Individuals usually picture huge businesses or government agencies when they think of cybercrime. Nonprofits, on the other hand, are silent but becoming more obvious targets that are not well known and do not have enough resources. Not only community health clinics, educational foundations, global humanitarian organizations, and nonprofits have invaluable and highly unprepared to defend data.
This makes them a most attractive and alarmingly easy target for cybercriminals. Let’s unpack why the nonprofit sector is especially vulnerable, what types of attacks are most common, and what steps organizations can take to protect themselves better.
Why Nonprofits Are an Easy Target
To keep their organization, lean and only use their funds for mission delivery, most nonprofits are very careful about how they spend their money. While that is how it should be, it also opens gaps that will often be over-exploited by attackers.
One of the most critical issues is the lack of dedicated IT staff or one full-time tech person, much less a cybersecurity specialist. What usually happens is someone else in the organization—an office manager, operations lead, or even a trusted volunteer handles technology oversight as part of someone’s broader job description.
This setup creates a patchwork of legacy software, unmanaged devices, and inconsistent policies. Nearly one in eight nonprofits globally experienced a cyber incident within the last year, according to the 2023 report by the CyberPeace Institute. Many of those organizations lacked the most rudimentary protections, like two-factor authentication or regular software updates.
Adding to this is that volunteers form a critical lifeline to nonprofit survival. At the same time, their use of personal devices and access to some vital systems data is often without formal training or clear cybersecurity protocols in place.
Add in donor databases, program files, and potentially sensitive client records, and the picture becomes clear: nonprofits have information worth stealing and not enough defenses to protect it.
Threats Hiding in Plain Sight
Cyberattacks start with a straightforward thing —an email or a harmless link. Phishing is one of the prevalent threats to nonprofits, hand-impersonating trusted contacts, be it vendors, executive directors, or even major donors. According to a 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, about 68% of breaches result from human errors, such as using weak passwords or failing to recognize phishing emails.
Another rising threat is ransomware, which locks up critical files such as fundraising databases and program data in exchange for a fee to release everything. Unlike big corporations, nonprofits do not have a financial cushion or cyber insurance policy to help them recover.
Credential theft is equally damaging. Once the attackers know the login credentials, which are widely reused across multiple platforms, they exercise lateral movement into the systems and exfiltrate sensitive donor, client, or staff data without immediate detection.
There’s also the lesser-discussed risk of insider threats. Sometimes, they are deliberate. A disgruntled ex-employee or even volunteer might still have access. Most of the time, however, they are accidental. A misdirected email or an unsecured spreadsheet can trigger a data-breaching event as effectively as any hacker.
The Real-world Consequences
Cybersecurity might appear like an interior office problem, but the impacts stretch far and impact trust, compliance, and mission delivery.
The reputational damage resulting from a breach can exist long into the future. Funders and supporters want to know that their data and the communities served are protected. A breach jeopardizes that trust, no matter how small a mistake it has caused.
Then comes compliance. Nonprofits dealing with health data (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA), financial records (PCI Security Standards Council), or those that cross international borders (General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR) must comply with legal requirements. A cybersecurity incident could expose them to regulatory fines, lawsuits, and the loss of key partnerships.
In short, the stakes are not only technical but also more existential.
So, What Can Nonprofits Do?
Cybersecurity can be reasonable and not overwhelming. It starts with bold action and thoughtful prioritization.
First, do a cybersecurity risk assessment. This helps organizations know where they have vulnerabilities, including outdated software, unsecured email accounts, and poorly trained staff. It’s often referred to as the cybersecurity equivalent of a fire drill: without visibility, remediation becomes impossible.
Then, start with the basics. Think about multi-factor authentication, a firm password policy, updating software, and backing up data. This list can eliminate the majority of attacks. These features are defaults on cloud platforms—nonprofits must turn them on.
Staff and volunteer education is another high-impact, low-cost move. Simple awareness training—spotting phishing emails, avoiding risky links, and securing credentials—helps your team become part of the solution.
It makes sense to partner with external experts, especially for nonprofits without in-house IT support. Many organizations provide nonprofit cybersecurity services at reduced rates or pro bono. Look for consultants or managed service providers (MSPs) who understand the cybersecurity needs of nonprofits and can help set up protections that align with your size and budget.
Making Cybersecurity Part of the Mission
The nonprofit strategy should prioritize cybersecurity, placing it on the same leadership table as fundraising, program implementation, and governance.
That includes budgeting but also about creating a culture around it. When board members and executive leaders promote cybersecurity as a strategic priority, getting staff buy-in and sustaining longer-term improvements become easier.
It is not about getting it right but about making progress. By incorporating cybersecurity in strategic planning and decision-making, nonprofits can keep doing their important work without leaving themselves open to disruption or disaster.
How Level 5 Management Can Help
At Level 5 Management, we recognize the distinct challenges presented to nonprofits. We are experienced in supporting dozens of mission-driven organizations, concentrating on evaluating, enhancing, and sustaining a strong cybersecurity posture without scaring their staff or digging deep into their budgets.
Whether you need a cybersecurity risk assessment, help implementing new protections, or a way forward in cybersecurity, we’re here to support your team with practical, human-centered solutions tailored to the cybersecurity needs of nonprofits.
Let’s work together to protect what you believe in and the communities that count on you. Contact us today to schedule a conversation or learn more about how we can help.
