Expanding the Reach TechBridge launches programs to support ever-growing technology needs of area nonprofits Tom Barry April 14, 2006

Christy Nilsson wears many hats as the director of volunteer and administrative services for the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell. She coordinates volunteers, looks after policies and procedures, and oversees technology.

"With the number of machines and people we have here, it would be overwhelming if I had to do the technology on my own," said Nilsson.

Thankfully, she doesn't have to. Two years ago, the environmental education facility became a member of TechBridge, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that delivers technology services to area nonprofits at affordable prices.

"It's someone you can call on for help," said Nilsson. "TechBridge has been a tremendous asset for us."

Atlanta technology entrepreneurs Scott Geller and Steve Linowes launched TechBridge in 2000. The following year, it partnered with Micsosoft Corp. to become part of the NPower affiliate network, now composed of a dozen nonprofit technology assistance providers across the U.S.

Today TechBridge is a 12-employee organization with a $1.6 million annual budget that operates out of the former Biltmore Hotel in Midtown.

Besides Geller and Linowes, advisory board members include such well-known names as the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Bill Bolling, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce's Sam Williams, Internet Security Systems' Chris Klaus and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta's Alicia Philipp.

Typically, technology is one of the last things nonprofits consider when it comes to deploying what's often scarce resources. The default decision is to continue limping along with hardware and software that more properly belong next to the eight-track tape player.

"Nonprofit organizations really struggle with technology," said Jack McMillan, CEO of TechBridge and a former Accenture partner. "Generally speaking, nonprofits are anywhere between 10 and 15 years behind the rest of the world on technology."

Eric Small, who chairs TechBridge's board of directors, puts it another way. "Nonprofits tend to spend only about one-fourth of what for-profit organizations do on technology," said Small, senior vice president of video for BellSouth Corp.

McMillan said TechBridge's No. 1 goal is to expand its scope and serve more nonprofit groups. Substantial progress is being made, but there's a long way to go.

"In fiscal 2005, we worked on projects with 85 nonprofit organizations," he said. "Six months into the current fiscal year (which began last July 1), we had already done projects with 90. We've probably served 300 to 350 different agencies over the past few years.

"But there are roughly 3,000 non- profits in the Atlanta area that are large enough to use our services," he said. "We're not content with where we are. A lot of agencies could use our help."

TechBridge provides a broad array of services, such as technology planning, Web site design and hosting, and database development; as well as helping the nonprofit pick optimal software.

A year ago, TechBridge began a program called Scheduled Services. For a fixed monthly fee -- ranging from $200 to $5,000, depending on computer network size and complexity -- the nonprofit receives regularly scheduled visits from TechBridge experts. Help includes desktop and network support, security updates and assessment of data-backup strategies.

The program has struck a chord, McMillan said. "Six months into the fiscal year, we were already at the level of activity we had expected at the end of the year."

TechBridge recently rolled out its Community Technology HelpDesk, which nonprofits can tap as part of standard membership services. Membership fees range from $350 to $650 a year.

Another new service is EasyWorkSpace, a Web-portal-like offering that allows nonprofits to share documents for a $40-a-month fee.

One of TechBridge's clients is the Healthcare Georgia Foundation, a statewide organization devoted to expanding access to affordable health care for underserved individuals and communities.

Hand-in-glove with TechBridge, the foundation is pilot-testing a distance-learning network that would connect health care entities in different parts of the state. Officials from rural hospitals, for instance, wouldn't have to travel to distant Atlanta to receive critical training or be briefed on health care legislation.

"A lot of community clinics and hospitals can't afford such expenses," said foundation president Gary Nelson. His eight-employee foundation, which has a $2.6 million operating budget, dispenses roughly $5 million a year in grants to various health organizations.

Nelson said TechBridge expertise is being used to plan, buy and install the distance- learning technology.

Another TechBridge client is 24/7 Gateway Center, ground zero for serving the homeless in metro Atlanta. In fulfilling its mission, it collaborates with 50-plus agencies, departments, faith groups and other entities.

TechBridge developed and installed Gateway's IT system and provides routine service. Gateway director Vince Smith lauds the "quality, breadth and depth" of the expertise.

"We have access to a number of people on their team, as opposed to hiring an IT person and being limited by that person's knowledge and experience," said Smith, who has 21 direct-report employees and a $2.1 million budget. Since opening last July, the downtown Atlanta facility has served more than 5,000 homeless people.

TechBridge's own funding comes from fees it charges and corporate support. It raises roughly $1 million a year at an annual event called the Digital Ball, slated this year for May 6 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Major contributors to TechBridge include Accenture, Microsoft, BellSouth Corp., The Home Depot, Silicon Valley Bank, Oracle and Cisco Systems.