain in the digital field As it does every year, Recherches & Solidarités conducts a survey of association leaders. This annual survey allows us to regularly assess the situation of associations, the morale of their leaders and their expectations.The 2016 survey highlighted the growing importance of digital tools in the management, operation and communication of associations. The use of participatory financing, online donation collection or applications, which are still not widely used, were already arousing the curiosity of many leaders and volunteers. They also had high expectations of digital tools to facilitate and encourage volunteer involvement, but remained reserved about their attractiveness. "Attracting volunteers via online ads is one thing, but making sure that their expectations match the needs of the association and that they will remain mobilized for it is another.The 2 018 survey highlights strong support needs in five areas: Diversification, search for financing, revision of the business model: 54%. Research and recruitment of new volunteers: 47 Communication tools (digital or not): 41 Training, volunteer skills development: 35 Development of the activity, evolution of the associative project: 35 Digital uses other than communication: 34%. The authors of the study point out "the delay in digital communication where associations should play the leading role". " With the decrease in public subsidies and the end of subsidized contracts, associations are seeing some of their sources of funding drastically reduced, and their operating levers strongly questioned," note the authors of the study. Forced to rethink their socio-economic model, many are turning to funding platforms (e.g. France Active) or linked to sponsorship institutions (e.g. Admical), to foundations or to companies themselves. The second concern of association leaders relates to volunteerism: recruitment, retention and training. The majority of associative leaders do not expect to be accompanied in this area by anyone and rely on their own strengths. As far as communication is concerned, it is rather the largest associations that express a wish for support: in particular from companies, "no doubt to professionalize a sector that is increasingly critical for the image of associations, which are not only competing with each other for volunteer resources, but which no longer have the same monopoly on associativity, faced with the development of less formal forms of organization and informal volunteering 'on the street corner'", the authors of the study note. Expectations, finally, regarding the use of Internet-based solutions. Finally, the study highlights a persistent difference between large associations and small associations (with an annual budget of less than 10,000 euros), which account for more than 70% of associations in France: the latter are more likely to require support from public services such as those of a town hall, an inter-municipality, or the Resource and Information Centers for Volunteers (CRIB) and the Support Points for Associative Life (PAVA). OpenAsso: a new tool for associations On June 5, 2018 was officially launched OpenAsso, a new free collaborative platform dedicated to the associative life. It allows to find concrete answers to the questions of the actors of the associative world. The platform is intended to bring together the largest number of associations and to allow experience sharing between actors in the sector.OpenAsso is a space where association leaders can go to learn, share their knowledge and make their association grow.Founded at the initiative of AssoConnect, Solidatech and Recherches & Solidarités, the OpenAsso.org platform brings together major players in the sector. With the will to be "as collaborative as possible" from the conception of the project, the platform has been built with the contributions of many recognized partners.Each structure brings its own specific expertise: Ligue de l'enseignement (30,000 associations), Animafac (students and young workers), Le Mouvement Associatif (federation of federations), Fidal (France's leading business firm), Tous Bénévoles, Relations d'Utilité Publique, Accointance (consulting and training in associative financing), Samson Conseil & Formation, DigitESS, the French Association of Fundraisers and carenews.com In addition to these partners, there are fifty experts on specific topics.The gathering of the most important associative actors allows us to offer this platform for free while keeping as objective a strong requirement of quality. Communication, accounting, legal, digital, human resources, all practical aspects of daily life are covered. Whatever the size of the organization, an association manager can ask a question and the OpenAsso community will answer it. Neighborhoods: associations and digital mediation actors among the winners of #TremplinAsso In the priority neighborhoods of the city policy, the associations participate actively in social and territorial cohesion.Among the 44 projects selected by the Ministry of Territorial Cohesion, as part of the National Mobilization for Neighborhoods Inhabitants, several deploy digital projects or are carried by recognized actors of digital mediation: Association française des petits débrouillards (the leading national network for popular education in and through science), Emmaus Connect (active in the field since 2013, as close as possible to the needs of people in integration, the professionals who support them and local authorities), LePoleS (an association for professional integration and digital training active in the priority neighborhoods of the city policy in Ile-de-France), Unis-Cité (an association that has forged partnerships with many local authorities around digital mediation: recruitment and training of civic service volunteers), Wimoov (which develops mobility platforms closer to the needs of people in fragile situations, on the scale of urban, peri-urban and rural territories) and Zone d'expression prioritaire (a web media carried by a team of professional journalists who support