Everything you wanted to know about the nonprofit that helps other nonprofits through the use of technology
In a world that relies on staying connected, TechSoup is doing a lot of good by providing discounted products and services to nonprofit organizations in over 236 territories and countries. Established in 1987 as CompuMentor, TechSoup currently leads a global network of partners who have benefited over 1 million NGOs, and it promotes the work of socially-conscious organizations and their causes that aim to improve the lives of people who need it most. TechSoup saves nonprofits money by offering premium tech programs and services at significantly discounted rates than the market through partnerships and grants, a strategy meant to help NGOs stay technologically connected despite their limited budgets. The strategy is brilliant and simple, and has produced fantastic results. Through generous donations made by foundations and companies, and by partnering with major companies that offer tech software, TechSoup is able to provide qualifying NGOs services for less. TechSoup has partnered with major tech companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, and Symantec. Becoming a TechSoup member provides members with access to a rich catalogue of IT resources, webinars, and community-building initiatives geared specifically towards nonprofits. This is key to its success, because as a nonprofit TechSoup is no stranger to the challenges that NGOs consistently face. Companies like Google actually require that nonprofits validate with TechSoup in order for them to be eligible for some of their services, such as the Google for Nonprofits program. How much exactly are nonprofits able to save on products? If you browse through TechSoup’s product catalogue, you’ll see Symantec Security software offered to members for $5 (as opposed to the market price of $80). There are Microsoft software products starting at $29 and laptops for $180. There’s also a hardware section that sells products ranging from security routers to ethernet cables. Compared to original market prices, the discounted prices mean great savings for NGOs on a tight budget. TechSoup also provides the following services that complement its product catalogue or, they can be used as standalone services.
- Help Desk Services
- Technology Implementation
- Office 365 Support
- Managed IT
- TechSoup Courses
- Consultant Connection
The services offered by TechSoup tackle issues ranging from security and networking fixes to taking care of server issues and assessing the software needs of nonprofits, implementing plans at a discounted rate. Their courses and workshops are useful tools for NGOs because they are nonprofit centric and are aimed at enhancing their operations and efficiency. Recently, TechSoup has been interested in expanding more into the cloud services sector and has been promoting cloud service products on its site. It’s essentially a win-win to be part of the TechSoup program because both NGOs and donors can benefit from the relationships that are built through the programs. Innovative, socially conscious companies can have their products and services showcased to NGOs while the organizations benefit from their services at a lower rate. Our Verdict TechSoup is a pretty awesome resource for nonprofits. Schools, educational institutions and service organizations around the world have benefited from TechSoup’s products and services and their discounted rates. With a strong purpose and a nonprofit-centric strategy, organizations like TechSoup help people stay connected and technologically relevant. We love TechSoup’s contribution to the greater good and would definitely recommend it to nonprofits and donors looking to move towards a more technologically connected future.
