Internet use for online donations is incipient among Brazilian non-profit organizations

Survey by Cetic.br also investigated accountability and transparency on the Internet

Internet technology can aid in fundraising for non-profit entities, but only 6% reported having received donations over the Internet in 2016, reveals the 3rd edition of the TIC Non-Profit Organizations Survey. Launched this Wednesday (20) by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGI.br) through the Regional Center of Studies for the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br) of the Brazilian Network Information Center (NIC.br), the survey also reveals that when raising funds online, the most cited channel was online social media profiles or accounts (5%), followed by the organization's website (2%) and crowdfunding platforms (1%).

Still according to the study, most organizations with Internet access believe that ICTs contribute little or do not contribute to increasing fundraising (61%).

“Non-profit organizations play an important role in developing strategies for the realization of rights such as, for example, the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, they need to be adequately equipped to carry out these activities. Technological resources are essential and can be used not only to raise funds but also to disseminate the actions carried out, interact with citizens or other entities,” points out Alexandre Barbosa, manager of Cetic.br.

Use of computers and Internet
The results of the three editions of the survey point to stability regarding computer and Internet access by organizations. In 2012, 78% reported using computers, while in 2016, this proportion was 76%. Internet access was present in 71% of those who responded to the study in 2016. The lack of financial resources is still the most cited difficulty for using computers and the Internet (60%), followed by low Internet connection speed (46%)—mentioned in a higher proportion by entities in the North (63%), Midwest (55%), and Northeast (53%).

In 2016, the proportion of organizations with new computers acquired by the entities themselves increased from 74% (2014) to 83% (2016), and the proportion of those that contracted higher-speed Internet connections also increased—the proportion of those with a connection between 10 and 50 Mbps more than doubled: from 8% (2014) to 19% (2016).

Presence and activities on websites and social networks
According to the 2016 TIC Non-Profit Organizations Survey, 67% of organizations are present on the Internet via websites and/or social networks, with almost a third of them (29%) on both online platforms. As already pointed out in previous editions, the use of social networks is more frequent (60%) compared to owning a website (37%), even though, between 2014 and 2016, the proportion of organizations with 10 or more paid staff that have Internet pages increased from 41% to 54%.

Among those with a website, the most mentioned resources were the publication of information about the organization's activities (84%) and news (81%). Regarding activities performed on social networks, the most cited were posting news about the organization (89%) and topics related to its area of operation (83%). About three out of four organizations responded to comments and user questions via social media profiles or accounts.

Accountability and transparency
The survey also investigates some aspects that allow understanding how organizations use the Internet to disclose their accountability. Regarding entities that had websites, approximately one in four (27%) published information and balance sheets about accountability on their website. Among those with social media profiles, approximately one-third (35%) declared posting information for accountability. “The results indicate that organizations can still expand the disclosure of their accounts and balance sheets on the Internet. Such actions can generate greater donor confidence and attract more individuals who support the entity's initiatives, in addition to reinforcing commitment to the transparency of their activities,” emphasizes Barbosa.

About the survey
Conducted between May and September 2016, the TIC Non-Profit Organizations Survey investigates the existence of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and its use in Brazilian non-profit organizations. Furthermore, it also maps the capabilities and skills accumulated in the entities regarding ICT. In 2016, 4,001 organizations from various segments were interviewed, such as business associations, professional and union entities, and organizations related to health and social assistance, education and Encuste, religion, development and rights advocacy, among others.

To access the full survey, as well as to review the historical series, visit: https://cetic.br/pesquisa/osfil/indicadores. Read the annual publication: https://cetic.br/pesquisa/osfil/publicacoes. And compare the evolution of the indicators through the data visualization: https://data.cetic.br/cetic/explore?idPesquisa=TIC_OSFIL.

About Cetic.br
The Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society, of NIC.br, is responsible for producing indicators and statistics on Internet availability and use in Brazil, disseminating periodic analyses, and information on the network's development in the country. Cetic.br is a Regional Center for Studies, under the auspices of UNESCO. More information at https://www.cetic.br/.

About the Brazilian Network Information Center – NIC.br
The Brazilian Network Information Center—NIC.br (https://www.nic.br/) is a private, non-profit civil entity that, in addition to implementing the decisions and projects of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, has among its attributions: coordinating the domain name registration—Registro.br (https://www.registro.br/), studying, responding, and handling security incidents in Brazil—CERT.br (https://www.cert.br/), studying and researching network technologies and operations—Ceptro.br (https://www.ceptro.br/), producing indicators on information and communication technologies—Cetic.br (https://www.cetic.br/), implementing and operating Traffic Exchange Points—IX.br (https://ix.br/), enabling the Brazilian community's participation in the global development of the Web and supporting public policy formulation—Ceweb.br (https://www.ceweb.br), and hosting the W3C office in Brazil (https://www.w3c.br/).

About the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee – CGI.br
The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, responsible for establishing strategic guidelines related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil, coordinates and integrates all Internet service initiatives in the country, promoting technical quality, innovation, and the dissemination of offered services. Based on the principles of multistakeholderism and transparency, CGI.br represents a democratic Internet governance model, praised internationally, in which all sectors of society participate equally in its decisions. One of its formulations is the 10 Principles for Internet Governance and Use (https://www.cgi.br/principios). More information at https://www.cgi.br/.

This content was automatically translated with the support of artificial intelligence.