How nonprofits save resources to increase their impact with support from Adobe Acrobat Pro

Nonprofit organizations that improve lives and strengthen communities worldwide need to keep their overhead low to ensure that most of their often-limited resources go to serving those in need. In the United States, according to the National Council of Nonprofits, more than 92 percent of nonprofits operate on budgets of less than $1 million a year.

For decades, Adobe has been empowering nonprofits by leveraging our philanthropy, strategic partnerships, and innovative products to provide organizations worldwide with the resources needed to address today’s most urgent challenges. We’re expanding that support by launching Acrobat for Nonprofits, featuring the Pro version of Acrobat, the app most requested by the nonprofit community. Acrobat Pro includes a comprehensive set of document and e-signature tools that help global organizations streamline their operations and accelerate their missions. The discounted product offer is part of the Adobe for Nonprofits program, which includes a central repository for nonprofits with Adobe software discounts, technology tutorials, resources, success stories, and connections to other nonprofit organizations.

By digitizing document workflows involving staff, volunteers, donors, and vendors, nonprofits save time and money, enhance communications, and better serve communities. Several global nonprofits including JSI/World Education, BRIDGEGOOD, and CyArk are using Adobe Acrobat to do just that.

Reaching 2x more people with essential healthcare resources

In Malawi, JSI/World Education works to prevent new HIV infections and reduce HIV vulnerability among children. Through its program, 1,200 community case workers spread out across villages and urban areas to visit families and provide resources addressing HIV management, violence and abuse, household finances, and education support.

In the past, case workers carried thick binders stuffed with information sheets and forms. The materials were easily damaged, expensive to create and update, hard to carry, and could expose sensitive information, compromising confidentiality. After a successful pilot in 2023, case workers today are equipped with digital documents using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app on phones and tablets that fit discreetly in their pockets.

Instead of flipping through stacks of pages to find information, case workers save time using the AI-powered index available in Liquid Mode. They also use Liquid Mode to easily adjust the size of text for small mobile phone screens to more easily share important information. Zooming in on color illustrations makes the material more engaging for young people and their family members.

With an efficient digital toolkit that includes Acrobat Pro, case workers can now visit twice as many households each day. “We’ve had tremendous results in Malawi. I am excited about working with other places that are low-resourced and need to rely on technology to make their jobs easier,” says Jen Vanek, Director of Digital Learning and Research, JSI/World Education.

Streamlined processes mean more time to do good

Based in Oakland, California, BRIDGEGOOD has provided resources and training to help more than 15,000 people jump-start careers in design and technology. With an interest in serving first-generation college students aged 18 to 34, women, and people of color, the organization’s offerings include a 12-week UX design apprenticeship program that provides free hands-on training, portfolio-building activities, and exposure to industry mentors.

Students commit to participating in the program with an e-signature on a digital form. As they create portfolios and enhance their resumes, students learn how easy it is to create PDFs using Acrobat to help them pursue career opportunities. Meanwhile, BRIDGEGOOD administrators use Acrobat to efficiently edit, organize, review, and share invoices and packets of key documents for grants and fundraising.

“Acrobat helps us streamline processes so we have more time and resources for our apprentices and students. We strive to focus on what matters most, empowering the next generation of creators,” says Shaun Tai, Co-Founder and Executive Director, BRIDGEGOOD.

Enabling greater cultural heritage accessibility

Founded in 2003, CyArk uses digital and 3D technologies to develop immersive experiences that make the world’s cultural heritage sites accessible to people worldwide. CyArk’s team members work with partners around the world using Acrobat for everything from back-office administration to planning the production of new virtual tours of remote sites like Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, in Chile.

Within Acrobat, the staff producing virtual tours use the thumbnail view of pages to quickly re-order storyboard sequences as plans evolve. Project managers appreciate the ease of getting release forms returned online quickly using e-signatures. Teams share compressed PDFs to make it easier to work together on projects, even with team members in areas with limited bandwidth or costly internet access.

“We use Acrobat almost every day to accomplish our mission,” says Elizabeth Lee, VP of Programs and Development, CyArk. “It’s essential to our dynamic process for creating authentic Tapestry experiences that honor historic sites with the respect that they deserve, for new audiences and future generations.”

Adobe is now offering special rates on Acrobat Pro for eligible nonprofits through the Adobe for Nonprofits program and the Acrobat for Nonprofits product offer.

Follow these links for more information on JSI/World Education and its Ana Patsogolo Activity in Malawi, on BRIDGEGOOD, and on CyArk.