TechFoundation's TechConnect program is a series of educational events that help nonprofit decision makers effectively utilize information technology (IT) in support of their mission.  TechConnect programs are successfully
operating in locations such as Boston, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and New Hampshire.  TechFoundation is continuing to expand this program to help more nonprofits with their IT needs.  In the coming weeks TechConnect will
be available in new areas including Burlington, VT, San Diego, CA, Minneapolis, MN, and Cape Cod, MA according to Andy Hastings, director for the TechConnect programs.

TechConnect content is created specifically for nonprofit decision makers. The goals of the program are two fold:
1) To teach nonprofit decision makers how to manage technology to build their organizational capacity
2) To convene local nonprofit communities around technology in order to facilitate peer learning and to establish peer support networks.

Why TechConnect
As successful as Nonprofits have been in their missions, many have fallen behind in their use of technology.  In the last few decades, corporations have reaped great benefits and efficiencies from technological advances, but many NPOs have lacked the resources and guidance to fully understand, purchase and apply even standard technologies.

Ron Boehm is the Executive Director at ValleyNet -- a local Internet service provider (ISP) and community network for nonprofit organizations in Vermont and New Hampshire--and a presenter for TechConnect programs.  He thinks that nonprofits often know they need technology, but have limited resources, man-hours or "know-how" to implement it.  "TechConnect has really helped to fulfilled this unmet demand for nonprofits," Ron says.  "With targeted and
effective seminars, these programs will be instrumental in enabling Nonprofits to better understand and meet their technology needs."

Gretchen Grozier agrees.  When she first became aware of the TechConnect programs Gretchen was responsible for implementing the technology plan at Children's Services of Roxbury in Boston.  For Gretchen, TechConnect's focus
and professional presentations were very important.  "TechConnect is unlike other, more generic programs dealing with IT issues," says Gretchen.  "Other seminars suggest that you need to throw more money at the problem, which for NPOs is not always an option.  TechConnect helped us learn to implement technology within our budget and we now have a 'Tech plan' in place that's working really well."

More Information
The next schedule TechConnect seminar for nonprofits will be held in Philadelphia on July 11.  For more information on this and other TechConnect programs, please email Andy Hastings at ahastings@TechFoundation.org or visit our website at www.TechFoundation.org.