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Beginning 1 July 2025, Microsoft will no longer offer donated licences for its Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Office 365 E1 plans. If you have either of those licence types, you will soon need to move to a different Microsoft Cloud plan or find an alternative productivity solution. Here's what you should know.Posted on 02/06/2025 by
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Not-for-profits are facing an increasingly complex and competitive landscape, making it essential to leverage technology tools to maximise efficiency and impact. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are one of the most advanced options for organisations looking to stay ahead of the curve. AI for not-for-profits can improve operations, streamline processes, and create new growth opportunities. However, along with all its benefits, AI technologies have some limitations that not all organisations and charities are fully aware of. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using AI tools for not-for-profits, and how to implement these new technologies ethically and efficiently.Posted on 07/05/2024 by
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5 Productivity Tools for Not-for-Profits In the fast-paced world of not-for-profits, efficiency and productivity are paramount to achieving your organisation's mission. Fortunately, there is a range of powerful work and project management software and productivity tools available that can help streamline your operations, improve communication and boost overall productivity. Here are five must-have work and project management tools for not-for-profits:Posted on 03/10/2023 by
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Ordering Adobe Charity Licences on the TechSoup New Zealand website just got a lot easier. Our team has been working to develop a completely revamped system that makes buying new licences, adding additional seats and renewing Adobe licenses more streamlined and efficient. Now, purchasing Adobe Charity Licences is the same as buying any other product on the TechSoup New Zealand website. The Adobe ordering process is more complex in the back end than other products. Adobe’s licencing and allocation requirements have necessitated things like obtaining quotes, manually recording anniversary dates and other tedious processes that make it more laborious for our members to access these essential tools. Now, through the combined efforts of our tech team, our Customer Experience champions and your indefatigable NFP Account Manager, the complicated stuff is taken care of, and the Adobe Charity Licencing ordering process is quick and straightforward.Posted on 09/03/2023 by
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Not-for-profit and charity organisations rely heavily on fundraising to support their missions and serve their beneficiaries. In today's world, with increasing competition for donor dollars, it is more important than ever to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy that ensures sustainable funding for your organisation's work. Here are some key elements to consider when developing a not-for-profit and charity fundraising strategy: Define your organisation's mission and impact To have a successful fundraising campaign for your not-for-profit, you need to have a clear understanding of your organisation's mission and the impact you are making in the community. This will help you articulate your message and make a compelling case for support.Posted on 06/03/2023 by
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Worried about how to make your next board meeting a successful one? Three founders share their tips and tricks to make that next gathering run smoothly. Running successful board meetings is one of a founder or CEO’s most important duties. Yet if the thought of your next board meeting gives you heart palpitations, know this: They are far less intimidating when you come prepared. As a business leader, you know your company inside and out. For board meetings, your job is to file down your expertise into a strategic update that gives board members an accurate view behind the curtain and expectations for what lies ahead. We spoke to three founders who understand what makes board meetings run smoothly. Here, they break down how to prep instead of panicking.Posted on 24/11/2022 by
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We are excited to share Microsoft's announcement that Libraries are now eligible for NFP Microsoft Cloud licensing. Libraries have always been eligible for donations for their public-access computer needs through the Microsoft nonprofit program at TechSoup New Zealand. For staff needs, however, libraries needed to get Microsoft academic offers for cloud solutions. There was also a brief period in January 2022 when all offers moved to educational requests. We know this has become a bit confusing. We heard your feedback — that the academic licensing was not always the best fit for library needs — so we advocated on your behalf in partnership with Microsoft. As of 17 October 2022, libraries and museums can get all their needs through Microsoft's nonprofit program at TechSoup New Zealand. With this change, Microsoft can better serve the entire library and museum sector.Posted on 07/11/2022 by
