Budgets are tight and scrutinized
Every technology dollar has to be justified to a board and often to funders.
IT support for nonprofits in Greater Boston
From donor data security to funder requirements, CMIT Solutions of Boston keeps your mission running on technology you can count on, without stretching your budget.
Every dollar countsFlat pricing your board and funders can plan around.
Local office in NewtonServing Boston, Newton, Waltham and nearby towns- 24/7 monitoring and supportNights, weekends and holidays included
- 900+ CMIT IT professionalsA national network behind your local team
What does managed IT for a nonprofit include?
Managed IT for a nonprofit covers a help desk for staff and volunteers, 24/7 monitoring, cybersecurity for donor and client data, setup of discounted nonprofit licenses for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, backups, and documentation that answers funder security questionnaires. It is priced as a flat per-seat fee that is easy to include in grant budgets.
Nonprofits face big-organization risks on small budgets
Donor, client and financial data need real protection, even when there is no full-time IT person.
Donor and client data is sensitive
Payment details, health information and case notes all need protecting.
Funders ask about security
Grant applications increasingly include cybersecurity questionnaires.
Staff and volunteers come and go
Accounts and devices need fast setup and clean removal.
Every layer of IT your organization relies on
Fully managed IT, delivered by a local team that respects your budget.
Managed IT
Monitoring, patching and maintenance, so problems are fixed before they disrupt programs.
- 24/7 monitoring
- Automated patching
- Vendor management
Cybersecurity
Protection for donor, client and financial data.
- MFA and email security
- Managed EDR
- Phishing training for staff and volunteers
Nonprofit licensing and cloud
Get the most from discounted Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace licensing.
- Nonprofit license eligibility and setup
- Migration from old servers
- Secure file sharing
Funder and grant compliance
Documentation that answers funder security questions.
- Security questionnaire support
- Written information security program
- HIPAA guidance for health programs
Help desk for staff and volunteers
Support that makes technology simple for everyone.
- Unlimited remote support
- On-site visits when needed
- Fast volunteer onboarding
Backup and recovery
Donor databases and program records protected and recoverable.
- Cloud backup
- Restore testing
- Ransomware recovery plan
Donor and program software
Keep your CRM, fundraising and case management tools connected.
- Salesforce Nonprofit, Bloomerang and similar
- Integration with finance systems
- User training
IT planning for boards
A technology roadmap and budget your board can approve.
- Annual IT budget planning
- Technology roadmap
- Board-ready reporting
Security built into every plan
Every managed IT plan includes these protections, so the basics are covered from day one.
EDREndpoint detection and response on every device- Email securityFiltering for phishing, malware and impersonation
- DNS filteringBlocks malicious and unwanted websites
- Access managementControlled accounts, permissions and directories
- Backup validationBackups checked so restores actually work
- Disaster recovery planA written plan to get you running again
EDREndpoint detection and response on every device
Email securityFiltering for phishing, malware and impersonation
DNS filteringBlocks malicious and unwanted websites
Access managementControlled accounts, permissions and directories
Backup validationBackups checked so restores actually work
Disaster recovery planA written plan to get you running againRequirements nonprofits are asked to meet
Depending on your programs, several rules and funder expectations may apply.
| Standard | What it asks of you | What we put in place |
|---|---|---|
| Funder security requirements | Evidence of MFA, backups, training and data protection in grant applications. | Documented controls and questionnaire answers. |
| HIPAA | Safeguards for health information, if your programs provide health-related services. | Risk analysis, access controls and encryption. |
| PCI DSS | Protecting card data from online and event donations. | Secure payment processing setup. |
| 201 CMR 17.00 | A written information security program for personal information of Massachusetts residents. | WISP drafting and supporting controls. |
Which rules apply depends on your organization. We support your compliance program with technical controls and documentation; we don't provide legal advice.
A practical guide to IT for nonprofits
Nonprofits need dependable, secure technology on a budget that funders can see. These are the moves that stretch every technology dollar further.
Use the discounts you qualify for
Microsoft, Google and many software vendors offer nonprofit pricing or grants. Confirming eligibility and moving licenses onto those programs can lower costs significantly. Our cloud services team handles the setup and migration so staff aren't disrupted.
Secure donor and client data first
Donor records, payment details and client case notes are the data you most need to protect. MFA on every account, email filtering and managed endpoint protection through our cybersecurity services cover the most common attacks. Programs that deliver health services may also need HIPAA safeguards, which our healthcare IT page explains in detail.
Make volunteers easy to onboard and offboard
Shared devices, temporary accounts and a simple checklist keep volunteers productive without leaving old accounts behind. Our IT support desk can handle setup requests so staff don't have to.
