Digital transformation has become a major trend for charity organizations in China, as they increasingly incorporate technology to improve their engagement with volunteers, operations and efficiency.

Insights, Challenges and Expectations

Tencent and China Internet Development Foundation recently released a joint report titled “2023 Public Welfare Organizations' Digitalization Insight Report.” It revealed that 82 percent of the surveyed NGOs are already using digital solutions in their work, with promoting new updates and volunteer recruitment as the most widely utilized aspects.

Although the report demonstrates the undeniable merits of digitization in the non-profit sector, challenges persist. There’s a big disparity in digital adoption rates between small and medium-sized organizations compared to larger NGOs due to resource constraints. Some organizations are forced to reduce their digital budgets primarily due to a decrease in their total funds.

NGOs have several key expectations of digital transformation. These include professional training, discounted tool products, and targeted funding support. They are particularly eager to see improvements in these areas, which are essential in building a strong digital ecosystem for public welfare.

Leveraging Platform Power

Based on the three major expectations learned during the research, Tencent has provided multifaceted support to encourage broader adoption of digital tools, regardless of their size and budget.

First, the Public Welfare Volunteer Platform has been established to create a collaborative environment between non-profit organizations and volunteers. The platform facilitates communication and sharing of resources.

NGOs can publish posts looking for volunteers on the Public Welfare Volunteer Platform.

NGOs can publish posts looking for people who can help carry out certain tasks. And the platform matches them with corresponding volunteers with the right technical skills and resources, including those who can provide training services.

Moreover, Tencent offers a digital toolbox that offers a wide range of digital products and services for free or with discounted rates to eligible public welfare organizations. Over 217 NGOs are now enjoying these resources. The toolbox includes Tencent Cloud Tools, Tencent Questionnaire, Tencent Electronic Signature, WeCom and Tencent Docs.

Last but not least, the Tencent Technology Public Welfare Venture is there to provide technological and financial support for public welfare organizations with innovative projects. In the first phase of the venture, 30 projects with outstanding roadmaps were identified, and each project received 300,000 RMB (41,400 USD) in subsidy.

Success Story: Sunshine Coast Public Welfare Center

One example of Tencent's support in digital transformation is the Sunshine Coast Public Welfare Center in Zhejiang Province, which is dedicated to providing sex education for teenagers and prevention education for AIDS. According to an official from the center, their collaboration with Tencent has been instrumental in achieving its social mission.

The officials of the Sunshine Coast Public Welfare Center.

"With a growing number of beneficiaries, our organization faced challenges in daily operations like communication and data analysis," the official said. He noted that by using Tencent Questionnaire, Tencent Meeting and WeCom, the center streamlined administrative and operation processes and efficiently utilized resources.

Adopting these digital tools has led to a noticeable increase in work efficiency, resulting in more transparent and convenient information management. This also improved inter-departmental communication, ensuring efficient teamwork and cooperation.