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Our Microsoft catalogue has changed a lot over the past six months, and one of the new things you might see are products labelled "Computer Labs Only". These donated products can only be used on computers that are available to an organisation's beneficiaries or the general public and not on computers assigned to staff members or volunteers:Posted on 03/11/2022 by
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Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in not-for-profit organisations is a top priority for boards. Here’s how to increase not-for-profit board diversity. Increasing diversity and inclusion in not-for-profit organisations is a top priority for boards everywhere, as they seek to make their leaders more representative of the communities they serve.Posted on 01/11/2022 by
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Not-for-Profit governance models help guide the policies, systems, and processes used by boards to make effective and informed decisions. Over the last few years, many not-for-profit organisations struggled through unexpected setbacks, pandemic-related disruptions, and other economic uncertainties that presented new and complex challenges. To tackle those challenges head-on, more not-for-profit organisations across the globe are seeking solutions to better corporate governance. To help foster good governance, OnBoard, by Passageways, for example, provides an all-inclusive not-for-profit board management software with powerful features and capabilities to enhance not-for-profit corporate governance.Posted on 26/09/2022 by
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As cloud technology grows in popularity across sectors, businesses of all shapes and sizes are discovering the benefits of flexible and affordable cloud technology. Working in the cloud helps organisations save money and improve efficiency. It expedites an organisation's pace of innovation because teams can spend their valuable resources on their unique missions, not on the technology supporting their work behind the scenes. Not-for-profits are increasingly turning to cloud technology to advance their diverse missions.Posted on 06/07/2022 by
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Small not-for-profits are often the lifeblood of their communities, providing essential services on very limited budgets with only a few paid team members. Investing in technology can be difficult when time and money are short, but it's important to equip your team with robust tools in order to work towards your mission securely and efficiently.Posted on 09/06/2022 by
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Not-for-profit organisations rely on data for almost every decision they make, from engaging stakeholders to designing strategies and conducting program evaluations. Data is a valuable asset, and protecting it from internal or external corruption and illegal access can shield nonprofits from financial and operational loss.Posted on 25/05/2022 by
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In April 2022, Microsoft took a major step in the direction of its cloud-first model for not-for-profits, an effort to align Microsoft philanthropy efforts with the security and operational capabilities of cloud computing. Most donated, on-premises licenses were moved into discounted offers. It's the latest reason not-for-profits are much better off moving to the cloud and leveraging its significant advantages.Posted on 28/04/2022 by
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If you are new to grantmaking, preparing for a grant presentation can be a confusing and overwhelming task. Whether in person, over the phone, or on a video call, a presentation is an opportunity to convince a funder that you should be invited to apply for a grant. It doesn't take the place of a proposal, but rather gives the funder a taste of the work you are doing in order to decide whether they should invite your proposal. Read on for a guide on landing a grant presentation, what to include, and how to make the most of the opportunity.Posted on 23/03/2022 by
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In 2021, the pandemic continued to upheave not-for-profits worldwide. Executive directors had to rapidly accelerate their digital infrastructure and communications to survive. Email marketing leads the way as a tool to engage key stakeholders, funders, and communities. It was an arduous learning period for not-for-profit marketers across the globe. For the not-for-profits that adapted, they saw an increase in membership and fundraising directly due to the power of email marketing. 2022 will be the year of not-for-profit digital transformation led by the integration of new email marketing strategies, tools, and technology into the marketing mix. In this post, we outline six 2022 email marketing trends that will transform not-for-profits forever.Posted on 18/01/2022 by
