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The Accidental Techie Radar
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Hey friends,
26NTC just wrapped, and the nonprofit technology community showed up.
I joined virtually this year — Gozi and I presented our session remotely — but the energy from Detroit came through the screen loud and clear. The throughline this year was hard to miss: the sector is finally starting to name what so many of us have been living. The accidental techie experience in the AI era isn't a niche problem. It's everywhere. And more people are asking seriously what the path forward looks like for nonprofits and AI.
This edition is a little different. Less deep dive, more "here's what's on my radar and why it should be on yours too."
Let's get into it.
Voices from #26NTC Worth Following
If you weren't at NTC, virtually or in person, you didn't miss out entirely. I've collected a few LinkedIn recaps from folks in the sector. These are a few voices worth adding to your feed:
- Gozi Egbuonu — My co-presenter and one of the clearest thinkers on what the accidental-to-intentional journey actually looks like in practice.
- Thelma Andree — Sharp perspective on nonprofit tech from someone who's been in the room.
- Rubin Singh — Worth following for his takes on the sector's relationship with technology.
- Rosalind Zavras — Thoughtful voice on nonprofit tech leadership and where the field is heading.
And if you want more, search the #26NTC hashtag on LinkedIn — there's a lot there.
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The Session Went Well. Come See It Live, For Free.
"From Accidental Techie to Intentional Tech Leader" landed really well at NTC. Gozi and I covered the Four-Bridge Framework (skills, relationships, projects, communication) and based on the conversations afterward, it hit home for a lot of people.
We're not done.
On Wednesday, March 25 from 3 to 4pm Eastern, Gozi and I are bringing the full session to a Community IT webinar. It's free. It's an hour. We'll walk through the framework and leave time for questions.
If you missed NTC or want to go deeper on repositioning yourself from tech fixer to strategic advisor, this is your shot.
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This AI Opportunity Closes March 23... That's in 4 Days
I don't say "apply for everything." I say apply for things worth your time.
NTEN and Anthropic are running a cohort for nonprofit staff who want to actually build AI readiness at their organizations — not just read about it, but move a real project from idea to implementation. It's free. It's limited to 20 people. And it comes with six months of hands-on support, access to NTEN's Nonprofit Technology Professional Certificate, and resources from Anthropic throughout.
The commitment is real: 8 to 10 hours a month for six months. Go in with eyes open. But if you're the person at your org who everyone's going to turn to when the AI questions get louder, this is exactly the kind of structured support that's hard to find anywhere else.
Applications close March 23. Decisions come back within days.
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JOBS FOR ACCIDENTAL TECHIES
Roles that look like yours, and ones that might be your next step. Deadlines move fast, so don't sit on these.
- Manager, IT Support — Simons Foundation | New York City, In-person | $99,000-$125,000 | Apply here
- Information Technology Operations Manager — World Bicycle Relief | Hybrid | Salary not listed | Apply here
- Systems Administrator — The Denver Foundation | Denver, CO, In-person | $96,000-$108,000 | Apply here
- VP, Information Technology — Community Options, Inc. | Hillsborough, NJ, In-person | $200,000 | Apply here
- Specialist, Grants & Operations — American Express | Hybrid | $65,500-$102,500 + bonus + benefits | Apply here
- Head of Operations — The Hire Standard | Alameda, CA | $180,000-$200,000 + 20% performance bonus | Apply here
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WHAT I'M READING THIS WEEK
All four of these came across my radar this week. I read a lot so you don't have to, but these I think are worth your time.
Nonprofits Face Surge in Cyber-Attacks as Email Threats Rise 35% — Infosecurity Magazine
Nonprofits are prime targets because of limited security resources, high-trust environments, and frequent financial transactions — and attackers know it.
AI and Surveillance Concerns: Where Nonprofits Must Draw the Line — One Hundred Nights
Before you deploy that next AI tool, this is a useful gut-check: the question isn't whether you can collect the data, it's whether you should, given who your organization serves.
LLMs Are Manipulating Users with Rhetorical Tricks — Harvard Business Review
When you push back on an AI's answer, it may push back harder — researchers call it "persuasion bombing," and it's a real reason to stay skeptical of your tools even when they sound confident.
Don't Underestimate the Value of Professional Friendships — Harvard Business Review
Strong professional relationships aren't soft — they're directly tied to trust, learning, and performance, and a good reminder that the relationships bridge in the Four-Bridge Framework isn't just career strategy, it's human.
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Something I'm Building — And I Want Your Input
I've been thinking about what it would look like to take the accidental-to-intentional framework and build something more structured around it. A course. A real guided experience, the roadmap I wish I'd had when I was figuring all of this out on the fly.
I'm planning a pilot launch in June. Nothing to buy right now; just a chance to get early updates and help shape what this becomes before it opens to everyone.
If this sounds like something you'd want, I'd love to know you're interested.
Reply to this email and let me know. Would you pay $397 for a 6-week cohort where we implement this framework together?
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FOLLOW ALONG
Flourish Collective
Helping nonprofits co-create operational systems that support their mission and people. Follow along on LinkedIn. Follow Flourish Collective →
The Accidental Techie Newsletter on LinkedIn
Subscribe to the newsletter showcase page to stay connected between editions. Follow on LinkedIn →
That's it for this one. If something here was useful, forward it to a colleague who's been quietly doing the tech job nobody hired them for. That's who this is for.
Until next time,
Hugo
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