NetHope and Okta: Fortifying Nonprofit Cybersecurity Worldwide

In an era of escalating cyber threats, nonprofits face significant challenges in protecting their digital assets and the sensitive information they hold. To address this critical issue, NetHope, a global catalyst for collective impact, and Okta, a leading identity and access management company, have joined forces in a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing cybersecurity resilience across the nonprofit sector. This five-year commitment, underpinned by a $2.5 million investment from Okta for Good, Okta's philanthropic arm, seeks to strengthen the security posture of nonprofits worldwide.


The partnership focuses on three key areas to create lasting change and build a safer digital ecosystem for nonprofits:

1. **Global Humanitarian Information Sharing & Analysis Center (ISAC) and Dial-A-CISO Program**: Information sharing and analysis centers (ISACs) play a crucial role in supporting nonprofits during cyberattacks and helping them build defenses and resilience. The NetHope Global Humanitarian ISAC, established in 2022 with the support of USAID and Okta, serves as a central platform enabling governments, funders, technology companies, and other trusted providers to support the spectrum of information security needs of nonprofits and the communities they serve. This partnership will ensure that the Global Humanitarian ISAC can provide contextually informed support to the nonprofit sector for the next five years, expanding and building its sustainability. Additionally, the partnership will sustain the NetHope virtual CISO program, providing expert-level advice to nonprofits that cannot afford a permanent CISO.


2. **Sustain and Build the Ecosystem of Nonprofit Cyber Leadership**: Recognizing that cybersecurity requires a collaborative approach, NetHope and Okta will lead convenings of leaders to form shared projects, partnerships, and coalitions of change. This will facilitate more impactful advocacy, effective sharing of best practices, and resources, ultimately extending the reach of efforts to protect nonprofits from cyber threats.

3. **Acceleration of Digital Transformation of Nonprofits**: NetHope believes in the power of technology to enable, connect, and multiply the life-transforming impact of the nonprofit sector. This partnership will support the work of the NetHope Center for the Digital Nonprofit, bringing together the expertise of the technology sector with the on-the-ground experience of nonprofits. The Center will continue its virtual CIO support to nonprofits, nonprofit research and corresponding publications, and deliver actionable insight reports and standards, ensuring that programs are evidence-based and solutions are fit-for-purpose.


Erin Baudo Felter, VP of Social Impact & Sustainability at Okta, emphasizes the importance of this partnership: "This latest investment represents the next milestone in our journey with NetHope and its global community of nonprofits. Cyber insecurity remains a top risk for all organizations. Nonprofits face additional challenges as one of the most targeted — and most vulnerable — sectors. Now is the time to come together as a community to create solutions and equip this sector with the resources, skills, and knowledge needed to best protect themselves from cyber threats. Together we can build a more secure world."

By joining forces, NetHope and Okta are taking a significant step towards securing digital protection and cybersecurity for nonprofits worldwide, ultimately ensuring that the billions of vulnerable people they serve remain safe and supported.