Cybersecurity for Non-Profits in the Bay Area: Protecting Donor Data

Non-profits are extremely valuable to their communities, constantly supporting key initiatives throughout the Bay Area. While they work hard to keep our communities strong, they can face many cybersecurity risks that put all their hard work in jeopardy. Cybercriminals target critical financial information and donor data, putting mission-critical operations at risk.

While cyberattacks rise across California, it’s important that non-profit organizations continue to strengthen their security posture to protect not only the communities that depend on them, but also the donors who trust them.

Unlike for-profit and larger enterprises, most non-profits operate with limited budgets, small teams, and outdated technology. This can make them prime targets for cybercriminals who think they have easy access to critical information. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. With the right cybersecurity strategy, and support from a local managed cybersecurity provider, Bay Area non-profits can significantly reduce their risk to any cyberattacks, while staying focused on their mission. Stronger preventative measures not only protect them, but also the wider community.

Why Non-Profits Are Increasingly Targeted

It’s no secret non-profits hold valuable personal and financial information. From employer identification numbers (EINs) and volunteer records to grant documents and credit card information, attackers can find a multitude of reasons to target non-profits.

It is especially difficult to deter cybercriminals as nonprofits can rely on legacy systems or outdated processes that make them an easy target for:

• Social engineering (e.g. Phishing). Attackers will act as executives, donors, vendors, or trusted partners to get you to share confidential or personal information, as well as account credentials. Can be an email, phone call, or text message.

• Ransomware attacks. Ransomware encrypts critical files and systems, making them inaccessible until a ransom is paid. For non-profits, this can disrupt fundraising, donor communications, and essential programs.

• Account compromise. Weak passwords, reused credentials, or lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA) can allow attackers to take over key accounts. Once inside, they can steal data or launch further attacks from the trusted account.

• Payment fraud. Attackers trick staff into sending funds or changing payment details by impersonating vendors, board members, or leadership. These scams are particularly dangerous for nonprofits managing grants, donations, and vendor payments.

• Identity fraud. Donor or employee information can be stolen and misused. This not only harms individuals, but can seriously damage donor trust and the non-profit’s reputation.

• Website attacks.  Nonprofit websites can be targeted through outdated plugins, weak hosting security, or unpatched software. Successful attacks can result in defaced pages, stolen data, malware distribution, or loss of online donation functionality.

A breach (of any level) doesn’t just cost money, it damages trust, halts operations, and can jeopardize critical funding—a risk non-profits can’t afford to make.

Common Cybersecurity Gaps in Non-Profits

A few key factors that can increase a non-profit’s risk of being targeted by a cyberattack are:

• Lack of dedicated IT or cybersecurity staff
• Reliance on outdated software or unsupported systems
• Weak access controls or shared logins
• Limited cybersecurity awareness training
• Unsecured donor databases or payment systems
• Inconsistent data backup practices

Not only do these gaps make it easier for cybercriminals, it makes it harder for non-profits to recover after. But, the good news is that these gaps can be closed.

Protecting Donor Data: Where Non-Profits Should Start

Don’t give attackers easy access to your sensitive information. To safeguard your organization, non-profits should focus on a few essential cybersecurity practices:

1. Implement Strong Access Controls. Restrict who can access donor databases or financial systems. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA), unique logins, and role-based permissions.

2. Encrypt Donor Data. Ensure sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. This is especially important for online donation portals and cloud-based donor management platforms.

3. Update and Patch Systems. Cybercriminals exploit outdated software. Regular updates prevent vulnerabilities from being used against you.

4. Train Staff and Volunteers. Don’t let your staff fall prey to common scams (i.e. phishing, ransomware, denial-of-service). Ongoing training builds awareness and helps prevent costly mistakes.

5. Secure Cloud-Based Tools. Many nonprofits use cloud CRMs, donation systems, and email tools. A managed cloud service provider can help configure and secure these platforms properly.

6. Maintain a Reliable Backup and Recovery Plan.  Backups protect donor data in case of ransomware or accidental data loss. It also ensures your mission doesn’t pause during a crisis.

This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If it seems to be too much for you and your team, there is always the option of outsourcing your help.

Keep Your Non-Profit Secure with Managed Cybersecurity Services

When you partner with a managed cybersecurity provider in the Bay Area, you get enterprise-level security, without enterprise-level costs. A partner can support:

• 24/7 threat monitoring and response
• Endpoint protection and antivirus
• Cloud security configuration
• Email security and phishing defenses
• Backup and disaster recovery
• Compliance with data privacy standards
• Ongoing vulnerability management

Most importantly, these providers can give you peace of mind, knowing that donor data and other sensitive information is protected by professionals.

Strengthening Trust With Your Donor Community

Your donors support you because they believe in your mission. Protecting their data is one of the most important ways to honor that trust. By taking proactive steps and working with the right cybersecurity partner, Bay Area nonprofits can build a strong security foundation that safeguards donor information and strengthens long-term relationships. Thus, allowing non-profits to keep doing what they do best: serving their communities and advancing their mission.