Nonprofit Tech Grants 101: Funding the Tools That Keep Your Mission Safe
You wouldn’t leave your office doors wide open—so why leave your digital front door unguarded?
Technology has opened incredible doors for nonprofits. It’s helping organizations raise more funds, connect with supporters, manage operations, and measure impact like never before. But with those opportunities come new responsibilities—especially when it comes to keeping your digital systems safe and secure.
If you’re like many small nonprofits, you might feel caught in a tough spot: you need modern tools to grow, but cybersecurity feels complex, expensive, or out of reach.
The good news? You don’t have to go it alone. There are grant opportunities designed specifically to help nonprofits invest in the right technology—including the systems and safeguards that protect your data and your mission.
In this guide, we’ll show you why tech and cybersecurity go hand-in-hand, what kinds of grants are available, and how you can apply with confidence.
Why Tech Investments Are Essential for Nonprofits
Technology isn’t just a nice-to-have for nonprofits—it’s a must-have. Whether you’re managing a community food drive, running a youth mentorship program, or advocating for policy change, the right tools can help you do it more efficiently, securely, and at scale.
In today’s digital-first world, nonprofit work increasingly depends on tech in big and small ways:
Raising funds online: Donation forms, recurring gifts, and mobile giving have made it easier for supporters to contribute—but only if the process is seamless and secure.
Running virtual and in-person events: From ticket sales to volunteer coordination and check-ins, tech can reduce the stress and manual effort involved in managing events.
Engaging your community: Email marketing, social media, and peer-to-peer campaigns rely on integrated systems that track interactions and adapt to your audience.
Tracking impact: Modern CRMs and campaign dashboards allow you to make data-informed decisions, show outcomes to funders, and strengthen your storytelling.
These tools free up time, cut costs, and increase your capacity to serve—but they also come with new responsibilities. As you adopt more digital systems, protecting your data and maintaining secure infrastructure becomes just as important as the tools themselves.
Why Cybersecurity Should Be on Your Radar
As a nonprofit leader, you’re entrusted with more than just your mission—you’re also safeguarding the sensitive data of your donors, volunteers, staff, and the communities you serve. From online donations and event registrations to volunteer databases and internal communications, your organization likely manages a wealth of digital information every day.
The challenge? Many small nonprofits don’t have dedicated IT staff or large budgets to invest in cybersecurity infrastructure. Unfortunately, this makes them attractive targets. In fact, cybercriminals often see smaller organizations as low-hanging fruit—easy to breach due to limited protections.
Here’s why cybersecurity deserves your attention now more than ever:
- Your reputation is on the line: A single breach could compromise donor trust, damage your reputation, and make fundraising significantly harder.
- You handle financial data: If you’re processing online donations, you’re handling credit card information, which needs to be securely encrypted and stored.
- Your team is stretched thin: Phishing attacks and email scams often succeed when staff or volunteers aren’t trained to spot them.
- Regulations are increasing: Compliance with data protection laws (like GDPR or state-specific regulations) isn’t optional—being unprepared could lead to penalties.
And this isn’t just about what you stand to lose—it’s about what you can gain. Investing in cybersecurity strengthens your organization from the inside out. It builds confidence among supporters, ensures continuity in a crisis, and sets your team up to grow with peace of mind.
Think of cybersecurity as mission protection. When your systems are secure, you can focus fully on doing what you do best: serving your community.
What Tech Grants Can Help You Fund
You might be surprised by what many tech grants will cover. Beyond the usual program support, several funders recognize that secure, up-to-date technology is essential for nonprofit success.
Here’s what tech-related grants can help you cover:
- Cybersecurity software and monitoring tools
- Secure donation platforms (like Flipcause)
- Website upgrades and secure hosting
- Staff training on cybersecurity best practices
- Infrastructure tools like encrypted cloud storage and password management systems
Even if a grant isn’t labeled “cybersecurity,” many general capacity-building or infrastructure grants can be applied toward these needs. The key is showing how tech supports your mission delivery.
Where to Find Cybersecurity Grant Opportunities
We’ve pulled together a comprehensive list of 2025–2026 grant opportunities focused on technology and cybersecurity. These are open to nonprofits and designed to support digital safety, innovation, and tech infrastructure:
| Grant Name | Sponsor | Deadline | Link |
| Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships | National Institute of Standards and Technology | July 1, 2025 | Apply Here |
| Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace | U.S. National Science Foundation | Sept 29, 2025 | Apply Here |
| NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer | U.S. National Science Foundation | July 2, 2025 | Apply Here |
| CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service | U.S. National Science Foundation | July 15, 2025 | Apply Here |
| Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) | DARPA – Microsystems Technology Office | Oct 9, 2025 | Apply Here |
| Strengthening the Cyberinfrastructure Professionals Ecosystem (SCIPE) | U.S. National Science Foundation | Jan 15, 2026 | Apply Here |
| Advanced Technological Education | U.S. National Science Foundation | Oct 2, 2025 | Apply Here |
| Ocean Technology and Interdisciplinary Coordination | U.S. National Science Foundation | Feb 16, 2026 | Apply Here |
Tips for Writing a Strong Application
Not a tech expert? That’s okay. Funders care more about your mission than your jargon. Here’s how to stand out:
- Keep it simple and human: Explain how digital tools help you serve people better.
- Be specific: Outline exactly what you need (e.g., secure event registration or better donor data protection).
- Show the impact: Talk about what’s at risk without support and how funding will protect or expand your reach.
- Name your tools: Mention partners like Flipcause that already provide secure infrastructure, so you’re not starting from scratch.
How Flipcause Helps Protect Your Mission
At Flipcause, we’ve built our platform with nonprofit safety and simplicity in mind. When you use Flipcause, you get:
- Secure donation and payment processing
- Encrypted data handling across your website and mobile app
- Real-time syncing and cloud-based storage
- Ongoing updates and human support from our Concierge team
And if you’re applying for a grant? We can help you articulate how Flipcause fits into your tech and security plan.
Take Action Today
Cybersecurity isn’t just a line item—it’s a safeguard for everything you’ve worked so hard to build. And with the right grant, you don’t have to shoulder the cost alone.
