About The New Reality
Digital technology has changed the way we live in everything from music consumption to dating, but despite numerous small innovations, it has yet to fundamentally change the way that most not-profit sector organisations deliver their services or run their businesses.
This study seeks to identify the catalysts to generate change, and to remove the barriers that are blocking a seismic shift in how the sector operates.
The study is based on a series of 50+ interviews with leading experts from the charity, third sector, commercial, and digital technology worlds. These interviews unpicked and debated critical questions about why digital has yet to create fundamental change in the non-profit landscape, and what needs to change in order to bring this transformation about. An extensive literature review was also conducted as part of the study.
As a brief note on audience for the New Reality: This study has looked across and outside the non-profit sector to bring as broad a range of shared insights as possible. However, in order to deliver most value, the report is predominantly aimed at established organisations rather than the new or start-up non-profits who tend to be more digital by nature.
Download the full report (pdf)
About the author
Julie Wilson-Dodd
Julie is a transformation consultant who works with charities and other purposeful organisations to help them modernise and deliver more impact.
Julie was previously Interim Director of Services and Engagement at Blood Cancer UK and Director of Transformation at Parkinson’s UK where she led the charity’s service innovation, technology and culture change work. She is passionate about improving lives and modernising organisations through people-focused change programmes, technology and data enabled services, and improved ways of working.
In a past life she was a Creative director at the BBC and at one of the UK's top digital agencies.
With heartfelt thanks to...
Angie Greenham
Editor of The New Reality - for making this report a good read
Rich Williams
For helping me analyse all the research data
Martha Paren
For helping me analyse all the research data
Gemma Fountain
For the beautiful New Reality illustrations
Kat Boycott, Matt Walton & Jon Alexander
For speaking at the launch
Irenie and Iris
For helping with the launch (& moral support)
Jon Davie
For giving me the name!
Zone
For helping in countless ways
About the contributors
Just some of the organisations who've contributed to the New Reality study
With thanks to all interviewees
Jonathan Simmons - CXO, Zone
Juliet Hillier - Deputy CEO, Brook
Karl Wilding - Director of Public Policy, NCVO
Kay Boycott - CEO, Asthma UK
Laila Takeh - CMO, Raising IT
Lara Burns - Head of Digital, Age UK
Lucy Semmens - Director of Strategy & Performance, Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Luke Surry - Head of Digital, RSPB
Baroness Martha Lane Fox
Matt Davis - Director of Comms & Public Engagement, Shareaction
Matt Walton - Head of Product, FutureLearn
Nigel Kershaw - Executive Chair, Big Issue and Big Issue Invest
Owen Pringle - Director, Therein
Rich Williams - Head of Digital, Bloodwise
Richard Craig - CEO, Technology Trust
Roly Keating - CEO, British Library
Rosie Slater - CIO, British Red Cross
Said Dajani - Head of digital, Diabetes UK
Sarah Prag - Digital transformation coach
Simon Gillespie - CEO, British Heart Foundation
Sophie Walpole - Consultant, Blue Amber
Steve Ford - CEO, Parkinson’s UK
Steve Rogers - Director EMEA, Google
Tris Lumley - Director of Development, NPC
Vicky Browning - Director, CharityComms
Zoe Amar - Director, Zoe Amar Communications
Adam Gee - Commissioning Editor, Channel 4
Amanda Neylon - Head of Digital, Macmillan Cancer Support
Anna Rafferty - Digital MD, Pottermore
Annika Small - CEO, Nominet Trust
Beth Thoren - Director of Fundraising & Comms, RSPB
Billy Dann - Programme Manager, Comic Relief
Bob Barbour - Head of Digital, Shelter
Caroline Mason - CEO, Esmee Fairbarn
Catherine Howarth - CEO, Shareaction
Chris Thorn - Head of Digital, British Heart Foundation
Colin Burns - Executive Creative Director, BBC
Daniel Wilson - Funding Director, Big Issue Invest
David Steadman - Executive Director, Action on Hearing Loss
Dominic Vallely - Consultant and Founder of Givinglabs
Ed Humphrey - Director of Digital, BFI
Emma Thomas - CEO, Youthnet
Erin Hedger - Digital Manager, Depression Alliance
Frankie Wicks - Digital Delivery Manager, RSPB
Gareth Ellis-Thomas - Head of Digital, Prostate Cancer UK
Greg Sage - Community Director, Tesco
Hannah Scurfield - Research Director, Intel
Helen Goulden, Exec Director, Nesta Innovation Labs
Helena Raven - Head of Digital, NSPCC
James Thornett - Director of GOV.UK, GDS
Jessica Abelscroft - Digital Comms Officer
Jon Alexander - Founder, New Citizenship Project
Jon Davie - UK CEO, Zone
Jon Kingsbury - Head of Digital Economy, Knowledge Transfer Network
