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The Hidden American Software in Your Organization

2026-03-13T13:15:59Z

You Don't Know What You Don't Know

In an earlier article we wrote about why more and more organizations want to bring their data to the Netherlands. Geopolitical relations are shifting, GDPR offers more certainty than American legislation, and your donors and members trust you to handle their information carefully.

But before you can switch, you need to know where you stand. And that's often where things get tricky. Because how much American software do you actually use? The answer is almost always: more than you think.

The Obvious Suspects

Some tools are clearly American. Do you use Mailchimp for your newsletters? Then your mailing list is stored on servers belonging to Intuit, an American company headquartered in California. The same applies to Eventbrite (your event registrations), SurveyMonkey (your survey data), and Zoom (your online meetings).

These tools are popular because they're user-friendly and often free or inexpensive. But 'free' comes at a price: you pay with data, and that data falls under American jurisdiction.

Quick overview — American tools many associations use:

Category	Commonly used American tools
Email marketing	Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Campaign Monitor
CRM	Salesforce, HubSpot
Event registration	Eventbrite, Splash
Surveys	SurveyMonkey, Typeform, Google Forms
Video calling	Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
File storage	Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive
Collaboration	Slack, Notion
Social media / community	Facebook Groups, LinkedIn Groups, WhatsApp

How Do You Inventory Your Own Situation?

A good inventory doesn't have to be complicated. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Make a list of all software your organization uses

Think broader than just the 'official' tools. Ask colleagues and volunteers which apps they use. Often software creeps in through individual preferences: a board member using Doodle to schedule meetings, a volunteer managing WhatsApp groups, an intern creating Canva designs.

Step 2: Categorize by data sensitivity

Not all data is equally sensitive. Prioritize based on risk:

Priority	Type of data	Examples
High	Personal data of members/donors	CRM, member administration, mailing lists, payment information
Medium	Internal communication and documents	Email, chat, file storage
Low	Public content and planning	Social media, planning tools

Step 3: Research where the data is stored for each tool

This sounds simpler than it is. Often you have to dig deep into the terms and conditions or privacy policy. Ask yourself (or your supplier) these questions:

Waar staan de servers fysiek?
Welke vestigingen, zuster- of moederbedrijven hebben jullie buiten Europa? Hoe werkt data-uitwisseling onderling?
Wat gebeurt er bij een dataverzoek van een buitenlandse overheid?
Wordt data versleuteld opgeslagen?
Kun je kiezen voor uitsluitend Europese dataopslag?

Step 4: Assess the risk for each tool

A simple matrix helps:

	Data staat in Europa	Data stored (partly) in US
Non-sensitive data	✅ Low risk	⚠️ Acceptable risk
Sensitive data	✅ Good	🔴 Action needed

Red Flags in Supplier Responses

Watch for these signals when questioning suppliers:

'We comply with GDPR' — That says nothing about where the data is stored. American companies can be GDPR-compliant AND still fall under American legislation.
'We have a European data center' — Good, but is that an option or the default? And what if the parent company still has to hand over data under the CLOUD Act?
'We use Standard Contractual Clauses' — This is a legal construct to legitimize data transfers to the US. It's better than nothing, but offers no guarantee against American government access.
'That's in our terms and conditions' — Ask for a concrete answer. If a supplier can't clearly explain where your data is stored, that's a red flag.

What Now?

An inventory isn't an end in itself. It's the basis for a conscious choice. Perhaps you'll conclude that the risk is acceptable for your organization. Perhaps you'll decide that your member and donor data really needs to move to a European solution.

Whatever choice you make: you're making it consciously. And that's exactly what your donors and members have the right to expect from you.

Need help with the next step?

Want to know how to migrate your member and donor data to a European environment? Or are you curious how Procurios can help you with an integrated platform that runs entirely on Dutch servers. Contact us for a no-obligation conversation.

Why you should bring your donor and member data to Europe

2026-03-13T13:15:59Z

America is no longer the obvious ally

The relationships between countries are shifting dramatically. Where America always seemed like a natural partner for Europe, we increasingly see American interests taking priority – sometimes at the expense of European organizations and citizens. This changing attitude also affects the digital world in concrete ways.

American tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon dominate the cloud market. American players like Salesforce and HubSpot also dominate the CRM market. Although both companies now offer European data centers, many organizations remain dependent on complex legal frameworks such as Standard Contractual Clauses to justify data transfers to the US. This dependence on American parent companies means that your data is ultimately still subject to American legislation. But what happens when the American government forces these companies to share European data? Or when trade tensions lead to sudden service exclusions? The Dutch Court of Audit warned in the report "The State in the Cloud" that the Netherlands has become extremely dependent on American cloud infrastructure. At the same time, Belgian government organizations are also increasingly concerned about this dependency, with Belgium being particularly vulnerable to geopolitical pressure as a strategic European hub.

The reality is that American legislation can force companies to transfer data to authorities, even when that data is stored in Europe. For your organization, this means an uncomfortable reality: you don't have complete control over your donors' and members' data.

Dutch and Belgian privacy protection offers more certainty

Both the Netherlands and Belgium follow the European privacy standard (GDPR). This legislation gives your donors and members strong rights and provides your organization with clear rules. No conflicting American legislation, no unclear jurisdictions.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Data Protection Authority oversees compliance, while Belgium has the Data Protection Authority. Both countries take a pragmatic approach that helps organizations comply without bureaucratic hassle.

The most important difference from American data storage? Transparency. Your donors or members know exactly what happens to their data and who can access it. No hidden access by foreign intelligence services.

Data sovereignty is becoming increasingly important

More and more organizations realize that where you store your data is a strategic choice. Cloud solutions from the Benelux offer not only legal clarity but also operational advantages. No sudden changes in terms due to American legislation, no risk of exclusion during trade tensions.

Dutch cloud providers like True (where Procurios' servers are housed) have developed strongly in recent years. They offer comparable functionality to the American giants, but with Dutch jurisdiction and support in your own language. For organizations that depend on donor and member trust, this is an important advantage.

The practical picture

How big is the risk of American data storage really? Recent research shows that American authorities rarely request European data. Yet it's not just about current practice. It's about control, predictability, and trust.

When your supporters back you or use your services, they trust that you handle their data carefully. By choosing Dutch data storage, you show that their privacy is a priority. You prevent possible risks and maintain complete control over your own data.

Making the switch

A migration to European cloud solutions requires planning but doesn't have to be complex. Start by inventorying your current situation and classify which data is most critical. Dutch cloud providers can help you make a smooth transition without downtime.

Many organizations choose a hybrid approach: critical donor and member data goes to Dutch solutions, while less sensitive data can possibly remain elsewhere. This phased approach makes the transition manageable and affordable.

An investment in trust

Moving your data to local solutions is more than a technical change – it's an investment in the trust of your donors and members. You show that their privacy is a priority and that you don't want to be dependent on foreign power interests.

In a world where relationships between countries are shifting and digital independence is becoming more important, control over your own data is a strategic advantage. Dutch cloud solutions offer that control, combined with the functionality and reliability you need.

For organizations that live on trust, this is not just a technical choice – it's an investment in your mission and your future.