COVID-19 HAS HIGHLIGHTED HOW VITAL IT IS FOR CHARITIES TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO WORK REMOTELY AND ENGAGE DIGITALLY WITH SUPPORTERS.
Some charities have transitioned effortlessly to having their workforce carry on from home due to prior investment in the necessary technology. Meanwhile, other charities faced a mad scramble to have everything and everyone set-up to continue operating during the lockdown.
For many charities, the price of fitting out their workforce with the required technology to operate effectively both at home and in the office can be prohibitive; this is where TechSoup comes in.
TechSoup was formed in 1987 by American social entrepreneur Daniel Ben-Horin. His objective was to create a programme in which mentors volunteered to assist non-profit organisations with information technologies. TechSoup soon began soliciting donations of technological products and selling them for a nominal fee to non-profits.
TechSoup New Zealand was launched in 2008 and provides a range of products, software, and hardware to members. Becoming a member is free and enables non-profits and charities to access a range of donations and discounts.
Understanding how important technology is for the non-profit sector to operate remotely now and in the future, TechSoup New Zealand has a page on their website here that lists several free or heavily discounted remote work resources – including products from Google, Microsoft, Asana, TeamViewer, MYOB, and more.
Providing remote work resources is just one way TechSoup can assist your charity at this time. They can also help you engage with supporters and raise fundraising revenue by providing discounts for the Blackbaud CRM range. Charities financially dependent on face-to-face events or postal services for donor communications have faced significant challenges in light of COVID-19. Now is a great opportunity to invest in the ability to store donor information in the cloud, engage with supporters digitally, and pivot to virtual events.
Premium Membership unlocks additional benefits that can help your important cause have more impact while supporting the work TechSoup New Zealand is doing in the non-profit sector. As a Premium Member you can access webinars on a range of topics from Grant Seeking through and beyond COVID-19 to Planning your digital marketing campaign. You will also be entitled to a free mentoring session and a discount on workshops, masterclasses, and tickets to TechSoup’s annual conference.
To learn more about TechSoup and become a member visit www.techsoup.net.nz. You will be glad that you did.