TECHSOUP

TechSoup Global and GuideStar International Combine Operations

jfagar — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:37:21 -0700

Media Contacts:
TechSoup Global
Erica Lorraine Scheidt
erica@techsoupglobal.org
+1 (415) 633-9338

GuideStar International
Caroline Neligan
cneligan@guidestarinternational.org
+44 (0) 207 269 6549

TechSoup Global and GuideStar International Combine Operations
Move Strengthens Global Capacity-Building Programs for Civil Society

SAN FRANCISCO/LONDON—APRIL 15, 2010—TechSoup Global, the U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides technology resources and knowledge to NGOs around the world, and GuideStar International, a U.K.-registered charity that promotes transparency and civil society organization (CSO) reporting, today announced that they will combine operations in order to strengthen their respective capacity-building programs for civil society. The two organizations share a mission to benefit global civil society through the provision of technology, information, and resources.

The TechSoup Global Network, which now reaches more than 100,000 civil society organizations in 32 countries, will gain GuideStar International’s deep expertise in making civil society organizations more visible, accountable, and effective, allowing TechSoup Global and its partners to more easily identify and reach those organizations that are working to address society’s most urgent needs.

“This is an exciting time for the philanthropic sector and for our two organizations,” said Rebecca Masisak, co-CEO of TechSoup Global. “Both GuideStar International and TechSoup Global have created contribution economies — networks of far-reaching partnerships with foundations and corporations, governments, and NGOs — and over the years we have developed a deep respect for one another’s work. As our paths crossed and our approach naturally converged, it became clear that by formally combining our operations, we can work together more efficiently and powerfully for global good.”

The combined operations will focus on developing and strengthening a coordinated and sustainable global network, as well as building on-the-ground capacity in Europe. The London-based GuideStar International, along with Fundacja TechSoup, an independent foundation in Warsaw, Poland, will work closely with 14 European partners to strengthen programs and operations benefiting European civil society.

“Today’s announcement reflects our mutual conviction about the central importance of information and technology for the future of a robust global civil society — and it also promises an exciting future for our international network of GuideStars,” said Buzz Schmidt, founder and head of GuideStar International. “With the capabilities, resources, and reach of TechSoup Global, the GuideStar International network has far greater sustainability and opportunity than ever before.”

Luc Tayart de Borms, managing director of the King Baudouin Foundation and chair of GuideStar International, added, “This is an important collaboration that will increase investment in and access to critical resources for civil society. By combining the strengths of these programs, TechSoup Global and GuideStar International will be able to create synergies and to offer a common proposition to civil society in many countries.”

Today, GuideStar International supports a network of GuideStars in six countries with several more in active development. GuideStar International will continue to operate as a U.K.-registered charity with a focus on development and promotion of GuideStar reporting services. Over the next 24 months, TechSoup Global will take the lead in enterprise-level strategy, technology architecture, and integration. Buzz Schmidt, founder and chair of GuideStar International, will join TechSoup Global’s board of directors. There will be no disruption to the operation of the existing programs or commitments of either organization.

GuideStar USA, an independent US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is not a party to this combination, but will work closely with TechSoup Global and GuideStar International, particularly with respect to policies underlying the development of GuideStar services internationally.

To view an online version of this press release, please visit http://bit.ly/arsffc.

About TechSoup Global
TechSoup Global, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 1987 on the belief that technology is a powerful enabler for social change. Alongside its partners — including foundations and corporations, governments and NGOs, social entrepreneurs and volunteers — TechSoup Global is working towards the day when every nonprofit and social benefit organization on the planet has the technology resources and knowledge it needs to operate at its full potential. Today, TechSoup Global has 180 employees, an annual operating budget of $23 million, and operates programs in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe through a network of independent, capacity-building NGOs. With support of leading technology companies, including Microsoft, Adobe, Cisco, and Symantec, TechSoup Global and its network have reached more than 100,000 organizations and distributed more than 5.8 million technology products in 32 countries. TechSoup Global also runs NetSquared, an ambitious global experiment that empowers individuals at the local level to build and share innovative technology solutions to social problems. For more information about TechSoup Global, please visit www.techsoupglobal.org

