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NONPROFIT INDUSTRY

Security for Nonprofits

Nonprofitsholdsensitivedonorinformation,beneficiarydata,andadvocacycommunications,whichmakethemattractivetargetsforcybercriminalsand,insomecases,state-sponsoredactors.Weprovidesecuritytestingtailoredtononprofitbudgetsandriskprofiles,helpingorganizationsprotectthecommunitiestheyservewithoutdivertingresourcesfromtheirmission.

Industry snapshot

A distinctive risk profile

Every industry has its own risk fingerprint. These are the defining characteristics that shape our approach here.

Donor
Data sensitivity
PII · payment · trust
Limited
Security budget
Small, lean IT teams
Web
Main attack surface
Donation · CRM · cloud
High
Reputational stakes
Trust is the currency
Compliance

Regulatory Frameworks

Every engagement is mapped to the frameworks that matter most in this industry — so each finding directly supports your compliance posture.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework v2.0
the most widely recommended framework for nonprofits, providing a flexible, risk-based approach to cybersecurity governance that scales to organizations of any size
GDPR (EU 2016/679, Art. 32)
applies to any nonprofit processing personal data of EU residents, including donor databases, mailing lists, and beneficiary records, requiring regular testing of security measures
CCPA/CPRA (Cal. Civ. Code 1798.100+)
California privacy laws requiring nonprofits with qualifying revenue or data volumes to implement reasonable security procedures for personal information
State data breach notification laws (50 states)
nonprofits must comply with data breach notification requirements in every state where their donors or beneficiaries reside
PCI DSS v4.0 (SAQ-A or SAQ A-EP)
applies to nonprofits accepting online donations via payment cards, requiring secure handling of cardholder data even when using third-party processors
Methodology

Testing methodology

A tested, repeatable approach covering every layer of the modern environment relevant to this industry.

01 · PHASE

Web application and donation platform testing

assessment of online giving forms, CRM integrations (Salesforce NPSP, Bloomerang, Blackbaud), payment processing, and donor portal security

02 · PHASE

Donor data protection assessment

evaluation of database access controls, encryption in transit, backup security, and data retention policy enforcement for donor PII and financial records

03 · PHASE

Phishing and social engineering simulation

targeted campaigns against staff handling financial data, executive leadership, and volunteers with system access, using scenarios relevant to nonprofit operations

04 · PHASE

Third-party vendor security assessment

evaluation of cloud services, fundraising platforms, email marketing tools, and volunteer management systems for security configuration and data handling practices

05 · PHASE

Cloud workspace security review

assessment of Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace configurations, conditional access policies, MFA enforcement, and shared drive permissions commonly misconfigured in nonprofit environments

06 · PHASE

Unpatched system and shadow IT discovery

network scanning to identify outdated systems, unauthorized applications, and unsecured endpoints often present in resource-constrained environments

Services

Key services

Targeted services for the most common security needs in this industry.

Threat landscape

Threats facing this sector today

Every security engagement is scoped based on the attack patterns that actually hit this sector — not a generic checklist.

Donation-fraud & payment skimming

Client-side skimmers and fake donation pages that hijack supporter contributions.

BEC & grant-wire fraud

Email compromise targeting finance teams to redirect grant disbursements or major donor wires.

Donor-data exposure

Breaches of CRM or email platforms that expose donor lists, correspondence, and giving history.

Ransomware on operations

Encryption attacks during critical campaign periods or grant-reporting cycles.

Website defacement

Politically motivated defacement of nonprofit sites during campaigns or news cycles.

Third-party vendor risk

Compromise of fundraising platforms, email-service providers, or shared CRM vendors.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Ready to protect your mission?

Talk to our team about a security assessment tailored to the unique risk profile of your organization.

Request a Security Assessment