Welcome to the Smartdesc May newsletter. This month, we are delighted to release our third annual Charity Technology Leaders Report, in collaboration with Charity IT Leaders. Get your copy below. We also feature a webinar on the report unpacking the key trends, an important update on Microsoft licence grants, and more exciting nonprofit IT events. Charity…
Welcome to the Smartdesc April newsletter. This month, we are excited to host a webinar on 20 May on the key findings from our Charity Tech Leaders Report 2025 alongside Charity IT Leaders, with the report due to launch mid May. We also feature our Charity Summer Social, highlights from Microsoft’s Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit, and…
Last week, Adam and I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd annual Microsoft Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit in Seattle. This brought together charity leaders from over 1,000 organisations, to hear the latest updates and roadmap for Microsoft’s AI capabilities in the sector. The mood at this year’s summit was really positive. There was a sense…
Welcome to the Smartdesc March newsletter. We are nonprofit IT specialists who enable organisations to deliver more through better use of technology. This month, we are excited to share details of our Charity Leaders Summer Social on Thursday 5 June at Microsoft London. This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know charity peers in…
As the cost of living crisis continues to impact charities, coupled with rising National Insurance contributions due to take effect in April, reducing spend is more important than ever. One way charities can do this is to consolidate and optimise their IT systems. At Smartdesc, we have a wealth of experience supporting charities with their…
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch off is fast approaching. By 31 January 2027, every phone line in the UK will have moved to a fully digital network that uses Internet Protocol (IP) across a fibre-based service. This will mark the end of traditional copper phone lines and a significant leap towards a fully…
A guide to help you understand what the Microsoft New Commerce Experience (NCE) is, how it affects the licenses you buy, and the benefits of moving to NCE from an Enterprise Agreement (EA). If you are a nonprofit organisation that uses Microsoft 365, you may have heard of the New Commerce Experience (NCE) that Microsoft…
Volunteering Matters (VM) bring people together to overcome some of society’s most complex issues through the power of volunteering. They partner with communities to overcome adversity – tackling social isolation and loneliness, improving health, developing skills and opportunity and making sure young people can lead change. VM approached Smartdesc as they wanted to move away…
Situation Mind, the National Charity, were running an on-premise server estate, associated IT Infrastructure and end user hardware that was reaching the end of its life. They were also undertaking a large office move to a modern workplace, located within the Cancer Research UK Head Office in Stratford. They asked Smartdesc to seize this opportunity…
Keeping on top of the ever-changing licensing needs of your organisation can be a demanding job. Now, more than ever, it’s critical to ensure your Microsoft license estate is lean, optimised, and as cost effective as possible. As Microsoft partners and non-profit specialists, we are qualified Direct Cloud Solution Partners (CSP) who can help you navigate…
