September 21, 2000 | Read Time: 1 minute
By NICOLE WALLACE
The Microsoft Corporation will contribute $10-million in cash and $15-million in software over five years to develop technology-assistance programs for charities nationwide.
The gift is part of a partnership between Microsoft and NPower that will allow the Seattle charity, which helps other non-profit organizations make better use of technology, to work with grant makers and non-profit consulting organizations to create a network of NPower technology-assistance programs in 12 cities.
“Ever since we opened our doors for service, we´ve been approached by other communities around the country for assistance, to help them develop similar services for their non-profit communities,” says Joan Fanning, NPower´s executive director. “We´ve provided assistance in a very ad hoc way, but this partnership allows us to focus time and resources — and, really, dedication — to helping those other communities develop similar programs.”
NPower will work with organizations that are interested in starting programs to identify the technology needs of local charities and existing technology resources and then develop business plans that address the gap between the two. After a business plan has been submitted, a group of Microsoft and NPower representatives will decide whether or not to support it.
Microsoft will cover half of each site´s operating expenses for three years, provided the money is matched by local funds.
For more information: Go to http://www.npower.org.
