Technology has become such an integral part of daily life in our society, that checking social media feeds or logging into online banking hardly warrants a second thought. For less privileged communities, however, these technologies have a potential far beyond simple convenience. When placed in the hands of forward-thinking social innovators, online services and offline tech can become powerful tools to propel social change. Here are nine ways that organizations are using those tools to create new avenues for progress.

1. Crowdfunding for a Cause

We’ve all heard of crowdfunding for just about every private enterprise, from independent films to potato salad. In recent months, however, crowdfunding platforms have been evolving and branching out into instruments for public good, as well. Organizations like Abundance Generation use crowdfunding to give money to renewable energy projects, some of which would never get off the ground without help from funds collected online. Giving these projects a real chance means more opportunities for bringing sustainable power to more people.

2. Using Big Data to Tackle Community Issues

So much data is collected every single day from communities around the world, and ideas about how to use that data are taking a turn toward social progress. Data Science for Social Good, for example, brings together three vital components: experienced and aspiring data scientists, large-scale social problems, and mountains of collected data. The idea is to bring bright minds together to figure out how best to use this data, not for marketing purposes, but to make forward strides in areas like transportation, education, and public health.

3. Turning Phone Data into Cures

In developing nations, health care is a major issue, but discovering how to tackle that issue in light of financial restrictions can be tricky. This is another area where data collection can help give scientists the information they need to help allocate limited medical resources in the most effective way. A West African mobile carrier has already started an initiative in Senegal that allows researchers access to data that helps them track regional population movements. This in turn can help them glean important insights into the best ways to treat outbreaks of diseases like Ebola.

4. Bringing Power to Those Who Need It Most

Solar power has the potential to change the energy game for both urban and rural communities worldwide. Some of the sunniest areas in the world that could benefit the most, however, run into problems with raising the initial capital needed to set up solar power. This is where organizations like Azuri come in, creating pay-as-you go expandable systems that allow people in poorer communities to gradually build on an initial starter pack. Meanwhile, Barefoot Power is making portable solar lamps that allow for simple tasks such as cooking and homework to be done after dark.

5. Giving the Poor Digital Financial Control

Online banking, payment cards, and digital money transfers are all so ubiquitous in the developed world, that it’s easy to forget how poorer communities still rely heavily on cash. Cash-based systems in developing areas are risky, expensive, and inefficient, but a recent crop of digital money management startups is stepping up to tackle the problem. From mobile banking platforms to SIM-card-based energy solutions, more and more disadvantaged communities are gaining access to better ways to manage their liquid assets.

6. Connecting Diasporas Online

African communities are some of the most widespread, with intercontinental diasporas often spanning the globe. For those who have moved on to other places, there is still a concern about what becomes of those still back home. For those who want to provide food and supplies for aging parents, for example, sending cash used to be the only option, one that was, time-consuming, inefficient, and risky. Organizations like Niokobok are now using online technology to make the process much easier, safer, and faster. Niokobok users around the world can order food and supplies online, and have them delivered to an address in Senegal within 48 hours. As the service begins to gather momentum, the plan is to expand into other communities that could benefit similarly.

7. Protecting Wildlife with Tracking Technology

The illegal wildlife trade has had a tremendous impact on the reduction of hundreds of already-endangered species, especially in Asia and Africa. Technological advances in GPS and tracking technology could be the key to helping anti-poaching organizations get the data they need to follow the movements of some of the world’s most vulnerable wildlife. Analytical software combined with tracking tags can help scientists and law enforcement understand exactly where poaching problems are most dire, and how to move forward to curb these illegal and damaging activities.

8. Supporting Mental Health through Hashtags

There are two sides to social media – one is the personal and professional networking aspect that we’re all familiar with, but there’s another side where young people who feel unheard and unseen congregate to share their problems and speak openly. This more secretive community of social networkers often communicate by use of “secret” hashtags, often indicating topics like depression, suicide, and eating disorders. What mental health organizations are aiming to do is infiltrate these hashtags and provide much-needed help to communities of young people who may think they have nowhere to turn. The key, of course, is keeping up with the ever-evolving language of online youth, and presenting these solutions in a non-invasive and welcoming manner.

9. Making Education Available to All

The way we educate ourselves has changed drastically over the past fifty years, and as universities embrace new technologies, online education is providing a greater range of educational opportunities to a greater range of potential students. As more universities jump on the bandwagon, the barriers to access are lowered, and many of the world’s top educational institutions now offer their best and most popular courses for free. Coursera and edX are just two examples of online organizations that allow anyone with an internet connection to access online courses, but there are many others, offering everything from casual no-certificate learning all the way up to advanced degrees.