Cybersecurity breaches don’t always start with malicious code. They often start with trust.
In the nonprofit world, where collaboration and urgency drive every decision, that trust can be a hacker’s greatest weapon.
Social engineering attacks manipulate people, staff, volunteers, or even donors into giving away passwords or access. For nonprofits, these scams can lead to stolen data, financial loss, and damaged credibility.
In this post, we’ll explain what social engineering is, why nonprofits are targeted, the most common scams to watch for, and practical steps your team can take to prevent them.
What Is Social Engineering?
Social engineering targeting nonprofits refers to scams that manipulate staff, volunteers, or donors into revealing sensitive information or granting system access. These attacks exploit human trust rather than technology.
This might involve:
- Pretending to be a trusted vendor,
- Urging an employee to reset a password on a fake site,
- Using urgency or emotion to override skepticism.
Why Are Nonprofits a Prime Target?
Nonprofits are appealing to attackers for several reasons:
- Public-facing leadership and contact info make it easy to impersonate internal staff.
- Limited budgets may prevent frequent staff training or advanced tech protections.
- Volunteer turnover can leave access points vulnerable.
Social engineers often rely on empathy, mission urgency, or confusion to exploit gaps in your security posture.
Common Social Engineering Scams
1. Phishing Emails
These look like legitimate messages from a trusted source like your email provider, CEO, or CRM vendor. They may:
- Ask you to click a link
- Request login credentials
- Urge you to send money or sensitive documents
Example: A spoofed email from your Executive Director requesting an urgent wire transfer.
2. Vishing (Voice Phishing)
Attackers call pretending to be IT support or a donor, asking for login help or access to systems.
Example: “Hi, I’m from your tech support team. We’re resetting passwords due to a breach.”
3. Baiting
Offering something enticing, like free software or event access, in exchange for credentials or downloads that install malware.
4. Tailgating
In-person manipulation where someone physically follows an employee into a secure area.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Requests for confidential info sent with urgency or secrecy.
- Emails with odd language, grammar issues, or unfamiliar senders.
- Links that redirect to suspicious domains (ALWAYS hover to check before clicking).
- Calls requesting verification of passwords or user credentials.
How to Protect Your Nonprofit
1. Provide Staff Training
Make cybersecurity training part of your onboarding and annual refreshers. Include examples of scams and how to report suspicious activity.
2. Enable MFA
As mentioned in our companion blog, MFA provides a backup layer of security, even if someone does fall for a phishing email. Download our FREE Nonprofit’s Guide to MFA here.
3. Create a Verification Process
Set internal protocols for verifying financial or sensitive requests, especially those involving funds, password resets, or data exports.
4. Promote a ‘Stop and Think’ Culture
Encourage staff to pause and double-check before acting on urgent requests. Make it safe to question (even leadership).
Case in Point: Hypothetical Scenario
A development coordinator receives a request from what looks like the Executive Director to wire funds for an urgent vendor payment. Because of recent staff turnover, they aren’t familiar with the ED’s usual email signature or tone.
They reply and begin processing the request, but pause after noticing a typo in the sender’s domain. The email was from ceo@yournonprof1t.org (with a “1” instead of an “i”). The crisis was averted, but only because they were trained to spot red flags.
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
- Do not respond.
- Report it to your IT provider or internal tech lead immediately.
- Do not click links or download attachments.
- Flag the message as phishing in your email client.
- Review and update internal security policies if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Social Engineering Attacks
Q1: What is the most common social engineering attack for nonprofits?
Phishing emails are the most common, often impersonating nonprofit leaders or vendors to trick staff into sharing passwords or sending funds.
Q2: How can nonprofits protect against social engineering?
Regular staff training, MFA, and clear internal verification policies are the best ways to prevent these scams.
Q3: Why are nonprofits targeted by cybercriminals?
Nonprofits often have limited IT budgets and rely on trust-based communication, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
Final Thoughts
Social engineering preys on human nature, not just technology. That’s why awareness and culture are just as important as firewalls and anti-virus software. By building a security-conscious team and implementing safeguards like MFA, your nonprofit can better protect its mission and its data.
Concerned About Social Engineering at Your Nonprofit?
Connect Cause offers Security Awareness Training that is built specifically for nonprofit organizations. Contact our team today to see how you can empower your team and protect your mission.
Protect your nonprofit from the human side of cyberattacks. Contact Connect Cause today or download our FREE Cybersecurity Guide for practical, nonprofit-focused protection tips.
—www.ConnectCause.com—
