Tech Impact

Overview

Tech Impact is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation with a dual mission: to strengthen the technology capacity of other nonprofits, and to create economic mobility for individuals who face barriers to entering the technology workforce. Headquartered in Philadelphia and operating with approximately 300 staff, Tech Impact serves over 400 nonprofit clients with managed IT support, cybersecurity, cloud computing, database implementation, strategic planning, and related services — all tailored to the specific needs and budget constraints of the charitable sector. Simultaneously, it runs a portfolio of free and low-cost workforce development programmes that have trained thousands of young adults for entry-level and mid-level technology careers, typically more than doubling their pre-programme income. The organisation's annual revenue is approximately $35 million. Patrick Callihan serves as Chief Executive Officer.

History and Founding

Tech Impact originated from an initiative by Microsoft and a small group of philanthropic foundations that created the NPower Network — a national group of capacity-building organisations providing hands-on technology support to nonprofits across the United States. Tech Impact was established as part of that network in 2002 and began delivering services in 2003. It subsequently became an independent organisation while retaining the NPower mission of making business-quality technology accessible to the charitable sector.

The organisation has grown substantially through strategic mergers. In summer 2016 it combined with Washington D.C.-based 501cTECH, expanding its geographic footprint and service capacity. In September 2018 it merged with Idealware — for more than a decade the sector's definitive independent source for thoroughly-researched, impartial reviews and guides to technology for nonprofits, covering CRM platforms, fundraising software, and other tools. Idealware, which had been based in Minneapolis, became a programme of Tech Impact while retaining its brand and editorial independence. The merger brought together Tech Impact's hands-on implementation and support services with Idealware's authoritative research and learning resources, creating what both organisations described as a full-service nonprofit technology capacity builder under one roof. By February 2025, Tech Impact had reached a milestone of 400 managed IT clients — a marker of the organisation's growth as the primary technology service provider for the nonprofit sector.

Nonprofit Technology Services

Tech Impact's technology services division works exclusively with 501(c)(3) charitable organisations, providing a comprehensive range of services that most small and mid-sized nonprofits could not otherwise afford or access. Core offerings include managed IT support (helpdesk, infrastructure monitoring, device management, and break-fix services), cybersecurity audits and vulnerability assessments, cloud architecture planning and implementation (including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace), CRM selection and implementation with deep expertise in Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, strategic technology planning and compliance assessments, and website design and development. Tech Impact also offers data and analytics services, helping nonprofits make sense of programme data to improve outcomes and demonstrate impact to funders.

The organisation publishes a library of research guides, white papers, webinars, and training resources — the legacy of the Idealware merger — covering software selection, cybersecurity practices, and technology strategy for nonprofit leaders. This content is freely available on the Tech Impact website. Tech Impact also convenes the annual Tech Forward Conference, a multi-day event for nonprofit technology leaders, decision-makers, and staff to explore innovative technologies and share practice. The 2025 conference was scheduled for Kansas City, Missouri.

Workforce Development Programmes

ITWorks. Tech Impact's flagship workforce programme, ITWorks has operated since around 2010 and is Tech Impact's most celebrated public-facing initiative. It is a free, 16-week training programme for young adults aged 18 to 26 who hold a high school diploma or equivalent but not a bachelor's degree, preparing them for entry-level IT help desk careers. Students spend 11 weeks on technical curriculum covering PC hardware, troubleshooting, IT networking, and security — preparing them for the Cisco IT Essentials and CompTIA A+ certifications — and the remaining weeks on soft skills development, mentorship from volunteer professionals, and a minimum five-week internship with a local employer. Laptops, travel stipends, and other support are provided. The programme is free to qualifying participants thanks to support from local, regional, and national foundations, corporate partners, and government programmes. ITWorks now operates in Philadelphia, Wilmington (DE), Las Vegas, and Nashville — the last launched with its first cohort in February 2025. By 2024, the programme had graduated nearly 1,000 students across its three original cities, with more than 80 percent of graduates securing IT employment within six months and an average income increase exceeding 100 percent. ITWorks 2.0 and 3.0, for programme alumni with at least one year of professional experience, offer pathways to middle-skill roles in network administration and cybersecurity through CompTIA Network+ and Security+ credentials.

CXWorks. A companion programme to ITWorks, CXWorks prepares participants for entry-level careers in customer experience and call centre environments. In 2022, Tech Impact launched CXWorks at the Baylor Women's Correctional Facility in Delaware, enabling incarcerated women to earn their Call Center Associate professional certification before release — a notable expansion of the programme's reach into justice-involved populations.

PunchCode. A full-stack software development school originally based in Las Vegas, PunchCode provides coding bootcamp-style training for participants seeking mid-level development careers. It represents Tech Impact's most technically advanced workforce pathway, targeting individuals ready to move beyond help desk and customer service roles into software engineering.

Access and Usage

Nonprofit organisations seeking technology services can initiate an engagement through techimpact.org, where a full catalogue of services, webinars, and research publications is available. Tech Impact's services are available exclusively to 501(c)(3) charitable organisations; pricing is structured to be accessible to small and mid-sized nonprofits. The Idealware research library — guides, webinars, and technology reviews — is freely accessible on the site. Individuals interested in applying to ITWorks, CXWorks, or PunchCode can find programme details, eligibility information, and application links at techimpact.org/get-tech-help-us. Programme applications for fall cohorts are typically due by 1 August. Tech Impact also publishes an annual impact report and actively recruits programme graduates into its own technical staff. The Tech Forward Conference is held annually; registration information is available at techforwardconference.org.