GuideStar International
GuideStar International (GSI), a U.K.-registered charity, works with civil society leaders worldwide to develop GuideStar services for their own countries. A GuideStar service provides a detailed catalogue of reports on a country’s CSOs on a powerful but easy to use public website. GSI supports this growing network through the provision of a shared Common Technology Platform as well as advice and support in each country’s development process. Today, GuideStar International works with national partners in six countries to develop and launch GuideStar services for CSOs in these countries. Fore more information, please visit www.guidestarinternational.org

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Fundacja TechSoup

jfagar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:14:58 -0800

In May 2009, Fundacja TechSoup was established as an independent legal foundation in Warsaw, Poland. TechSoup Global and Fundacja TechSoup work together under shared leadership to support the growth of the TechSoup Global Network and the stability of social benefit organizations in Europe and around the world.

Fundacja TechSoup focuses on supporting the growth and stability of social benefit organizations worldwide through the intelligent use of information and communication technologies. Aided by its close organizational relationship with TechSoup Global, Fundacja TechSoup is able to leverage the TechSoup Global brand and sector leadership in pursuit of its objectives.

Fundacja TechSoup collaborates closely with TechSoup Global on the following tasks:

Provide time zone-friendly support to all members of the TechSoup Global Network and serve as the back-end technology hub for many network partners in Central and Eastern Europe.
Serve as the European hub for any new programmatic activities of TechSoup Global including the NGOsource project designed, to enable U.S.-based grantmakers to deliver grants more efficiently to organizations worldwide.
Provide foundation-supported activities targeted at specific countries and organizations, such as software distribution on behalf of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to library organizations in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine.
Serve as co-host of Warsaw's NetSquared Local event, a monthly gathering designed to connect with others interested in the intersection of social technologies and social change in their local community.

Find out more information about Fundacja TechSoup and TechSoup Global.

Find Fundacja TechSoup on Facebook.

Learn more about NetSquared Local events and join NetSquared Local Warsaw.

Contact Us:

Poland office:

Al. Ujazdowskie 37/3,3a,3b
00-540, Warszawa, Poland
Tel:+48.22.627.5003

United States office:

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

Social Networking Activities and TechSoup at U.S. Congressional Hearing on Virtual Worlds

Dara Westling — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:30:58 -0700

All,
Wanted to share some recent press on TechSoup which may be of interest to the partner community.

1. On April 1, TechSoup's own Susan Tenby presented at a hearing of the Telecommunications Committee of the U.S. Congress on virtual worlds. See more details at http://blog.techsoup.org/node/322.

2. ...and on the funnier side, a very popular television program in the U.S., The Daily Show, showed a clip of Susan and made fun of the Congressional Hearing as part of the April 7 TV program. To see the clip, go to http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=165604&title=avata...

3. You can also view a complete list of TechSoup's activities in online social networks at http://www.techsoup.org/community/where/index.cfm.

Our online community team focuses, among other things, on participation and education on use of online social networks as a tool for awareness-building and social change.

International newsletter of the King Baudouin Foundation - Fall 2007

Bernard Martin — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:07:09 -0800

I am pleased to share with you the King Baudouin Foundation newsletter of fall 2007, featuring “TechSoup: tackling IT-poverty of non-profits”.

The project is also mentioned in the editorial by Luc Tayart de Borms - Managing Director
“KBF is also fostering cooperation between NGOs, non-profits and IT giants such as Microsoft and Cisco. The SOCIALware Project, launched in Belgium and kick-started with a grant from KBF, is partnering with TechSoup, its US counterpart, to alleviate “IT poverty. Many non-profits lack the technology and the resources to improve their daily operations and better serve their communities. At the same time, many major manufacturers find it difficult to run giving programmes internally.”

SOCIALware wishes you all a very happy holiday season.

Bernard