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Every charity/not-for-profit procures goods and services, from the smallest new charity to those with multi-million dollar turnovers. No matter how large or small a charity is, the basic procurement processes are the same. The process entails identifying the requirements and suppliers, negotiating and awarding contracts, managing contracts and suppliers and monitoring the savings produced and benefits delivered. Compared to a small start-up charity, larger charities understandably have more complex procurement processes, which will take longer to complete. When sourcing, for example, there will be a larger budget, more stakeholders and decision-makers involved. In order to ensure consistency, transparency, and control over the whole procurement process, most charities will have their own procurement processes with guidelines for employees to follow to ensure they get the best value from their suppliers.Posted on 13/01/2022 by
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As we kick off the new year, we wanted to highlight some of the great new offerings that TechSoup New Zealand has recently made available to our not-for-profit community. Whether you're looking to identify areas for digital growth, try out a new accounting solution, or upgrade your organisation's hardware, check out these great new offers from TechSoup New Zealand.Posted on 07/01/2022 by
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Over the last few months, you may have heard about various changes within TechSoup New Zealand's Microsoft program. These changes can be confusing since many of them require you to have detailed knowledge about administrative systems, licensing, and deployment. We feel it's our job to help you make the decisions that are best for your organisation. In what follows, we'll walk you through the key elements of these changes so that you can best prepare your organisation for what's ahead.Posted on 09/12/2021 by
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Microsoft has announced changes to the Microsoft not-for-profit program as of 4 April 2022. These changes will impact the current Microsoft Software Donation Program through TechSoup New Zealand and are worth your close review. What is changing? On-premises products will no longer be available as a donation beginning April 4, 2022. On-premises software are stand-alone, perpetual licences that users install on specific computers and can be used even without an internet connection (i.e. Office Standard). These products will still be available through TechSoup New Zealand, but only at charitable discount prices. These typically range from a 60-75% discount from commercial pricing. This results in a price increase of about 3-5 times more than current donation program pricing. Why are these changes occurring?Posted on 19/10/2021 by
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Microsoft plans changes to the Microsoft not-for-profit program on April 4, 2022. Some of these changes will impact the current Microsoft Software Donation Program through TechSoup New Zealand and are worth your close review as you set plans for your not-for-profit or library.Posted on 01/10/2021 by
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This is a guest case study from our partner Bonjoro. It first appeared on the Bonjoro website. We live in a world of information overload, where our attention is constantly being seized by promotions, sales pitches, and newsletters. Inboxes have been embedded with smart technology, filtering mass emails into folders called "promotions", and telephone recognition software is making it harder for conventional fundraising phone banks to get through.Posted on 25/08/2021 by
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For many not-for-profit organisations, keeping updated with the latest technology can be challenging. Fortunately, Leading technology providers donate and discount their products through Connecting Up. This means your NFP can leverage world-class technology without the retail price tag. To make things a little easier, we’ve added below our top 10 technology solutions for NFPs with budgets on the smaller side. 1. Microsoft Office Standard Not-for-profit cost is a one-time payment of $76 per license Office Standard is an integrated collection of programs and services designed to work together to enable optimised information work. Applications include Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Word.Posted on 22/07/2021 by
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This is a guest post from Reboot-IT. Check your refurbished iPad model here to ensure that IOS it can run will suit your needs. If the latest iPad IOS is not supported by the iPad you have selected, you may find certain apps will not run on the device. Data is accurate as of November 2020.Posted on 11/01/2021 by
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This is a guest post from Reboot-IT. At Reboot IT, this is a common question we get asked a lot. Simply put, a used iPad is one which has nothing done to it aside from being turned on to make sure it works. A refurbished iPad costs the same as a used iPad but has been thoroughly checked with specialist software and had any issues that fall below the testing standard rectified. In addition, a refurbished iPad is thoroughly cleaned, had it IMEI checked and has been fully reset.Posted on 11/01/2021 by
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Connecting Up and TechSoup are proud to be partnering with OnBoard, a virtual board, committee, and leadership meeting management tool by Passageways. OnBoard empowers boards, executives, and administrators with all the tools they need to govern confidently, from anywhere. A central hub for all board and committee activities OnBoard helps you bolster governance, improve engagement, and drive strategy focused meetings.Posted on 08/09/2020 by
