Improving the way online services for beneficiaries are delivered is the top priority for charities in 2015, ahead of cost-cutting, online fundraising, engaging volunteers and collaboration with others, according to a recent poll.

Almost 60 per cent of respondents said that they planned to invest in IT this year to improve service delivery.

Just under half of those surveyed said that to date their organisation had neglected to use technology to engage volunteers. Some 41 per cent said that improving online services for beneficiaries had been neglected while 31 per cent said that online fundraising had been neglected.

Charity IT provider Eduserv asked 107 delegates at the Charity Technology Conference 2014, organised by Civil Society Media, about their technology plans for 2015.

John Simcock, charity client director at Eduserv, said: “Although it appears the rush to capitalise on digital fundraising has led to underinvestment in digital services for beneficiaries and engagement with volunteers, addressing this issue is the top priority in the year ahead.

“I anticipate that 2015 will be the year when charities really get to grips with the wider opportunities presented by digital transformation.”

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said that they were happy with the priority that IT has at their organisation and 59 per cent of trustees understood the importance of IT.

• You can register your interest in attending the Charity Technology Conference 2015 by emailing [email protected].