Scaling Their Impact: Connecting Tech to Nonprofits

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How can Miami build a digital backbone for change? TechSoup’s Rebecca Masisak explains how tech can not only connect, but also empower local nonprofits in our latest interview.

In 1987, long before cloud computing and AI, a small group of technologists in the Bay Area saw how nonprofit organizations wanted to use technology to advance their missions, but lacked access, affordability, and the know-how.

That’s when TechSoup was born, first as a matching service between “geeks” with technical expertise and social activists with big ideas but little IT support, explains Rebecca Masisak, Executive Chair at TechSoup Global. She was the former CEO of the nonprofit that still provides tech resources and assistance to other nonprofits worldwide.

Four decades later, TechSoup has evolved into a global marketplace serving 1.4 million nonprofits in over 200 countries, distributing more than $15 billion in technology resources and training to organizations of every size and cause.

Learn more about the importance of connecting nonprofits with tech and how Miami can be a prime place to strengthen the digital backbone of local nonprofits of all sizes in our latest Opportunity Miami Interview.

Empowering Nonprofits in a Digital World

Most nonprofits lack the digital infrastructure needed to operate effectively in today’s world, from secure networks and cloud systems to skilled tech staff. TechSoup solves that.

“It’s not easy to not be digitally strong, and it’s not a good idea,” Masisak said. “Whether you’re a nonprofit or a business enterprise, you need that strength to survive and scale your impact.”

In an era defined by rapid technological change, cybersecurity threats, and the rise of artificial intelligence, the digital divide isn’t just about access — it’s about survival. Nonprofits working on issues like resiliency or public health often have frontline insight but lack the digital tools to collect, protect, and share data effectively, she noted. TechSoup bridges that divide by providing affordable (and sometimes free) software, training, and expert guidance.

What Miami Can Learn from TechSoup’s Global Reach

Masisak has been at the intersection of tech and philanthropy for more than two decades (she joined TechSoup in 2001). She moved to Miami a few years ago with her husband (a sailor who wanted to be closer to warmer water) and has since been named one of the Top 25 Business Leaders of Miami.

She sees Miami as a city that mirrors TechSoup’s own energy: diverse, fast-moving, and brimming with potential. “I like the multicultural nature of the city,” she noted. “There’s a lot of great work going on — nonprofits working on climate change, helping immigrants, providing meals. The beauty of what’s special about Miami needs to be shared with everyone who lives here.”

She added that Miami is at a pivotal moment where technology, entrepreneurship, and community impact intersect. The same digital transformation fueling the city’s startup scene can and should empower its nonprofit sector, she added.

More than 2,200 local organizations have connected to TechSoup’s resources over the decades. Now, the opportunity lies in helping Miami’s changemakers harness technology to serve their communities better.

The Nonprofit Impact

There are nearly 23,000 nonprofits in Florida alone, with Miami-Dade County leading the state with 2,541 as of this 2023 report.

“What would I do with unlimited resources? I think I would really try to help figure out ways to, in particular, help the really small organizations so that they had more presence, could tell their story,” Masisak said. “I think that every human being probably has been helped or influenced or something by a nonprofit. If you stop and think about it, you’ll be hard-pressed to say that there’s anyone that hasn’t been.”

How To Help Nonprofits Make Further Impact

To support our local nonprofits in Miami-Dade County, consider donating on Give Miami Day, hosted by The Miami Foundation, which is on November 20th. You can support over 1,000 nonprofits, ranging from animal care and the arts to education and environmental causes.

You can also donate to The Beacon Council Foundation, the Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s nonprofit arm that supports charitable and educational purposes dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Miami-Dade County.

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~ Opportunity Miami