Leadership role
CIO / CTO
The organization's senior technology executive, responsible for its information systems, data security and technology strategy.
Reporting and scope
Reports to the Executive Director / CEO, COO or CFO / Head of Finance. Authority covers technology across the whole organization.
Core responsibilities
- Sets the technology strategy and multi-year investment plan
- Oversees donor, client, student or patient record systems and their integration
- Protects sensitive data and meets privacy rules such as HIPAA or FERPA where they apply
- Manages the IT budget, vendors and cloud services contracts
- Leads cybersecurity planning and incident response, often reporting to an audit or risk committee
- Guides program staff on technology that supports mission delivery
How it differs
The Director of IT and VP of IT / Technology run systems and support but usually do not own enterprise technology strategy or report to the CEO. The Chief Data Officer focuses on data governance and analytics rather than infrastructure.
By organization size
In mid-sized nonprofits the title may cover a leader with a small team and heavy use of outsourced support. In health systems and universities it leads large departments and major system implementations.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Chief Information Officer; CIO; Chief Technology Officer; CTO; Chief Digital Officer; VP & Chief Information Officer