DonorTec helps build the technology capacity of Australian NFPs - Advertorial
18 June 2007 at 4:18 pm
Since becoming fully operational on 1 March this year, the DonorTec program (www.donortec.com.au) has already saved Australian Not for Profits over $5 million.
DonorTec is a partnership between US-based Not for Profit, TechSoup and Community Information Strategies Australia (CISA) to bring product donations from companies such as Microsoft and Cisco to Australian Not for Profit organisations.
Additional companies likely to join the scheme in the future include Symantec and Adobe/Macromedia. A wide range of Not for Profits are eligible for the program, including community service organisations, youth groups, service clubs, housing groups, employment and training schemes, community centres, environmental preservation schemes, some farming groups, and many more.
Organisations register online and once qualified they can order online, pay the small administrative fee required to process the donations by credit card, direct debit or cheque, and the orders are then placed with the suppliers. Microsoft orders are usually filled within 7-14 days of payment and Cisco orders within 6-8 weeks. All products are current release items from the donor companies, such as Microsoft Office 2007 (admin fee $26+gst) and the new Microsoft Vista operating system upgrade (admin fee $13+gst).
CISA CEO, Doug Jacquier says that the DonorTec scheme provides double value for Not for Profits – not only do they make substantial savings on their necessary IT costs, those savings can then be invested in other vital programs run by that organisation. DonorTec customers can also browse its ‘sister site’ www.communit.info for a treasure trove of information on technology specifically for NFP organisations.
For the donor companies behind DonorTec, they have the satisfaction of knowing that their donations are going to bona fide Not for Profit organisations helping the communities they live in. DonorTec is keen to add Australian technology suppliers and products to their offerings and to connect them to the TechSoup global network of distributors in the US, UK, Poland, Belgium, Spain, South Africa and (soon) New Zealand and India.
Interested companies should contact Doug Jacquier dj@cisa.asn.au or Simon Gee sg@cisa.asn.au
