Training
TECH-U-NET: Providing Technology Guidance to Nonprofits
Background
A little over a decade ago, as the price of desktop computers became more affordable and operating systems more accessible, nonprofits began to deploy computers to enhance their productivity. HELP USA, a leading national provider of homes, jobs, and services, recognized that it needed to develop a long-term strategy to judiciously incorporate technology in its services.
The agency hired a technology manager to marry the mission of the organization to a long-term, strategic vision. In order to manage the daily needs of the agency's several hundred computer users, a cost-effective combination of outside contractors and college interns was established. HELP USA solicited interns from Hunter College, Yeshiva University, and New York University. The agency was able to develop and deploy integrated systems using off-the-shelf software, thereby lessening costs and expediting implementation.
Recognizing that its small IT department needed to grow rapidly, HELP USA created an innovative project that was grounded in its mission to provide job training and employment to its clients. Hiring a small group of experienced IT professionals to provide guidance, HELP USA embarked on a program to grow its own interns.
Through a rigorous process, trainees are selected from a large pool of welfare recipients, many of whom are homeless. HELP USA enrolls its trainees in IT certification and training programs like Per Scholas. After successfully completing course work, trainees are eligible to apply for comprehensive, hands-on internships managed by HELP USA at selected local nonprofits. These paid internship programs provide extensive on-the-job IT training as well as the requisite professional development skills. HELP USA has drawn on this pool of trained IT support personnel to staff its ever-growing help desk and its technician and training needs, since the inception of the program. Additionally, the current demand for skilled IT professionals has enabled many graduates to seek lucrative employment elsewhere.
TECH-U-NET is launched
With the program's success, HELP USA experienced a rapidly increasing number of requests for assistance from a wide variety of nonprofits. In response, HELP USA devised an appropriate vehicle to make this technology expertise available while expanding the scope of its welfare-to-work training program. The result was the creation of TECH-U-NET, a nonprofit technology services company devoted to the support of nonprofits and government agencies. Its highly trained and seasoned IT professionals assist in all aspects of technology planning, implementation, and maintenance. TECH-U-NET has helped to create long-term strategic technology plans for nonprofits such as Providence House, and collaborated on grant proposals for organizations, including a recent New York Aids Coalition grant. TECH-U-NET has managed the networks of area nonprofits such as Common Ground Community and has assisted in the case management software needs assessment, selection, and implementation process for both government agencies and nonprofits, including Project Return Foundation. TECH-U-NET maintains a strong training staff and offers both state of the art training facilities and custom curricula. The most compelling part of TECH-U-NET's story is its mission. As a nonprofit serving nonprofits, TECH-U-NET uses all of its revenues to fund the ongoing internship program, providing clients with the job training and experience needed to achieve long-term, economic self-sufficiency.
For more information about the many services provided by TECH-U-NET, please call (212) 444-1886.
TECH-U-NET assists nonprofits in preparing RFPs to obtain funding for their technology initiatives.