Technology Innovation Awards

Tech Impact's Technology Innovation Awards (TIA), facilitated through its Tech Forward initiative, offer a unique funding opportunity designed to empower nonprofit organizations through technology. The primary goal of the award is to support innovative technology-driven projects that help nonprofits fulfill their missions and positively impact their communities. Administered by Tech Impact, a nonprofit committed to leveraging technology to drive social change, these awards celebrate and fund transformative technology solutions in the nonprofit sector. The Technology Innovation Awards provide a $10,000 grant to selected nonprofits to launch or advance technology projects that align with their organizational goals. These projects may include building custom apps, developing interactive datasets, implementing predictive analytics, and other creative uses of technology to enhance services, advocacy, or operations. Winning organizations must attend the Tech Forward Conference to accept the award, with travel stipends available to ease the financial burden of attendance. Eligibility for the TIA program is limited to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations, excluding religious institutions, private educational institutions, nonprofit hospitals, and government units. Applicants must demonstrate fiscal responsibility through standard accounting practices, uphold inclusivity and nondiscriminatory practices, and have an annual operating budget of at least $500,000. International nonprofits may apply only if they have a U.S.-based registration or operate under a U.S. nonprofit entity. The 2025 application window will officially open on June 23, 2025. The application process includes multiple components: eligibility verification, organizational information, background, a comprehensive technology project description, and projected impact analysis. Required application details include organizational mission, services, key constituents, project description, budget, timeline, and intended metrics for success. All applicants must submit a representative to attend the Tech Forward Conference, held in September, where winners will be announced. Notification of awardees will occur in August 2025. Questions related to the award can be directed to techforward@techimpact.org with the subject line “TIA Question.” Past recipients of the award have implemented projects such as emergency resource mapping systems, cost transparency dashboards, and platforms to assist veterans and refugees, highlighting the diversity and real-world impact of the initiatives supported by TIA.

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.