Free or low cost resources for Non Profit Organisations

Global trends are rapidly changing today. The advancement of technology has revolutionized the way organizations work, with everything a click away. This creates a dire need for companies and institutions to switch to the most advanced technologies, so that they don’t fall behind in the race to be the best in their respective fields.

Among the many organizations working for the cause, the most impactful of all is TechSoup. It is a non-profit international organization that provides tech support and access to paid tools at low cost or free to other non-profits.

TechSoup was founded by Daniel Ben-Horin, a leading philanthropist. It has successfully established itself in 236 countries. TechSoup’s aim is to bridge the gap which exists between the social sector and the technology sector. This is done by providing institutions with discounted or donated hardware or software services, according to their needs.

TechSoup aims to provide every non-profit organization the kind of technology they need to reach their goals. It also attempts to empower small startups with the tools which will lead them on the way to success.

How Can TechSoup Help You?

All the products offered by TechSoup are listed on their website. Given below are some of the most desired products and softwares organizations across the world choose to buy.

What Is The TechSoup Admin Fee?

Naturally, TechSoup also require funds to carry out its work and offer its services. Therefore, it charges nominal administrative fees for every donation or discount request it receives from different organizations. TechSoup thrives on the amount of admin fees it receives. This enables it to offer tech services to different organizations in need. 

Top Products Preferred By Organizations

SOFTWARE:

1. Microsoft Office 2019 Standard Edition: It provides you with the latest 2019 version of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Publisher. These is an essential software which every organization needs to do their work. At TechSoup, you can get it at a nominal fee of $39, whereas its market price is $410. 
2. QuickBooks for MAC 2020: It is a helpful accounting software which enables organizations to manage their financial tasks better. It is offered at a price of $50, which is a lot less than the market price of $299, making it very affordable. 
3. Office for MAC: TechSoup offers the choice between the current or the previous version of this software. It enhances the quality of work and user satisfaction by allowing them to create and edit documents at an admin fee of just $39, in comparison to the market price of $69. 
4.  Windows Operating System Upgrade: This enhances work performance, as it gives users access without any requirement for a VPN. The admin fee is mere $20 in comparison to the market price of $119. 

HARDWARE:

1. Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse for Business and All-in-One Media Keyboard: These wireless devices are offered by TechSoup for an admin fee of just $50. This includes USB 2.0 receivers and AA batteries promoting smooth functioning of everyday work of an organization. 
2. Western Digital AV-GP 500-GB: This is a set of twenty hardware drives which one may get at $175. With a heavy capacity of 500gb each, it assists in storing large amounts of data. This may prove useful to every organization these days, with increasing workload and a wide network.
3. HP ProBook x360 11 G5 Laptop, Pentium Silver N5030, Windows 10: This is a condition A laptop, available for an admin fees of $339 only. Other benefits included in the fee charged are a one-year warranty and an AC power adapter. 
4.  Overture Wired Headset System: This headset comes with easy compatibility with Skype and VoIP services. It is donated by Headsets.com, available at an admin fee of $59. 

TechSoup’s Collaborations

When two innovative minds and their ideas collaborate, magic is bound to happen. TechSoup works in collaboration with a plethora of organizations and intellectual minds. As a result, it is able to provide the best solutions to every organization’s challenges, especially in their growing stages. Let’s have a look at some of them.

1. Yetu Initiative- This is an initiative in collaboration with USAID and The Aga Khan Foundation. It aims to promote sustainable development and principles of self-reliance among Civil Society Organizations.
2. Apps for Cities- This began in collaboration with the city of Warsaw and local partners, namely Orange, Stocznia, and Centrum Cyfrowe. The goal is to spread awareness about technology and encourage people to create civic technology tools for development.
3. Safe Shelter- Safe shelter is a project in collaboration with Polaris Project and New Jersey Department of Children and Families. It seeks to empower communities to use local resources to meet their immediate needs.

What else TechSoup Offers?

 TechSoup offers services which aim to realize the dream of an equitable world. These are some of the services offered by TechSoup:

1) Technology Solutions and Services: The NGO Tech Marketplace is an initiative by TechSoup, in collaboration with the TechSoup Global Network. It provides tech support to organizations through donated and discounted software and hardware, as well as expert training.

2) Global Validation and Data Services: Every organization must go through some verification process, for governments or grant-makers to determine whether it is eligible for a grant. TechSoup makes this process a lot easier. Its validation services are recognized and widely used by a number of multinationals like Okta, Airbnb, Kintone, Walt Disney Company etc.

3) Assistance in Education: TechSoup supports movements and organizations striving to fight issues related to education and technology in Asia-pacific region specifically. Various special courses, workshops and training are held throughout the year on topics like fundraising, data management etc. 

The Impact Created By TechSoup 

Thousands of organizations and people have been impacted by this internationally recognized NGO. Apart from a variety of successful training programmes and courses, some of its major achievements are:

• Till date, TechSoup has successfully managed to serve and assist around 1,040,000 organizations across the world. 
• It has distributed approximately 24.6 million products associated with technology among various organizations to help them realize their true potential. 
• It’s important that well-established organizations come together to support and help each other grow. TechSoup has more than one hundred donors affiliated to companies like Adobe, Cisco, Microsoft, and Symantec.
• It has a whopping market value of $13.5 billion in the tech market currently. 

TechSoup supports all those who wish to transform and create innovative technological solutions to remove the barriers which come in the way of a growing business. TechSoup also fosters different learning opportunities. The various initiatives organized by it have assisted many people to achieve their dreams. This has become possible due to the diligent and strong technological support provided by TechSoup.