young people in their desire to bear witness to and take hold of current events as well as all the subjects that concern them). More information The Zellidja association wins a prize from the Mouvement Associatif in the "digital practices" category In 2018, the Mouvement Associatif launched Les Waldeck, an award to promote associative dynamics. Through this award, the Mouvement Associatif intends to support original approaches implemented by associations around 4 issues: employment, commitment, plural cooperations and digital practices. For this first editionFor this year's award, 212 associations of different sizes, from various sectors and from all over France submitted their applications.In the Digital Practices category, the jury selected Zellidja, an association that works for youth mobility. Zellidja offers grants to young people to develop cross-disciplinary skills, commitment and curiosity through a project, namely the creation and formalization of a thematic trip "to meet others". Each year, Zellidja supports more than 180 applications and distributes 110 Zellidja Foundation scholarships. The jury awarded Zellidja.com the prize for its digital platform. More Digital technology, a facilitator of volunteering in associations According to a survey commissioned by France Bénévolat and conducted by IFOP, 25% of French people gave time to an association in 2016 (23% in 2010 and 24.6% in 2013). Beyond this base of one in four French people, the report "La France bénévole 2018, Franchir le pas" (France as a volunteer), asks about "the passage to action of about 15 million French people who could potentially volunteer.Here, as in many other areas, the Internet appears to be a facilitator and gas pedal. Associations can use their own websites and social networks to propose volunteer assignments. Volunteer opportunities are available online on the websites of dedicated associations such as Tous Bénévoles, France Bénévolat, Bénénova, or on platforms such as Diffuz. Next Strategic and practical resources for associations' digital transition The Point d'Accès au Numérique Associatif (PANA) offers a series of practical sheets and a practical guide to help associations "seize digital opportunities for their organization and their activities. The goal of these resources is to be able to use them as a framework for an organized workshop or to send them directly by email to an association in need of resources on the subject. Communicating on the Internet(indications on how to set up a communication strategy on the Internet, best practices for creating a website, using social networks, sending mailings, a set of recommended digital tools). Carry out a digital diagnosis(know the steps of a first digital diagnosis, be able to assess the digital practices of an association and be able to implement the first actions to go further Participatory financing (key figures on participatory financing in France, the right questions to ask before launching a participatory financing campaign, advice on how to mobilize around your campaign and be effective). The General Data Protection Regulation-RGPD(know the steps to be in order on the protection of personal data, be able to put in place the necessary actions). Collaborate thanks to digital tools(understand the challenges of collaborative work, know the tools and best practices for collaboration, facilitate remote work). 5 steps to integrate a digital tool in your association(understand the issues surrounding the implementation of new digital tools, know the best practices for optimal appropriation of a digital tool by an association). The digital tools guide: more than 30 tools for 10 identified needs (create a website; create or retouch a visual; send emails; send newsletters; manage social networks; collaborate on documents; archive documents; follow up on projects; monitor content; manage your association from an HR and accounting perspective). 1000 web professionals call on their colleagues to contribute their skills to associations Webassoc is at the initiative of the call Changing the world: the call of 1000 web professionals volunteering. Webassoc is a community of web professionals who help humanitarian, solidarity and environmental associations to strengthen themselves with the internet, completely voluntarily. The Webassoc community gathers today nearly 1000 web professionals and helps each year more than 1500 humanitarian, charitable and environmental associations. An upcoming survey on digital uses in associations Recherches & Solidarités has partnered with Solidatech to conduct a new barometer on the place of digital technology in the associative project. After the 2013 and 2016 editions, a new edition of the barometer is being prepared, with the following objectives: Update the findings and lessons learned from the 2013 and 2016 surveys. Understand the needs and obstacles that associations face in accessing and using digital technology in the right conditions. Share this new assessment with the associative actors (employees, managers, other volunteers and members if necessary): raise their awareness, alert them to possible risks, guide them in their approach. To share these observations with digital actors so that they can adapt to the needs of associations in the design of tools, in the pedagogical approach and in the assistance they can provide to associative actors. To help and mobilize public authorities and support structures for associations so that they can provide appropriate responses to the needs of associations for support in the use of digital technology. Solidatech is a digital solidarity program dedicated to associations, endowment funds, public utility foundations and public libraries. Its mission is to help these non-profit organizations strengthen their impact through digital technology. Recherches & Solidarités is a network of experts serving all forms of solidarity.See also:Digital solutions for associations and citizen mobilization - Summary noteDigital solutions for associationsRecherches & solidarités Accompanying associations: the state of play

