About TechSoup Global and Fundacja TechSoup

TechSoup Global, founded in 1987 as CompuMentor, helps nonprofits and NGOs globally get and use technology to heighten their impact by improving and streamlining their internal operations as well as service delivery. In addition, through its websites, events, and community-building initiatives, TechSoup Global helps companies and foundations optimize their philanthropic giving. TechSoup Global is working toward a time when every civil society organisation on the planet has the technology resources and knowledge they need to operate at their full potential.

TechSoup Global’s NGO partners are a network of organisations connected through a common online platform enabling a socially responsible supply chain for technology products and support, which connects and builds the capacity of social benefit organisations and the disadvantaged communities that rely on them. Each partner offers a localized version of a common global technology assistance programme and local services that deepen benefits for disadvantaged individuals. Country programmes include a sustainable computer recycling programme, IT solutions for people with disabilities, and technology platforms to maximize organisational effectiveness and to enable full engagement in the digital economy. The TechSoup Global Network serves organisations in 31+ countries with additional countries expected to join the network by June 2010.

Fundacja TechSoup was legally established in May 2009 in Poland and provides time zone-friendly support to all network partners and more hands-on support to regionally-specific initiatives.

Fundacja TechSoup team members based in Warsaw, Poland.

A Global Need

Many civil society organisations worldwide serve the needs of low-income and marginalised populations and create positive social change. These organisations could have even greater impact through the appropriate use of technology. This requires assistance with obtaining, effectively using, and sustaining technology and thereby increasing their digital literacy.

TechSoup Global and Fundacja TechSoup's Goals

TechSoup Global and Fundacja TechSoup seek to elevate digital literacy and NGO effectiveness in Europe and worldwide by continuing to expand to additional countries while deepening their programmes and impact in existing countries. Already tens of thousands of NGOs working for the public good benefit from programmes including the web-based provision of donated and low-cost technology by leading providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Symantec, as well as solutions and training on how to make the greatest use of technological resources. TechSoup Global and Fundacja TechSoup enhance the ability of NGOs to achieve their goals in the following areas: education, health improvement, e-Inclusion, environment, financial aide and citizen empowerment.

How It Works

Problem: Today, social benefit organisations struggle to maintain stable, legal, and efficient internal technology systems to effectively do their important, mission-based work, to maintain a baseline level of data security, and to take advantage of newer technologies that can enhance the social benefit work they do. New equipment and software is often too expensive to purchase, and resource-strapped staff typically do not have good information about which products are most appropriate for their needs. Those seeking donations often use significant programme resources to apply for product donation grants through multiple channels. Simultaneously, technology donors struggle to handle requests with limited understanding of the needs of NGOs and incomplete tools for ensuring that they are valid recipients for donations.

Solution: TechSoup Global has created a growing network of local technology and capacity-building organisations in 31+ countries to provide recipient organisations with a web-based single source to learn about, apply for, and receive technology product donations and services from donor partners as well as a place to review articles and other useful content that allows them to make appropriate decisions to address their technology needs.

This global channel of partner NGOs works with TechSoup Global to localise and manage the broad set of TechSoup Global’s technology philanthropy offerings. In 2005, Poland and the United Kingdom were the first countries to partner with TechSoup Global to deliver services outside North America with three additional European countries opening programmes in the next year. Since then, the programme has grown in number of countries served (31), number of organisations served (107,000 to date), and number of donors providing technology donations in different countries.

This well-organized network today creates a delivery channel for technology hardware and software and has the potential to provide a single source of delivery of a variety of needed items globally in the future.

Global Supporters

• Microsoft
• Cisco
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
• Business Objects, an SAP company
• For a full list of funders, go to: http://www.techsoupglobal.org/funders

Global Donation Partners

• Business Objects, an SAP company
• Bytes of Learning
• Cisco
• Flickr
• Microsoft
• Mailshell
• Symantec

Global NGO Partners

Management

With approximately 180 staff members and a long history, TechSoup Global is proud to have built and retained a talented, experienced, and eclectic team. Our staff is a mix of highly skilled technologists, seasoned business professionals, and long-time nonprofit sector leaders and visionaries.

• Daniel Ben-Horin, Founder and co-CEO
• Rebecca Masisak, co-CEO
• Marine Webb, co-CEO

Offices

 

Poland office:

Ul. Marszałkowska 68/70 lok 29
00-545 Warzsawa, POLAND
+48.22.622.07.15

United States office:

435 Brannan Street, Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94107
+1.415.633.9300