Build vs. Buy Assessment

About Your Organization Your Software Need Your Information

Part 1

About Your Organization

What type of organization are you? *

Nonprofit (501(c)(3) or equivalent)

Ed-tech company

Other mission-driven organization

Small or mid-size business (other)

What sector or focus area best describes your work? *

Education (K-12)

Education (higher ed / professional development)

Human services / social services

Health and wellness

Arts and culture

Advocacy and policy

Community development

Youth development

Environmental / conservation

Faith-based

Other

Education (K-12)

Education (higher ed / professional development)

Human services / social services

Health and wellness

Arts and culture

Advocacy and policy

Community development

Youth development

Environmental / conservation

Faith-based

Other

K-12 curriculum or content

Higher ed / professional development

Corporate training

Other

Professional services (consulting, legal, accounting, etc.)

Retail / ecommerce

Healthcare / wellness

Real estate / property management

Hospitality / food service

Manufacturing

Technology / SaaS

Other

Select your organization type above to see options here.

Approximately how many people work at your organization? *

Staff and regular contractors

1–5

6–15

16–50

51–200

200+

What is your role? *

Executive Director / CEO / Founder

Director of Operations / COO

Director of Programs

Director of Technology / CTO / IT Lead

Director of Development / Fundraising

Other leadership role

Board member

Other

Part 2

Your Software Need

In one or two sentences, describe the software need you're trying to address. *

What problem are you trying to solve, or what capability are you trying to add? Don't worry about being technical — describe it in plain language.

How central is this software to your organization's ability to deliver on its mission? *

It's foundational

Without this capability, we can't deliver our core mission. This is directly tied to what we exist to do.

It's operationally important

It supports essential business functions, but our mission delivery doesn't directly depend on it.

It's supportive

It handles secondary or administrative functions. Important but not critical.

Which of the following best describes what you need? *

Something many organizations like ours use

We need a common business function handled well. Examples: donor management, email marketing, event ticketing, basic reporting, project management, bookkeeping.

Something somewhat specialized

We need something specific to our type of work, but we believe tools exist for organizations like us.

Something we haven't been able to find

We've looked for off-the-shelf solutions and haven't found anything that fits. Our requirements seem unique to how we operate.

Have you looked at any existing software tools for this need? If so, what did you find?

Name any tools you've evaluated, tried, or are currently using for this purpose. If they didn't work out, briefly note why.

Who will use this software? *

Select all that apply.

Internal staff (day-to-day operations)

Internal staff (occasional use — weekly or less)

Volunteers

External constituents, members, or clients

Customers or the general public

Board members or leadership (reporting/dashboards)

Partner organizations

Approximately how many people will use this software regularly? *

Fewer than 10

10–50

50–200

200–1,000

1,000+

What best describes how this function is handled today? *

Multiple disconnected tools

We're using several different tools and manually moving data between them.

Spreadsheets and manual processes

We're tracking this in Excel, Google Sheets, or on paper.

A tool that we've outgrown

We have software for this but it's no longer meeting our needs.

Nothing yet

This is a new need. We haven't had a system for it before.

Looking ahead 2–3 years, do you expect significant changes in the scale or complexity of this function? *

Yes, significant growth

We expect substantially more users, more data, more complexity, or geographic expansion.

Some growth

We'll grow but at a manageable pace. Things will look similar to today, just a bit bigger.

Relatively stable

We don't anticipate major changes in scale or complexity.

How sensitive is the data this software will handle? *

Standard operational data

Contact information, organizational records, general business data. Nothing that requires special handling.

Somewhat sensitive

Personal information about program participants, students, or community members. We want to be thoughtful but don't have specific regulatory requirements.

Highly sensitive or regulated

Health records, data about minors, case files, or data subject to specific regulations (HIPAA, FERPA, etc.).

How important is it that you can easily move your data to a different system in the future? *

Very important

We want full control over our data and the ability to leave any platform without losing it.

Somewhat important

We'd like to avoid lock-in but it's not a top priority right now.

Not a major concern

We're comfortable committing to a platform if it meets our needs.

Has your organization attempted to adopt new software in the past and struggled? *

Yes, we've had difficult transitions before

Past software adoptions have been bumpy or failed.

We've managed okay

It's never been seamless but we've gotten through it.

No issues

Our team adapts to new tools without much difficulty.

This would be our first time

We haven't gone through a significant software adoption before.

What is your realistic budget for addressing this software need? *

Under $500/month

We can handle software subscriptions but not a major investment.

$500–$2,000/month

We have some budget for software and can invest in proper setup.

$2,000–$5,000/month or $25K–$60K upfront

We can invest meaningfully in the right solution.

$5,000+/month or $60K+ upfront

We have budget for a significant technology investment if justified.

Not sure

We haven't determined a budget yet.

Are you currently spending money on software, workarounds, or staff time related to this need?

Estimate what you currently spend per month or year on subscriptions, manual processes, or staff time. Even a rough estimate is helpful.

Part 3

Your Information

Your name *

Email address *

Your report will be delivered to this address.

Organization name *

Would you like a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your results? *

Yes, please reach out to schedule

Not right now, just send me the report

May we send you occasional emails with technology guidance for organizations like yours? *

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Yes, sign me up

No thanks, just send my report

We’re creating your personalized report.

While we review your answers, here’s a look at what can come next.

Open your report ↗

Know what to build before you build it.

The next step, if custom is the right path.

Your assessment helps clarify build versus buy. The Roadmap Workshop turns a custom-software direction into a validated, prioritized plan your team can execute with confidence.

Two weeks of active engagement Starting at $7,000 fixed fee Built for nonprofits & ed-tech teams

From recommendation to roadmap

The expensive mistake is starting before the plan is clear.

A few weeks of rigor upfront can surface assumptions, align stakeholders, and keep months of development focused on what users actually need.

Without a roadmap

Internal assumptions drive scope
Misalignment appears mid-build
Feature lists grow without evidence

With the workshop

Real user research shapes priorities
Stakeholders align before code is written
Phase 1 is clear and ready to execute

A focused engagement

Alignment, evidence, then priorities.

Align the team

A facilitated kickoff surfaces the shared vision—and the assumptions hiding inside it.

Listen to users

Up to five interviews ground the roadmap in real needs, pain points, and workflows.

Choose what matters

A prioritization workshop turns the evidence into a practical Now, Next, and Later plan.

The Roadmap Package

Leave with the story and the plan.

Get research-backed materials for internal buy-in and a visual 6–12 month roadmap—with optional concept mockups and a Phase 1 scope.

Explore the full Roadmap Workshop ↗

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