Technology has tremendous power to spur innovation and improve human lives. And for social services organizations, specifically, technology makes it possible to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and secure more funding—while scaling their services to serve more underprivileged communities.
While technology can help nonprofits accomplish more, they have long been at a disadvantage compared to for-profit corporations when it comes to accessing the digital tools they need. While 85% of nonprofit leaders believe technology is critical to the success of their organizations,1 social services organizations spend as much as four times less on technology than private sector companies, regardless of industry.2
The problem is that barriers such as tight budgets, competing funding priorities, and pressures to keep overhead low prevent nonprofits from making the technology investments that can increase their social impact.
Bridging the Technology Gap
To help bridge this funding gap, F5 recently awarded a series of Tech for Good Grants designed to help nonprofit organizations accelerate their digital transformation efforts. Begun last year, these annual grants are aimed at helping nonprofits invest in the technologies they need to build the strength and efficiency of their organizations.
Today, the vast majority of nonprofit funding is designated for specific purposes. In the US, for example, less than 15% of foundation support is unrestricted.3 What’s more, nonprofits are under pressure to restrict overhead to less than 10% of their budgets,4 limiting their ability to adopt the core technologies that could help them accomplish more.
With more freedom to invest in ihis traditionally underfunded area, social services organizations can streamline their administrative efforts, adapt to remote needs, and—most importantly—expedite their missions to do even more as they work to bring about healthier, more vibrant communities.
2021Tech for Good Grant Recipients
To that end, we’re excited to announce the 2021 Tech for Good Grant partners. Altogether, 20 nonprofit organizations were each awarded $10,000 USD to be used toward their technology infrastructure needs.
“of nonprofit leaders believe technology is critical to their success, but several barriers prevent them from investing in this critical area. F5 is helping to bridge the gap.”
These recipients are tackling a wide variety of important social causes in countries from the US and India to Mexico and Peru. The recipients were selected from among nearly 200 applicants by a committee of F5 employees from F5’s Latinx, Multicultural, and FAB (F5 Appreciates Blackness) Employee Inclusion Groups (EIGs) based on a range of criteria including each nonprofit’s commitment and approach to serving people of color.
Helping Nonprofits Extend Their Reach
In the coming months, F5 will share the stories of some of these nonprofits to demonstrate the myriad ways in which technology has helped them scale their social impact.
We believe that technology can have a profound impact on the ability of nonprofits to accomplish their missions. By telling these stories, our hope is to encourage more investment in this critical area—ultimately helping nonprofit organizations expand their reach as they work to bring about a more equitable world.
Congratulations to the 2021 F5 Tech for Good Grant partners!
AnnieCannons, Inc: Transforming survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence into software engineers.
API Chaya: Empowering survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.
Building Bridges: Equipping resilient young leaders to transform divisive attitudes in their communities.
Please check back over the next few months to see the specific ways technology is helping Tech for Good Grant recipients improve their effectiveness as they work to achieve greater impact.
To learn more, visit the F5 Global Good webpage.
1 2nd Edition Nonprofit Trends Report - Salesforce.org
2 Roadmap for Funders: Investing in Digital Infrastructure, Aug. 12, 2020
3 Why Fund Tech for Nonprofits - Box.org
4 Ibid
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