Applications Open February 14

Ideas for potential projects include, but are not limited to:

• Ideas for Managing & Inspiring Donors
• Ideas for Tracking Client Journeys and Outcomes
• Ideas for Measuring Your Missions Impact for Foundations and Sponsors
• Ideas for Simplified Client Onboarding and Data Sharing
• Ideas for Operationalizing Your Strategic Plan and Stretch Goals
• Ideas for Networking Your Separate Internal Systems
• Ideas for Networking with Other Agencies Serving Same Populations

Track and report outcomes. What is your nonprofit’s pain point? What would be “a dream” to change?

Some nonprofit organizations apply for the technology grant to create a way to take their strategic plans and goal setting out of Powerpoint slides and into how they work day to day. Brainstorming and ideation exercises are amazingly important but these endeavors often stop short of building a suitable framework. A technology grant allows you to track, measure and view your impact as well as meet the business-like reporting required.

Do foundations and advisors demand more detailed reporting?

With a deep enough dive into a nonprofit’s modus operandi, foundations believe they could make safer bets and grant funds to those organizations really listening, responding and innovating in their spaces. While anecdotal stories are key for communicating relevance, grant seekers who can back up their claims and decisions with data are more likely to be viewed with confidence. A number of foundations are already integrating the need for organizational assessments into their review processes.

Does your staff spend less hours helping clients face to face because of manual, time-intensive processes?

Technology could improve your ability to manage clients, donors, volunteers or the services and programs you provide?

Support case management with networked systems that talk with one another and share information seamlessly?

What if your organization could easily and securely share documents with other agencies? Do you have one place to share contacts? Maybe you need a central, secured info hub for staff, board, volunteers and/or partners?

Engage with funders and volunteers.

Maybe you need a mobile-friendly version of your website to better engage with your funders and volunteers? Do you have an idea for an application that will improve the programs and services you provide to your clients or will help your staff work more efficiently?

If you are not sure if your project can be fulfilled through TechBridge services currently available, please contact dreambig@techbridge.org to verify.

Georgia nonprofits may request a matching grant for up to $30,000 in TechBridge service towards the implementation of a specific technology solution that builds capacity, efficiency or effectiveness for their organization. Each nonprofit selected will receive a 4x match from TechBridge (up to the award amount), meaning that for every $1,000 requested, the nonprofit would be required to contribute $200 or 20% and TechBridge 80%. See the table below:

Matching funds can be fulfilled as follows: any portion of the project’s cost, new equipment purchased specifically for this program at the expense of the nonprofit and/ or services donated by a third party. The nonprofit will need to provide appropriate documentation to show the value of equipment and/or services.

Built into the grant award will be a required Comprehensive Assessment, provided by TechBridge (this will be waived if a nonprofit has received one within the last two years). Please note that the grant will also include a detailed discovery process by TechBridge to understand the organization and the proposed technology project. This discovery process may include, but is not limited to, a Comprehensive Technology & Data Assessment, Solution Design, Process Definition, Functional Requirements and/or Data Strategy. Following this discovery phase, it may be mutually determined and agreed to by TechBridge and the grantee that a different project is the best fit for the awarded funding.

Eligible Organizations

Nonprofits that meet the following requirements are eligible to apply for a grant from the Dream Big Georgia Technology Grant:

• Nonprofit organization must be located and providing services within Georgia;
• Nonprofit organization must be classified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under Section 501(c)(3) of the I.R.S. code as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, donations to which are deductible as charitable contributions under Section 170 (c)(2), and the I.R.S. determination must be current;
• Nonprofit organization must be registered with the Georgia Secretary of State as a nonprofit (click here to verify: http://arc-sos.state.ga.us/cgi/corpname.mbr/input  (this link is not functioning)
• Nonprofit organization must have a minimum two-year operating history after the date of receipt of its 501(c)(3) classification;
• Nonprofit organization must have annual operating expenses greater than $500,000 as reflected in the most recently filed I.R.S. Form 990 (click here for more information on Form 990: https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-NonProfits/Form-990-Resources-and-Tools);
• Nonprofit organization must have at least three (3) full-time paid employees or Full Time Equivalents (FTE), paid minimum wage or more, working at least 35 hours per week or two employees working a combined 35 hours per week, all classified as a W-2 employee for the 12 months prior to submitting an application (please note that contractors or consultants do not count toward this requirement); and
• Nonprofit organization must have filed the end-of-grant report for any previous TechBridge Grant award

