TechSoup Launches First Fully Global Technology Donation Platform

November 18, 2015, Johannesburg - TechSoup announced today the launch of TechSoup.Global ( http://www.techsoup.global ), the world’s first fully global technology donation platform aimed at non-profit organisations (NPOs).

TechSoup’s technology philanthropy programme already connects more than 90 technology companies with 700 000 NPOs in over 100 countries, which has resulted in the transfer of 15.9 million donations and total savings of US$5.5 billion since inception.

TechSoup.Global will expand the reach and benefits of the programme to 236 countries and territories.

"The launch of TechSoup.Global is a pivotal step in helping the world’s estimated 10 million non-profit organisations gain visibility and connect with support critically needed for their missions and communities. The platform, operated in partnership with the TechSoup Global Network, enables a unique capacity for innovation and the co-design of locally relevant, globally scaled programmes that strengthen impact on the ground", states Rebecca Masisak, CEO of TechSoup.

Refer to http://meet.techsoup.org to learn more about TechSoup, the TechSoup Global Network and historical impact of the technology philanthropy programme.

The non-profit sector in Africa will be a significant beneficiary of this new initiative.

”From covering only four countries, we are now in a position to provide technology products and solutions to NPOs in 54 countries across the continent. It is a game-changer for NPOs in Africa, and provides us with a very unique opportunity to strengthen their technology capacity and infrastructure in an affordable and informed manner”, remarks David Barnard, Vice-President: Africa at TechSoup. “In time, TechSoup.Global will also be a mechanism to introduce NPOs in Africa and beyond to the emerging and vibrant African technology sector.”

Initially only offering many popular Microsoft software products, the new platform will soon include products and solutions from other technology partners.

"We are thrilled to support TechSoup and expand our nonprofit technology offerings to nonprofit organizations around the world," says Jane Meseck, Director of Technology for Good at Microsoft. "Technology can be a powerful force that empowers nonprofits to achieve more for the people and communities they serve."

TechSoup complements the contributions of its corporate partners by offering NPOs related educational resources such as webinars and peer-to-peer events and other value-added services to help meet their unique technology requirements.

TechSoup.Global is built on a unique combination of human and technical capabilities. The platform operates around a comprehensive set of legal definitions determining what it means to be a NPO in each country around the world. The TechSoup Global Network is the backbone of this truly global offering. Each of TechSoup’s 63 global partners is a leading civil society capacity-building organisation in its region.

TechSoup’s partner organisations in Africa include SANGONeT in South Africa and the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) in Kenya.