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Urgent update to all current Symantec users: We were recently notified that current Symantec enterprise customers have received the email below from Broadcom. To ensure continued service, it is our understanding that users will need to switch over to a Broadcom account before the 1st of May, 2020.Posted on 29/04/2020 by
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Starting in November, you will notice that we have increased administrative (admin) fees for selected discount and donation programs at TechSoup New Zealand. We periodically review and adjust admin fees to reflect the fair market value of products and our own costs in managing these programs. As a not-for-profit ourselves, we include admin fees in our offers in order to support the value that we can continually bring to all not-for-profits. This helps us provide as many resources as possible to organisations like yours, everywhere. We will continually strive to make sure that these offers will still be made at the lowest cost available to you and will remain at a fraction of their retail value. In most cases, the increase in the admin fee will be no more than a few dollars per transaction. Certain products from the following programs will be affected by these changes:Posted on 05/11/2019 by
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The annual TechSoup New Zealand Awards in Auckland saw some of the best non-profit proponents of technology recognised last week during a gala dinner at the Waipuna Hotel. The awards, on the first day of the TechSoup New Zealand ‘Transform’ Conference, celebrated technology innovation and service excellence from organisations across the country. Six categories highlighted the achievements of everyone from volunteers, to social media campaigners, to accidental IT people, to those who have given decades of service. NZ Charities Technology Awards emcee Alecia Hancock at the Waipuna Hotel last weekPosted on 20/08/2019 by
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Subscribe-HR, Australia’s leading SaaS Cloud HR software provider is bringing "the world’s most configurable HR software" to New Zealand’s NFP sector. As a silver sponsor at this year’s Transform Conference, the NFPs working to transform the country can now access the transformational Cloud HR technology they need to change the world for the better. Supporting Not-For-Profits, Social Enterprise and Local CouncilsPosted on 06/08/2019 by
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Leading New Zealand NetSuite provider Liberate I.T. will bring world-class expertise and game-changing IT services to Transform 2019 as this year’s Conference Gold Sponsor. As a top-quality service provider since 2011, Liberate I.T. takes particular pride in its status as a 5 Star NetSuite Partner, and as the 2018 recipient of the NetSuite Solution Excellence Partner of the Year Award. From day one, Liberate I.T. has only ever sold one product: NetSuite. That is because it’s the number-one ERP system that combines accounting and financials, procurement and inventory management, CRM, and eCommerce in a unified, cloud-based SaaS solution. It offers a single source of truth for data, uses real-time dashboards, and is scalable from just five users through to thousands. Supporting Not-for-ProfitsPosted on 26/07/2019 by
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Transform Conference Silver Sponsors the I.T. Team have a clear vision for this year’s TechSoup Conference, and they’re ready to bring it to life in Auckland this August 15-16. Led by Sue Wilkinson, the I.T. Team were a significant presence at the 2018 TechSoup NZ Conference as delegates - and were so impressed by what they saw that they decided to sponsor Transform 2019. Based in Christchurch, but with a strong network and engagement across New Zealand, the I.T. Team has a strong reputation for delivering reliable, well managed and cost-effective IT services around the country. They offer a great combination of services and community-centred values that Sue feels will resonate with charities and non-profits, and which makes them an ideal sponsor for Transform 2019.Posted on 17/07/2019 by
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TechSoup New Zealand Conference delegates will have the opportunity to connect with each other, see the event program, post social media messages and receive conference updates direct to their mobiles devices thanks to the introduction of the #Transform2019nz app. The app, which will be available to all delegates via direct download links the week before the conference, adds to the 2018 experience by bringing an additional interactive element and enhanced engagement with the conference team. It will feature all of the conference speakers, sponsors and session descriptions, and a venue map, meaning delegates have everything they need in the palm of their hand. News of the app comes hot on the tail of the confirmation of the final panel of speakers for Transform 2019 and the announcement that all full price delegates will be entered into the draw for a $900 Lenovo laptop.Posted on 15/07/2019 by
