Social Enterprise Name: Tech 4 NPOs (T4NPOs)
Location: Clayton
Contact: Asher Lim, Shayla Rance, Ryan Buhagiar
Where does T4NPOs affect change?
Our group is called Tech For NPOs (T4NPOs). We are a Monash University funded student-led organisation that connects undergraduate IT students with metropolitan Melbourne non-profits and charities. We improve access to technology solutions for these organisations to improve reach and impact.
Tell us about your social enterprise?
We received funding in 2019 from Monash University to develop our idea and conduct a pilot project. During the pilot project, we developed a website for a community organisation called Eastern Karen Community Association Victoria (EKCAV). The website can be found here: https://easternkaren.org.au/. It was particularly challenging finishing this project during the pandemic, but despite the difficulties we faced we completed the website for EKCAV. This was the beginning of an expanded online presence for EKCAV.
How long have you been operating?
12 months
How did the idea start?
We came up with the idea after discussing our individual experiences of working within small not-for-profit organisations in Melbourne. We identified that small NPOs face considerable barriers to further technology use. This restricted the opportunities of using technology in the NPO sector.
How can people get involved? Are you open to collaboration – if so, what kind?
We are looking for collaborators to make connections with the Melbourne NPO industry. We want to expand our project and find further small NPOs that would benefit from collaborating with our team.
Do you have an important event or mission coming up?
Towards the end of this year we are hoping to put on a showcase of our work. This will also be an opportunity for us to network with NPO industry leaders and make new connections. This was planned to take place on campus at Monash University in Clayton. We remain agile with our plans given the pandemic, but hope to conduct this event within the next 6 months.
Are you raising funds for anything specific or rallying for a specific cause right now?
No. We still have funding available from our original grant.
Any interesting facts you can share about your social enterprise or industry?
Our project founders come from very different backgrounds and this was the catalyst for coming up with this novel idea.
What’s the overall vision for T4NPOs?
We would like to establish a student-led organisation that is on-going with lasting relationships between Monash students and small Melbourne NPO organisations.
What’s your ‘why’? What drives T4NPOs to do what you do?
We are motivated to change inequity in the NPO sector. We feel we have identified a tangible, low-cost and practical initiative that can improve access to simple IT tools for small NPOs with large impacts on the positive work they do in the community.
