This episode of The Nonprofit Report features John Mohr, Chief Information Officer at the MacArthur Foundation, in a conversation about the essential role of technology in modern philanthropy, education, and nonprofit operations.
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Guest:
- John Mohr, Chief Information Officer, MacArthur Foundation
Key Points:
- Technology is core to every nonprofit’s operations—not just an add-on or back-office function, and CIO roles must be understood as strategic, enabling core business and mission goals.
- Nonprofits must treat tech infrastructure like essential utilities: as vital as finance or programming.
- Tech helps against cybersecurity threats and ransomware attacks that otherwise can cripple service delivery and erode public trust.
- Smaller nonprofits may benefit from fractional CIOs or managed IT services for strategic and operational support.
- Accessibility and digital equity must be prioritized to avoid deepening structural inequality.
- Investment in tech often follows luxury markets and can neglect urgent community needs, but philanthropy can help correct this market failure by supporting inclusive innovation.
- Long-term systems change requires foundations to act urgently but with long-range vision.
Other Points on MacArthur Foundation:
John Mohr emphasized that technology is not a luxury or secondary function—it’s infrastructure. Whether serving constituents, managing finances, or running programs, every nonprofit relies on digital systems. Organizations that fail to plan for tech as core strategy risk operational collapse in times of crisis.
The conversation highlighted the tension between high-end innovation and underserved community needs. Market-driven tech often bypasses the people who need it most. Mohr called on foundations and companies alike to support “tech for good” and to invest in tools that prioritize accessibility, especially in under-resourced communities.
Even small nonprofits can build resilient systems by working with trusted partners and managed service providers. Understanding how to integrate “Lego block” software solutions—modular, cloud-based tools—is key. Boards should include members with tech fluency, and leaders must develop core competencies in selecting, securing, and scaling their tech tools.
The MacArthur Foundation is setting a model for how nonprofits can harness technology not only to operate—but to lead—with vision, equity, and impact.
