TechSoup, Gifts In Kind Are Useful Resources for Nonprofits

Nonprofits looking for financial assistance, technology assistance or assistance in general may not need to look much further than one browser window. Two online resources, TechSoup and Gifts In Kind, offer a wide variety of tools that can help nonprofit organizations stretch tight budgets.

TechSoup is a comprehensive source of technology information just for nonprofit organizations. Powered by CompuMentor, one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies, TechSoup.org offers nonprofits one-stop shopping for their technology needs. While TechSoup is aimed at the 650,000 small to midsize nonprofits, larger nonprofits also may find useful information.

TechSoup's newest service distributes donated and discounted technology products exclusively to nonprofits. Software, hardware and other essential technology products can be ordered for a small administrative fee. This unique resource is made possible due to generous contributions from technology providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Symantec.

In addition to having staff at CompuMentor, TechSoup has partnered with many other nonprofit agencies and commercial firms. TechSoup.org is a continually growing and evolving site. A subscription to By The Cup, the organization's free monthly e-newsletter, enables one to keep abreast of the latest TechSoup features.

Gifts In Kind International

Gifts In Kind International saw its beginnings in 1983 with a large product donation from 3M Corp. Today, many top manufacturers and retailers, including 40 percent of the Fortune 500 companies, rely on the nonprofit to design and manage the donation process.

Driven by a mission of providing an effective conduit for the donation of products, goods and services from the private sector to the charitable sector, Gifts In Kind has established itself a leader in the field of product philanthropy. The nonprofit is considered one of the most cost-efficient charities, and the eighth-largest, in the world, operating at less than 1 percent of the value of products, goods and services contributed annually.

In 2002 alone, Gifts In Kind and its 400-plus global affiliates distributed nearly $800 million in quality products to a network of more than 200,000 charitable nonprofits around the world. Its product line ranges from emergency relief supplies to building materials to computer training labs for children. Gifts In Kind also provides comprehensive discount services through numerous vendors in just about every area — computer hardware, software, technology planning and web hosting, to name a few.

For more information, visit http://www.giftsinkind.org/.