Technology Innovation Awards

The Technology Innovation Awards (TIA), administered by Tech Impact through its Tech Forward initiative, recognize nonprofit organizations that propose innovative technology-driven projects designed to amplify their mission and create measurable social impact. Tech Impact is a nonprofit entity that works to empower the social sector through strategic technology support. Their mission is to leverage technology to promote equity, inclusion, and community development across a wide range of public service sectors. The TIA program awards $10,000 grants to selected nonprofit organizations to help launch or advance projects that use technology to strengthen services, engage constituents, or improve organizational effectiveness. Potential projects might include developing community apps, deploying data visualization tools for donors and stakeholders, or utilizing predictive analytics to optimize program delivery. The funding serves as a catalytic investment aimed at moving ideas from concept to execution, particularly for nonprofits seeking to leverage technology for sustainable change. To be eligible, applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organizations in good standing with the IRS, with exclusions applying to religious organizations, private educational institutions, nonprofit hospitals, and governmental entities. Applicants must demonstrate fiscal responsibility according to standard accounting practices and exhibit a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion both in service delivery and employment. A minimum annual operating budget of $500,000 is required, and applicants must be able to send a representative to the Tech Forward conference to receive the award. A travel stipend may be available for this purpose. The 2025 application cycle is currently open, and all submissions must be completed by July 18. While no pre-application deadlines or letters of intent are required, applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare thoroughly. Application questions are listed on the official Tech Forward website, but the site does not specify whether evaluation criteria or scoring rubrics will be used. Past recipients have executed a wide range of projects, although no specific examples or case studies were provided in the source material. The application process is straightforward and does not appear to involve complex pre-screening phases. However, winners must attend the Tech Forward conference to accept their awards. This conference also provides valuable networking and learning opportunities, reinforcing the award’s broader purpose of encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration among nonprofit technology leaders. For questions or further details, applicants are directed to contact the program team via email at techforward@techimpact.org using the subject line “TIA Question.” The announcement of awards is expected to coincide with or occur shortly after the conference. There is no indication that the grant is recurring or that there will be a subsequent cycle, though the program has existed in previous years. The website does not list a contact phone number or a specific program officer.

Applicants are encouraged to review past TIA grantee projects to better understand the types of initiatives that have been successful in the past. This can provide valuable insights into how to structure their proposals. It is advisable for applicants to prepare a comprehensive project proposal that clearly outlines the objectives, expected impact, and implementation plan for their technology project. This will be crucial in demonstrating the potential of their project to advance their mission and benefit their community.