Help Our Staff Master New Technology - Guides, Training & Security Review

Center of Concern is a nonprofit human services organization serving older adults and housing-unstable individuals in Chicago's northwest suburbs. Our small staff recently transitioned to Microsoft 365, a new phone system, and a new printer/copier. However, we have no on-site IT support, and staff are learning these tools on the fly.

We are looking for a volunteer with IT training or technical writing experience to help us build the documentation and safeguards that will let a non-technical team use these tools confidently and securely. Specifically, we'd like help with: (1) plain-language how-to guides and quick-reference sheets for Microsoft 365 essentials (Outlook, Teams, OneDrive/SharePoint), our phone system, and printer/scanner; (2) basic technology policies and procedures, including acceptable use, password/MFA standards, handling of sensitive client information, and a staff onboarding/offboarding technology checklist; and (3) a basic security review of our Microsoft 365 settings (MFA enrollment, sharing settings, admin accounts) with prioritized, right-sized recommendations for a small nonprofit. If time allows, we would also welcome one or two short staff training sessions, which could be held virtually or on-site.

Most of this work can be done remotely on the volunteer's schedule, and we are glad to prioritize the pieces that best fit their skills and available hours. Everything the volunteer creates will be used daily by staff serving vulnerable community members. This would be an opportunity to build a strong foundation for staff doing incredible work!

Center of Concern helps older adults and housing-unstable individuals in Chicago's northwest suburbs live with dignity and independence. Our small staff connects neighbors to housing assistance, benefits, and in-home support, often serving people with nowhere else to turn.

Every hour spent wrestling with technology is an hour not spent with a client. We have made important technology upgrades, but without documentation, or training, we aren't getting their full value. Clear guides and training will help staff work faster, and help to create a more consistent processes make it easier to onboard new staff as our programs grow.

Additionally, our clients trust us with sensitive personal information at vulnerable moments in their lives, and sound data practices protect that trust. This project will strengthen the operational backbone of our work.

This project is sponsored directly by our Executive Director, who will serve as the volunteer's single point of contact. Decisions will get made quickly and the volunteer won't be left waiting for approvals. Staff are eager for the support as they have been asking for exactly this kind of documentation since our technology transition.

Before the project begins, we will have ready an inventory of our technology (Microsoft 365 licenses and current configuration, phone system model, printer/copier model), a list of the specific tasks staff struggle with most, and copies of any existing policies so the volunteer isn't starting completely from scratch. We can arrange appropriately scoped access to our Microsoft 365 environment for the security review, with a confidentiality agreement in place given the sensitive nature of our client work. We are a small, responsive team and will commit to timely feedback on drafts and to scheduling staff for training sessions well in advance.

All documentation will live in a central, staff-accessible location, and we will designate one or two internal/ intern staff who will be trained to field everyday questions and keep materials current. The technology policies will be formally adopted as part of our operations procedures, the onboarding/offboarding checklist will be built into our hiring process, and the security review findings will be shared with our leadership and board with a plan to act on the priority recommendations. This work will become part of how we operate every day.