• Inclusion

Published on 20/05/19



Non-profit sector: from the multiplication to the rationalization of digital tools

Digital technology continues to disrupt and transform the nonprofit sector.The 2016 survey conducted by Recherches & Solidarités among association managers highlighted the growing importance of digital tools in the management, operation and communication of associations. The use of participatory financing, online donation collection and applications, which are still not widely used, were already arousing the curiosity of many leaders and volunteers. They also had high expectations of digital tools to facilitate and encourage volunteer involvement, but remained reserved about their attractiveness.The 2018 survey had highlighted strong support needs in the area of digital tools.Questioned in 2019 about the digital maturity of their association, 21% of managers described their association in 2019 as " little initiated ", 55% as " in progress " and 21% as " experienced. " After a phase of excessive multiplication of certain tools, we are witnessing, in 2019, a phase of rationalization to find those that will really allow to gain in efficiency."In order to face the lack of digital skills within their organizations, or to support their digital teams, which are often overwhelmed, a certain number of associations call upon young volunteers to carry out a digital project or to act as a digital mediator. The young volunteers contribute to the appropriation of digital technology by the associations.AssoConnect, for its part, a software publisher for the non-profit sector, has just raised 7 million euros. AssoConnect plans to invest €4 million in R&D, to launch in the United States and to expand in France with federations and networks of associations. AssoConnect's software enables the managers and volunteers of several thousand associations to manage their daily tasks (member management, payment collection, accounting, communication, etc.).2020 is also the year of the deployment of the digital support program, Associative Digital Support Points, set up by Fonda, the Mouvement associatif and HelloAsso to help associations gain digital skills. Associations streamline their digital useThe annual study the place of digital technology in the associative project, set up by Recherches & Solidarités and Solidatch, has been an annual barometer of the digital transition of associations since 2008. It is based on a survey of more than 2,50 associative leaders from all regions, reflecting the diversity of the associative fabric.When asked about their digital maturity, 55% of associations say they are "making progress". They adopt digital tools for three main reasons: "to make the association better known" (73%), "to improve network animation " (72%) and "to manage the association's activities " (60%). The last reason given was to seek funding (23%).For external communication, associations favor websites and social networks. Internally, they mainly use digital tools for accounting (48%) and management (31%). To animate their network, only 9% of them use distance learning tools." Generally speaking, the authors of the study observe. after a phase of excessive multiplication of certain tools observed in 2016, we are witnessing, in 2019, a phase of rationalization to find those that will really allow to gain in efficiency". 320 structures in France to support associations on digital issues"If the digital divide is a reality for a large part of the population, another component of society also needs to be supported on the digital: the associations. Indeed, the scarcity of aid dedicated to them to help them develop their presence on the Internet is added to the lack of accessibility of digital tools. However, allowing them to train on the subject would be beneficial to the whole population, especially for the people they support.Fonda, the Mouvement associatif and HelloAsso have set up a digital support program dedicated to the associative sector in 2019. The objective of this program, called PANA (Points d'Appui au Numérique Associatif), is to help structures whose mission is to support associations (Maisons d'associations, Point d'Appui à la Vie Associative, Services municipaux délégués à la vie associative, etc...) to increase their skills on digital and to provide them with a maximum of free educational resources on the subject.33 departments now have structures dedicated to the digital transition of associations.Each structure recognized by PANA (320 at the beginning of 2020) can follow a day of digital skills development allowing it to be a support, a help, an accompaniment for the associations of its territory on digital subjects.These skills-building days have themes that are as varied as they are complementary, such as communication on the Internet, the RGPD, digital tools, social networks or even digital and sustainable development.  The young volunteers of the Civic Service contribute to the appropriation of the digital by the associations The National Institute for Youth and Popular Education (INJEP) and the Civic Service Agency commissioned a study to "understand how associations use civic service and to measure the effects of civic service on associative structures.The way volunteers are selected is often inspired by the world of salaried work, the authors of the survey observe, "distancing itself in some respects from the institutional principles governing the use of the system.The recruitment of young volunteers with a digital culture allows associations to implement a digital project or the deployment of new activities for its users. In a number of cases, the managers of certain host organizations use the civic service program as a lever to innovate and test new activities.According to the survey, there are few situations in which the missions of a young person in civic service replace the missions usually assigned to employees or volunteers. However, the survey highlights the "recurrent nature " of the use of civic services for missions that are, in fact, long-term. Digital mediation missions are thus entrusted, in some associations, sometimes for several years, to young people in civic service, to meet permanent human resources needs.

• Inclusion

Published on 27/03/20