What is a Fractional CIO, COO, and CTO?

This is an explanation of what these roles do and how they apply to nonprofits and mission-driven organizations.

• Chief Information Officer: ensures your internal technology aligns with your mission and goals. Below are some examples of what a CIO does plus some questions you might ask as person in this role…
  • Ensures all your software is connected in the right way to safeguard sensitive information
  • Offers guidance on the most effective tools for your needs
  • Verifies your vendors are providing solutions that meet your requirements and ensures your team is clear on what’s being delivered
  • Questions: Should we use AI and how? How secure are our systems and data? Are vendors recommending the right solutions?
• Chief Operations Officer: improves how work gets done, so projects move forward and your team spends less time putting out fires.
  • Reviews your day-to-day processes to see if anything can be streamlined or automated
  • Questions: How can daily tasks be faster and easier? Where are things breaking down?
• Chief Technology Officer: guides planning and oversight of technology your organization delivers externally.
  • Evaluates whether the tools your constituents use are effective and secure
  • Questions: How can we improve what our end users experience? Should we offer AI functionality?

And fractional simply means the role is part time.

These roles are not a replacement for your web designer, IT helpdesk, or support staff. Rather they provide experienced leadership to help everyone work better together.