TechSoup Global

About TechSoup Global

TechSoup Global operates as a nonprofit social enterprise, building a bridge between civil society organizations and technology. Founded in 1987 by Daniel Ben-Horin as CompuMentor, the organization aimed to connect volunteers with technology skills to nonprofits in need. Ben-Horin, a former journalist and early online community participant, saw a gap where nonprofits lacked access to then-new information technologies and skilled individuals were willing to help. The venture began by matching these tech-savvy "mentors" with organizations and soliciting donated software from tech magazines, which was then provided to nonprofits for a small administrative fee.

The organization launched its website, TechSoup.org, in 2000 and officially changed its name to TechSoup Global in 2008 to reflect its expanding international reach. A significant milestone was the creation of the TechSoup Global Network in 2006, which now includes over 60 partner NGOs worldwide, extending the organization's services to 236 countries and territories. This network operates on a social enterprise model, allowing local partners to retain a portion of the revenue generated, thereby supporting their own capacity-building efforts. Under the leadership of figures like Rebecca Masisak, who served as CEO for over a decade, and current CEO Marnie Webb, TechSoup has grown significantly, facilitating billions in technology donations.

TechSoup's business model is centered on making technology accessible and affordable for the nonprofit sector. It makes money primarily through the collection of administrative fees on the donated and discounted products distributed through its platform. Corporate partners, including major tech companies like Microsoft, Adobe, and Cisco, provide product donations, and TechSoup manages the distribution, charging nonprofits a fraction of the retail cost to cover operational expenses. This creates a sustainable revenue stream that supports the organization's programs and research. The business also generates revenue from value-added services, including IT support, cloud migration services, and educational courses.

The core of TechSoup's offering is its online marketplace, which provides a catalog of donated and discounted software and hardware from over 100 corporate partners. Beyond products, TechSoup provides a suite of services designed to enhance nonprofit effectiveness. A key service is its validation program, which verifies the nonprofit status of organizations globally. This validation is trusted by corporations and foundations like Google for Nonprofits and Microsoft to determine eligibility for their own philanthropic programs. TechSoup also offers extensive educational resources, including online courses, webinars, and community forums, on topics ranging from software utilization to digital security. Additional services include managed IT, on-call help desk support, and a consultant connection service to pair nonprofits with verified technology experts.