Nonprofits handle money, hold sensitive data, and run on lean teams and trusting volunteers — a combination attackers know well. The good news is that the highest-impact protections are free or nearly so. Here is what matters most, in plain language, for organizations that don't have an IT department.
Nonprofits are targeted because they move money, hold donor and beneficiary data, and run lean — but the most protective steps cost little. Turn on multi-factor authentication for every account, adopt a written rule that any payment or bank-detail change is verified by phone, keep donor data out of ordinary email, and train staff and volunteers on donation and grant-fraud scams. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both offer nonprofit programs, so strong tools are within reach even on a tight budget.
Attackers follow value, and nonprofits hold more of it than they realize: donation and grant flows to redirect, donor and beneficiary records to steal, and payroll to divert. What they typically lack is a dedicated security team, so defenses rest on a few busy people and a rotating set of volunteers. That gap between what's at stake and what's protecting it is precisely the opening. None of this requires a big budget to close — it requires the right few habits.
You don't need a formal program. A short, plain briefing — here are the scams aimed at us, here is our one payment rule, here is who to ask if something feels off, and no one will ever be blamed for double-checking — does most of the work. Repeat it when volunteers turn over.
Sources & further reading: CISA resources for under-resourced organizations · TechSoup and Microsoft/Google nonprofit programs · NTEN cybersecurity resources · U.S. FTC business guidance (ftc.gov). Sector threat figures per Abnormal Security research (2025). Educational only; not a substitute for advice tailored to your organization.
Nonprofits combine three things attackers love: they move money (donations and grants), they hold sensitive donor and beneficiary data, and they usually have small teams, tight budgets, and many volunteers with account access. That mix means real value behind often-thin defenses, which is exactly what makes them a target.
Turn on multi-factor authentication for every account — it is free with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 and stops the large majority of account takeovers. Then adopt a simple written rule that any change to bank or payment details is verified by phone. Those two steps cost nothing and remove most of the risk. Many providers also offer nonprofit discounts or free tiers.
Avoid sending full payment details, Social Security numbers, or large donor lists over email at all; use a secure portal or your CRM instead. Where you must, limit who has access, turn on MFA, and be alert to phishing that tries to harvest that data. A breach of donor information can carry both legal obligations and lasting reputational cost, so treat it as sensitive by default.
Grant fraud includes fake grant offers that ask for a processing fee or bank details up front, and impersonation of a real funder to redirect a legitimate grant payment. Treat any unsolicited grant award, or any change to how an expected grant will be paid, as suspect until you confirm it directly with the funder through a contact you already had.
A scammer poses as a generous donor and either promises a large gift that requires an upfront “processing fee”, or sends a check for more than intended and asks the nonprofit to refund the difference. The original check later bounces, leaving the organization out the refunded amount. Never refund or forward money against a deposit that has not fully cleared, and verify any large or unusual gift offer before acting.
Yes — it is one of the best security values available to a nonprofit. Qualifying 501(c)(3)s can get Google for Nonprofits, or Microsoft 365 Business Basic free for up to 300 users and Business Premium at a steep discount through TechSoup. Business Premium in particular includes advanced phishing protection (Defender for Office 365) and Conditional Access, so budget is rarely a real reason to run without strong email security.
Family Sentinel's Org Guard watches your organization's email for the scams that target nonprofits — donation and grant fraud, impersonation, account takeover — and alerts a person you choose before the money moves. Read-only, and never able to send or delete.