Give your board a plan
A one-page technology roadmap with costs by year makes IT easier to fund and approve. Our IT guidance service builds that plan with you, and our compliance team keeps documentation ready for funder questionnaires. Organizations running education programs can find more specific guidance on our schools page.
Questions to ask before choosing an IT provider
Ask whether the provider understands nonprofit licensing programs, how they handle volunteers and shared devices, and how they help with funder security questionnaires. Ask for flat pricing you can put in a grant budget, and a plain-language plan your board can approve. Our managed IT plans are priced per seat for predictable budgeting, and our data backup service protects donor databases and program records against loss or ransomware.
What the first 90 days look like
In the first month we inventory your devices, accounts and software, check which nonprofit licensing programs you qualify for, and secure donor and client data with MFA and email protection. The second month moves files and email onto the right licenses, cleans up old accounts, and sets up a simple process for volunteers. By the third month, monitoring and help desk support are running, backups are tested, and you have a one-page technology plan and budget to share with your board and funders. We work around program schedules and events, so your staff can keep their attention on the people you serve.
Make your technology budget go further
Nonprofits are eligible for significant software discounts and grants. We help you use them and avoid paying for tools you don't need.
- Review of eligibility for nonprofit software programs
- License clean-up to remove unused seats
- Flat per-seat pricing for grant budgets
- Consolidation of overlapping tools
- Annual budget plan for your board
A local team that knows the nonprofit community
Locally owned and operated in Newton, MA
We support mission-driven organizations across Greater Boston, and we're happy to meet with your leadership, board or funders.
You get a named local team that learns your people and systems, backed by more than 900 CMIT IT professionals nationwide. We serve Boston, Newton, Waltham, Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Weston, Watertown, Needham, Wellesley and Burlington.
- 275 Grove Street, Ste 2-400, Newton, MA 02466
- (617) 657-1075
How we bring your organization on board
A straightforward path with no surprises.
Free assessment
We review your systems, risks and budget.
Clear proposal
A flat, grant-friendly plan with priorities first.
Smooth onboarding
Changes made with minimal disruption to programs.
Ongoing support
Monitoring, help desk and annual planning.
Do you offer nonprofit pricing?
Our plans are flat per-seat pricing, so your board and funders can budget accurately. We also help you take advantage of nonprofit software discounts from Microsoft, Google and other vendors, which often lowers your overall technology spend.
Can you help us meet funder security requirements?
Yes. We help answer funder security questionnaires, put the requested controls in place, such as MFA and backups, and keep documentation current so you can respond quickly at grant time.
We don't have an internal IT person. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Most of our nonprofit clients have little or no internal IT staff. We act as your outsourced IT department, from day-to-day help desk support to planning and budgeting.
How do you handle volunteers and seasonal staff?
We set up repeatable onboarding and offboarding for temporary accounts, shared devices and volunteer access, so people get what they need quickly and lose access when they leave.
What if we have a data breach or ransomware attack?
Our backup, recovery and incident response services get you running again, and we support the notifications that may be required to donors, clients, funders or regulators.
Do you support donor management systems?
Yes. We support the devices, integrations and user access for platforms such as Salesforce Nonprofit and Bloomerang, and coordinate with vendors for application issues.
Is there a minimum contract length?
Contract terms are agreed during the free assessment and put in writing, so your organization knows exactly what it is committing to.
What happens during the free IT assessment?
We review your network, devices, backups, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace setup and security controls, then give you a written summary of risks ranked by business impact and a clear list of what to fix first. There is no cost and no obligation, and for nonprofit organizations we include the compliance requirements that usually apply to you.
Can you work alongside our in-house IT person?
Yes. Many clients keep an internal IT person and use us to extend their team. We can take on monitoring, security, backups, after-hours coverage or specific projects, so your internal staff can focus on the work that needs someone on site every day.
Is support available on nights, weekends and holidays?
Yes. Systems are monitored 24/7, and you can reach our support desk at any time of day, including nights, weekends and holidays. Urgent issues are handled immediately, and our local team comes on site when a problem needs hands-on work.
Which areas of Greater Boston do you serve?
Our office is at 275 Grove Street in Newton. We support organizations in Boston, Newton, Waltham, Allston, Brighton, Brookline, Weston, Watertown, Needham, Wellesley and Burlington, plus surrounding communities. Remote support covers every location, and on-site visits are scheduled when hardware or a site survey requires it.
Put your IT budget to better use
Get a free, no-obligation assessment of your nonprofit's technology and a clear plan for what to fix first.
- Review of your network, devices, backups and security
- Risks ranked by their impact on your day-to-day operations
- Compliance requirements that apply to you
- A written plan for what to fix first
Prefer to talk?(617) 657-1075
Visit us275 Grove Street, Ste 2-400, Newton, MA 02466