Consumers have embraced advanced technologies to facilitate tasks they perform on a daily basis, using mobile applications to manage their bank accounts, stick to their diets and hail the nearest cabs. To ensure they can make the most significant impact, nonprofits and faith-based organizations are also investing in new technology.

The Robin Hood Foundation recently announced that tablets helped its volunteers provide assistance to Hurricane Sandy victims sooner. Armed with tablets and internet connections, volunteers from the New York Legal Assistance Group, the Urban Justice Center and the Legal Aid Society were able to help people connect with assistance programs so they could begin to rebuild their lives.

In a separate move, some churches are giving their tithing methods a significant upgrade. Developers have introduced nonprofit technology designed for faith-based organizations, which will allow them to accept donations from attendants in the methods that are most convenient. The smartphone platforms allow individuals to make contributions by swiping their debit or credit cards, as well as sending mobile payments via digital wallets.

As foundations tap into emerging electronic and mobile channels to raise funds, they can benefit from nonprofit fundraising software that tracks incoming donations and quantitatively measures the success of their efforts.