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If you haven't already signed up for Transform 2019, registering for a full price master class or main conference ticket will see you automatically entered into the draw for a $900 Lenovo Thinkpad L470 i5, courtesy of our conference bronze sponsor Reboot IT. All you have to do is register for a Complete Conference Experience (all conference activities), Main Conference ticket, Master Class ticket - or any combination that includes a Main Conference or Master Class ticket.Posted on 02/07/2019 by
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With less than a week to go, time is running out to nominate organisations and individuals making a difference through technology in the NZ Charitable Sector. From outstanding innovators, to Government agencies, to private sector orgs making a different by supporting the sector, the NZ Charities Technology Awards are an exceptional opportunity to achieve recognition for people and organisations who rarely receive it. Nominations are invited from organisations who are service providers across New Zealand in categories including Technology Volunteer of the Year, Not-for-Profit Technology Lifetime Service, Technology Innovator of the Year, and Using Technology to Connecting to the Community – Best Government Agency Award.Posted on 01/07/2019 by
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It reads faster than us, it counts faster than us, it never sleeps; never eats, and in the very best science fiction moves, it is always … ALWAYS coming for us. It’s Artificial Intelligence, and when you look at it like this, it’s pretty terrifying. But what if AI helps US to read faster, helps US to count faster, helps US to sleep more, to eat more, to be healthier, happier and is always, ALWAYS there for us when WE need it. And what if all we have to do to make this blissful scenario a reality is to be bold enough to embrace, understand and program the technology that drives AI; and by doing so, amplify our capability for good deeds and positive social impact far beyond anything we could ever have imagined.Posted on 14/06/2019 by
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Transform 2019 Conference keynote speaker Alecia Hancock is all set to bring her super charged ‘change the world’ vision and go-ahead strategies to the Waipuna Hotel in Auckland on Friday 16 August. A highly successful businesswoman and entrepreneur in her own right, Hancock knows that significant and sustainable impact comes only with solid foundations – a message that she will be passionately conveying to scores of New Zealand non-profits at the annual TechSoup New Zealand event. While cause-based organisations have some of the greatest motivations - and sound goals – Transform2019nz will tackle head-on a number of the ‘wicked’ problems facing the New Zealand Charitable sector, offering technology solutions complemented by strategic solutions designed specifically for the sector by people who understand it.Posted on 11/06/2019 by
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One of IBM Watson’s leading artificial intelligence experts and an internationally regarded social media strategist are among the speakers confirmed for this year’s TechSoup New Zealand #Transform2019nz Conference in Auckland. Gus Quiroga, from IBM Watson, and Alecia Hancock, from Hancock Creative, join IT Strategist David McLean, from Infoxchange, Kiwi social media guru Pauline Stockhausen, and Communications and Evaluation Strategist Kate Sunners, from Strategic Grants, for the two-day event on August 15-16. Taking place at the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, the annual two-day TechSoup New Zealand Conference will this year focus on the strategies, technologies and tools available to help Kiwi non-profits and charities transform how they work to achieve maximum impact.Posted on 29/05/2019 by
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Early bird discount is still available for the TechSoup New Zealand 'Transform' Conference at Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland. This 2019 conference, on August 15 and 16, is being designed to inspire and empower non-profits and charities to transform their organisations through technology and 21st century best-practice to fulfil their missions.Posted on 22/05/2019 by
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TechSoup New Zealand (a program of Connecting Up) and Infoxchange are joining forces to create Australia and New Zealand’s leading not-for-profit dedicated to using technology to improve the lives of people experiencing disadvantage and the organisations that support them. L to R: David Spriggs, CEO of Infoxchange; Sandra Vallance, Acting CEO of TechSoup New Zealand (Connecting Up Inc) TechSoup New Zealand’s Board Chair Susan Arthure says Infoxchange and TechSoup New Zealand already enjoy a close working relationship and have collaborated in a number of areas over the last several years. “We’re delighted to be joining together, and we’re excited by this opportunity to work together to expand our reach and support of the sector,” says Susan.Posted on 27/11/2018 by