Ineligible Organizations

The following organizations are not eligible to apply for funding:

• Private and publicly funded schools (K-12) and institutions of higher learning. This does not include nonprofit charter schools;
• Organizations that exclusively raise funds for publicly funded schools (K-12), institutions of higher learning and government agencies;
• Organizations that require participation in religious services and/or education as a condition of receiving services; and/or
• Organizations that have discriminatory policies and/or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex/gender, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information or political beliefs.

Ineligible Requests

The following application requests are not eligible to apply for funding:

• Applications for consulting services that take place outside the grant period.
• Applications for equipment or hardware, website design, services by others; and/or

When will the application be available?

• Early 2020

I submitted my online application form but didn’t get a confirmation – did you receive it?

• If you did not receive a confirmation email, please first check your spam/junk folder for an email from dreambig@techbridge.org. If no confirmation is there, please email us at dreambig@techbridge.org and we can verify receipt.

I submitted my application but now realize I omitted important information – how do I edit it?

• You may resubmit your application in its entirety prior to the deadline and we will put forward the application with the latest submission date/time for judging consideration.

I completed my application in Word – who can I email it to? 

• If you have any issues using the online form, simply email dreambig@techbridge.org.

We’d like to supplement our application with a video about our organization  – how do I provide a link or upload the video?

The online grant application provides a place to upload video or provide links to them.

What specifically will you require from our organization by way of financial documentation to show that we practice financial responsibility?

We require all applicants to verify that they demonstrate fiscal responsibility, the appropriate use of funds and accounting standards. While we do not require documentation to substantiate this claim, relevant proof of sound financial practices could include:

• Maintaining a complete and accurate set of accounting records;
• Making available upon request audited financial statements;
• Having a treasurer/finance committee at the board level involved in reviewing financial results;
• Completing all IRS filings, including Form 990 or Form 990EZ; and/or
• Producing a public annual financial report that discloses the source and use of funds received.

What specifically will you require from our organization by way of financial documentation to show that we practice financial responsibility?

• We require all applicants to verify that they demonstrate fiscal responsibility, the appropriate use of funds and accounting standards. While we do not require documentation to substantiate this claim, relevant proof of sound financial practices could include:
  • Maintaining a complete and accurate set of accounting records;
  • Making available upon request audited financial statements;
  • Having a treasurer/finance committee at the board level involved in reviewing financial results;
  • Completing all IRS filings, including Form 990; and/or
  • Producing a public annual financial report which discloses the source and use of funds received.

How do I apply?

In early 2020, a saveable application will be available online.

You can take the necessary time to fully complete a thoughtful application. Once your nonprofit organization is ready to submit its responses, revisit the online application, enter answers and submit the application online. Once submitted, nonprofits will receive a copy of their application via email and a confirmation screen appears upon submitting.

How are organizations evaluated?

Dream Big Georgia Technology Grant will give priority to organizations whose applications reflect:

• Organization-wide planning and decision-making in requesting support;
• Clarity of mission and vision; and
• A readiness to embark on the solutions to issues and/or challenges.

How will the winners be chosen?

• Applications will be reviewed by TechBridge to ensure requests meet the requirements of the Grant.
• A team of technical volunteers will provide feedback to the nonprofits with requests that meet the Grant criteria and give them an opportunity to revise their application.
• The TechBridge Georgia Dream Big Judges will choose the Grant recipients based on the information included in the application.