TechSoup Global Launches Technology Portal for Canadian Nonprofit Community
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 11, CNW Group — The Centre for Social Innovation in connection with TechSoup Global, Microsoft Canada Co., and the Information
Technology Association of Canada today launched the TechSoup Canada portal — offering Canadian non-profits access to technology donations.
TechSoup Global distributes donated hardware and software through a
network of capacity-building NGOs around the world. As the local partner,
TechSoup Canada provides charities, non-profits and libraries with a unique
mix of technology, learning content, and community support through a
relationship with 25 leading technology corporations. Canadian organizations
can request donated and discounted products directly from TechSoup Canada,
enabling them to increase business productivity while freeing up stretched
budgets to support programmatic work.
TechSoup Canada is the sole agency administering Microsoft's software
license donation program. Eligible organizations can apply for six Microsoft
products and up to 50 licenses per title every two years. Since 2004,
Microsoft has donated more than $50 million in software and is committed to
raising the bar for charities and non-profits in terms of efficiency,
effectiveness and professionalism through software donations.
Quotes
"TechSoup Global makes a significant impact on non-profits around the
world," said Tonya Surman, Executive Director of the Centre for Social
Innovation. "TechSoup Canada is tailored to the specific needs and interests
of the Canadian non-profit sector. At a time when resources are scarce, the
Centre is proud to support TechSoup Canada in offering the non-profit sector
valuable technology and significant savings enabling them to respond
effectively to increased demand for services."
"By bringing our worldwide relationship with TechSoup Global to the
Centre for Social Innovation, Microsoft hopes to double the reach of the
program and in turn the number of non-profits that benefit," said Gavin
Thompson, Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Canada. "Microsoft is
proud to provide non-profits access to relevant and up-to-date technology
empowering them to become more effective and productive in serving their
communities."
"TechSoup Global recognized that partnering with the Centre for Social
Innovation was the best way to more fully reach and serve Canadian charities
and nonprofit organizations and to build a unique and effective Canadian
capacity-building resource to benefit social causes of all kinds," said
Rebecca Masisak, Co-C.E.O. of TechSoup Global. "We are excited by the breadth of support services and the community engagement that CSI has already brought to TechSoup Canada and expect CSI's vision coupled with the technology donation programs, community reach and network resources of TechSoup Global to enable greatly enhanced benefits for Canadian organizations."
"TechSoup Canada is in a unique position to voice the technology needs of
the non-profit sector and facilitate change by working with donor partners and
the ICT sector in Canada," said Barrie Marfleet, COO of ITAC and president of
ITAC Ontario. "ITAC is proud to support TechSoup Canada to increase the social impact of the ICT sector in Canada."
Quick Facts
- TechSoup Canada is the Canadian partner of TechSoup Global, which manages product donations to more than 80,000 organizations in 22 countries through its global network of capacity-building NGOs.
- TechSoup Canada is funded in part by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and is a collaborative effort by TechSoup Global, the Centre for Social Innovation, and the Information Technology Association of Canada.
- In March 2008, TechSoup Canada and its collaborative partners received a two year, $310,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Government of Ontario, to help with the costs involved with establishing the program.
- TechSoup Canada is supported by 25 leading technology corporations, including: Microsoft, Adobe, Intuit Canada, Symantec, Business Objects, SAP, and Cisco.
- For details on the product donation program, please visit www.techsoupcanada.ca/product.
- In 2008, 2,348 charities, non-profits and libraries received a technology donation in Canada, 1500 of these received a Microsoft software donation.
- In 2008, close to $21.5 million in software and hardware donations were distributed to the Canadian non-profit community, of which Microsoft donated more than $18.7 million in software.
About the Centre for Social Innovation
The Centre for Social Innovation (www.socialinnovation.ca) is a social
enterprise with a mission to catalyze social innovation in its home base of
Toronto and around the globe. We believe that society is facing unprecedented
economic, environmental, social and cultural challenges. We also believe that
new innovations are the key to turning these challenges into opportunities to
improve our communities and our planet.
About TechSoup Global
San Francisco-based TechSoup Global (www.techsoupglobal.org) is working
towards a day when every social benefit organization on the planet has the
access to resources they need to fulfill their mission. TechSoup provides
technology information to individuals and organizations in more than 190
countries, has provided consulting services in more than 50 countries and,
through its global network of capacity building NGOs, manages product
donations to more than 80,000 organizations in 22 countries. The product
donations program has enabled organizations to save over $1.2 billion in
expenses as of September 2008.
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of
Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software,
services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting
and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in
Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country
dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place
and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit
www.microsoft.ca.
About ITAC
The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) is the voice of
the Canadian information and communications technologies (ICT) industry.
ITAC's community of companies accounts for more than 70 per cent of the
572,000 jobs, $140.5 billion in revenue, $6.0 billion in R&D investment, $31.4
billion in exports and $11.4 billion in capital expenditures that the ICT
industry contributes annually to the Canadian economy. ITAC is a prominent
advocate for the expansion of Canada's innovative capacity and for stronger
productivity across all sectors through the strategic use of technology.