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Every year on the Thai-Myanmar border eighty nervous young scholars gather for one of the world’s most inspiring graduation ceremonies. As they wait quietly to take the stage, watched by emotional, moist-eyed parents who comprehend the enormity of their achievement more than they will for some years to come, the group of young Karen refugees could be any class, anywhere. But their graduation ceremony, in the sprawling Mae La refugee camp in Thailand, is one of the greatest examples of the triumph of the human spirit you are every likely to hear about. As they accept their certificates, this special group of graduands are a beacon of hope for more than 45,000 of their fellow refugees; a shining example of what can be achieved even by stateless young people who have never known life beyond a refugee camp.Posted on 27/09/2018 by
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“I could not believe the presenter was looking at our actual Facebook page. She looked at around 10 organisations’ pages and gave expert advice on each of them. It was great to see the different things other people are doing and I was also able to use some of the advice she gave to the others.” Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand’s Rebecca Hawkins’ excitement shines through when she talks about what she has learned during TechSoup New Zealand and Connecting Up’s recent “Facebook LIVE Feedback” webinar. Having also touched on everything from how to choose a CRM to how to create compelling digital storytelling, it’s just one of several courses she has completed with TechSoup New Zealand and Connecting Up. “I found the Facebook Live webinar particularly useful,” she says. “I went to a social media master class at the TechSoup New Zealand Conference last year that was given by the same presenter, Kirsty Wallett, so I already had confidence that she knew her stuff.Posted on 17/08/2018 by
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“I would highly recommend any charity doing an IT strategy to get in touch with TechSoup New Zealand. We had been looking at band aids and were struggling to find a long-term solution to our IT problems, but In a year’s time we will be in a totally different position.” Multiple Sclerosis Auckland Business Manager Mark Blackie doesn’t mince his words when asked how useful he found TechSoup New Zealand’s IT Strategy on a Plate program. “The facilitator, Sandra, was amazing and went above and beyond what we could ever have expected from a private consultant,” he adds. “The big difference now is that we actually have a plan and are moving forward with it. Long term this will mean greater efficiencies and services and overall better support for people with Multiple Sclerosis.”Posted on 13/08/2018 by
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“It’s a bit like health and safety. If you don’t invest in it then it will hurt you more in the long run.” Graeme Dingle Foundation Head of Operational Strategy and Relationships John Holley cuts straight to the chase when asked about the importance of technology for not-for-profits. “Some people think it’s a choice between helping people or using technology. It’s not one or the other, it has to be both,” he continues. "The right technology makes us robust and efficient and the solutions we receive through TechSoup New Zealand mean that instead of spending large amounts of money on technology, we can spend it on programs with a transformational impact on young New Zealanders,” Speaking from his organisation’s head office in Auckland, Holley’s IT expertise shows through as he describes how donated and discounted technology through TechSoup New Zealand helps the Dingle Foundation change the lives of thousands of young disadvantaged Kiwis.Posted on 30/07/2018 by
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Want to learn the who, what, where when and why of sponsorship? Perhaps you'd like to learn how to attract volunteers in droves? Maybe you'd like to master social media, or even have your organisation's IT strategy presented to you on a plate. If any of that sounds appealing, you might like to check out TechSoup New Zealand's revamped events and training program, which offers all of this and more over the next few weeks. TechSoup New Zealand's events and training program has been providing critical support and access to technology advice for thousands of New Zealand charitable organisations for many years. The current program is specifically targeted to the needs of charitable orgs in the 21st century and is designed to increase the digital capability of the sector.Posted on 20/07/2018 by
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They’re innovative, efficient, empathic, enthusiastic, and 77% of them say they’d like to help charities and not-for-profits … yet only a small percentage actually do. So, what exactly is the problem with Millennial volunteers? And why aren’t New Zealand charitable orgs taking advantage of the massive opportunity they present to help us build stronger, better communities? According to the team at Achieve that produced the 2015 Millennial Impact Report, it’s all down to poor communication between orgs that really want volunteers and the millions of millennial volunteers who really want to volunteer at things they’re good at.Posted on 18/07/2018 by
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TechSoup New Zealand will be supporting Facebook’s three-stop Workplace for Good Roadshow, which stops off in Auckland on Tuesday 7 August. The Workplace for Good Roadshow demonstrates how organisations like Save the Children, Unicef and Comic Relief have changed the way they work through the platform, which is free for registered non-profits and educational staff.Posted on 18/07/2018 by