Technology Funding

When planning to create a Web site for your organization, you may want to research technology funding. Though funding organizations do not tend to give money for technology in and of itself, there is money available to specifically ensure that non-profits stay up to speed with technology. However, this money can only be acquired for programs that use technology or for collaborations among various organizations that will use technology as a means to achieve their mission. It is not necessarily for organizations that want or need to acquire computers or who want to create a Web page. Information is available on foundations, businesses, and other types of companies that provide money for technology.

One book, Directory of Computer and High Technology Grants, points out different organizations and Web sites that contain information on grants for technology. Many of these are government-sponsored grants such as grants through The National Endowment for the Humanities (http://www.neh.fed.us/). The National Guide to Funding for Information Technology, published by The Foundation Center, is another useful source of funding information.

Another helpful book is The Distance Learning Funding Sourcebook: A Guide to Foundation, Corporate and Government Support for Telecommunications and the News Media (http://www.technogrants.com). The author of this book, Arlene Krebs, discusses what has been happening with funding technology efforts and overall foundation and corporate funding trends. She also provides a list of approximately twenty organizations that donate equipment. These are categorized by the name, address, and phone number and include a brief description of what they give and to whom they give it. Many of these organizations donate computer and other related equipment or provide this equipment for a nominal fee. You may also want to investigate individual, corporate, and Board member donations of equipment and software.

Organizations such as the Corporation for Educational Communications (CEC) in Indiana give grants to organizations such as museums and theaters to provide distance learning programs. These grants encourage content providers from educational and cultural organizations to connect to a distance learning network and work with schools to develop quality programming for students. A list of organizations that provide similar grants for distance learning programs can be found in the Foundation Directory at the nearest Foundation Center.

In researching what types of grants arts organizations can receive for technology, it is evident that there is funding available but that it is given to those organizations that use technology to enhance and further work towards the mission of the grantee as well as the mission of the grantor. Because of this, an organization that considers applying for funding should examine the purpose of their proposed Web page. Will it just inform people or will it include interactive and educational programs that people all over the world can learn from and be involved in?