In 2019, we launched Digital Candle after discovering that many charity leaders felt digital wasn't relevant to their work.
This wasn't that surprising - when you're juggling fundraising, service delivery, and countless other priorities, digital can feel overwhelming or simply not urgent enough to tackle.
Fast forward to today, and we've made 1,765 matches between digital experts and charities needing support.
The idea is simple: connect knowledgeable digital professionals with charities who need help, through free one-hour calls.
These calls make a real difference - helping charities understand their options to solve a digital problem, gain confidence, and move forward to their preferred solution.
Our experts help with all sorts of digital headscratchers. From choosing the right CRM system and writing digital strategies, to tackling website challenges and making the most of Google Ad Grants.
We also get tonnes of questions about social media advertising, data science, you name it. Whatever your digital expertise, there's likely a charity that could benefit from your knowledge.
Every expert brings their own unique experience and skills to the table. You might be a genius at SEO, an expert in data analytics, or someone who knows the ins and outs of organic social media platforms.
The most effective calls follow a clear structure that makes the most of that valuable hour together.
Start by letting the charity explain their situation - what's brought them to seek help? Take 10 minutes to understand their context, challenges, and what they've tried so far.
Next, ask clarifying questions about their team, resources, and specific challenges. This helps you understand what solutions might actually work for them.
Common questions might include:
Then share your relevant experience and outline possible options. Remember, you're helping them understand their choices rather than making the decision for them. Your role is more like a compass than a sat-nav - pointing them in the right direction rather than giving turn-by-turn instructions.
End by identifying clear next steps for the charity - what can they actually do after the call?
Then follow up with an email summarising your discussion and sharing any useful resources. This email becomes a valuable reference point for the charity after the call ends.
Keep your language clear and jargon-free. While terms like 'CMS' or 'CRM' might be everyday chat for you, they might not be for everyone else. When you do need to use technical terms, explain what they mean.
You bring valuable knowledge to the table, but this can create an uneven dynamic. Stay friendly and approachable, never making anyone feel bad for what they don't know.
Create frameworks that help charities make decisions, rather than just telling them what to do. This might involve helping them weigh different options against their specific needs and constraints.
Consider their budget constraints - not every solution needs to be free, but be aware that resources are often limited.
Focus on sustainable solutions that will help them over time, and share useful resources they can refer back to later. This might include relevant blog posts, tutorials, or free tools that could help them implement your suggestions.
You'll often encounter varying levels of technical knowledge in Digital Candle calls. Some charity staff might be pretty clued up on digital, while others might be completely new to certain concepts.
Adapt your language and explanations accordingly, and check understanding as you go.
Requirements might not always be crystal clear. Part of your role might be helping the charity better understand and articulate their needs. Sometimes, the presenting problem isn't the real issue - a bit of probing can help uncover underlying causes of the problem.
Limited time and resources are common challenges. Focus on solutions that are realistic within their constraints, even if they're not the 'perfect' solution. Remember, a good solution that can be implemented is better than a perfect solution that's out of reach.
Our seasoned experts emphasise focusing on achievable next steps - what can the charity actually do with their current resources? Break down bigger challenges into manageable chunks.
Listen more than you talk. Understanding their context is crucial for giving relevant advice.
Explain technical concepts clearly, and remember you're providing direction rather than complete solutions.
Don't underestimate your impact. What might seem like simple advice to you could be exactly what a charity needs to move forward with confidence. Sometimes just helping a charity understand their options better can be incredibly valuable.
If you're keen to support charities with their digital challenges, we'd love to have you on board. The commitment is flexible - you might take one call or regular calls, whatever works for you.
Every bit of support helps strengthen the charity sector's digital capabilities.
Sign up as an expert at https://www.digitalcandle.org.uk/volunteer-your-time
Email matt@digitalcandle.org.uk - I’m always happy to chat about how you can help make digital more accessible for charities.