Technology Grants

One of the biggest areas of growth in the past few years within the field of grants comes in the way of technology grants.

In the most basic terms, technology grants are given to non-profits, schools and other socially responsible organizations to help them update their technology and allow them to leverage the power of technology to help their organization with its goals and objectives.

Depending on the type of work that your non-profit is involved in, technology can bridge the gap and allow you to have a greater scope in the work that you do and to be more effective in your community.

Where Can I Get a Technology Grant?

There are various places that technology grants are offered. The most obvious place to look for technology grant money is through a government organization, such as a State Government or Federally. The other place that you can look for a tech grant would be through a private company.

These are usually companies that are involved in technology to some degree, whether that’s building computers, making software or offering IT services of some kind. Often these companies will allocate funds each year to support non-profits to acquire new technology.

Who Can Apply for a Technology Grant?

Usually in order to receive a technology grant, the organization must be a registered 501(3) organization, registered with the IRS.

If you aren’t registered with IRS, your first step would be to apply to become registered as a 501(3) and then you will have ample opportunity to apply for these grants.

Why Do Companies & Governments Give Tech Grants?

That’s a very interesting question and one that has two answers. First, many companies and the government realize that many non-profits simply don’t have the money to acquire new technology or computers to be more effective and efficient in carrying out their services.

They come to the rescue and offer money each year to help you acquire the technology needed.

The other less obvious reason is simply that it makes good business sense. Businesses need publicity, they need tax write-off’s to offset their profits and they want to build goodwill in the community. No one likes to see a greedy organization that makes billions but appears to do nothing for the community.

Giving of their resources creates a win-win situation for both the company and your non-profit.

Education Technology Grants

Most large technology companies have recognized the importance of schools and other educational organization. They often lack the funds to purchase the technology that’s needed to learn within a classroom setting. In today’s technology driven society, learning to leverage technology from a young age is a powerful resource.

Funding for technology can come in the way of funds to purchase new computers for classrooms, iPads for students needing mobile computing abilities or to establish networks and buy servers. K-12 funding as well as post-secondary funding has become a major focus of these education grants in the past few years.

On a post-secondary level, many incredible inventions and ideas have been birthed out of funding from large companies who were willing to invest to foster the ideas of bright students who would not otherwise have the ability to create without this money.

When looking for organizations to support your non-profit, look first to the large technology providers within your area or even those that have a national scope. Each year companies like HP, IBM and Microsoft give away millions of dollars in tech grants to non-profits, so be sure to check these out first.

Also, don’t discount smaller technology companies in your local area. Most small cities have a few technology start-ups that have been successful in their market, and they are willing to support organizations in their local community. Video game and software companies which are local are a great source of funding, especially to local projects.

Where to Find Private Technology Grants

Obviously you will be searching the internet to find companies that offer tech grants to non-profits, and this website has developed an incredible list of resources to help you find those companies: http://www.techmd.com/services/nonprofit-expertise/technology-grants-for-nonprofits/

The Catch

There’s always a catch when it comes to “free” money, so make sure you read the fine print. Most often, organizations or government bodies that are offering grants for technology will also come with some strings attached. This isn’t something to be feared, but certainly make sure that your request for funding meets the requirements.

It may be that you will be spending the money on very specific technology or that with the tech grant, you will be hiring staff to manage the technology that you acquire.

Putting it All Together

Just like any other grant offered, you may to do some leg-work to find the money that you need to support your non-profit. There’s applications to fill out, there’s phone calls, emails and maybe personal meetings with company or government representatives to make sure that your request for funding is legitimate, but don’t despair.

It’s like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You will get the money that your organization needs to invest in the technology that you need. Whether it’s funding for a new office computer or a full classroom of computers, there is money out there to those who will put the time and effort into finding it.