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Private contractors exploit these weaknesses with a set playbook. A crisis strikes—a database fails or a reporting system collapses—and vendors arrive as “emergency responders” with premium-priced fixes. Vendor lock-in is intentional—nonprofits face high setup costs, staff resistance to new interfaces, and obstacles to data transfers. Nonprofits, desperate to maintain their services, often sign contracts with little leverage. The company takes advantage and consolidates its gains.