TechSoup is a nonprofit dedicated to helping other nonprofit organizations access the technology and resources they need to operate efficiently. Acting as a bridge between smaller nonprofits and technology providers, TechSoup offers a catalog of donated or discounted products from approximately 50 technology companies. To ensure organizations qualify for these benefits, TechSoup must carefully vet each nonprofit.
TechSoup relies on Alchemer to distribute eligibility surveys to one million nonprofit organizations across the U.S. and internationally. These surveys help determine eligibility for donated goods and services, while also generating valuable reports for TechSoup and its partners.
“Alchemer is so customizable, I haven’t found a thing that wouldn’t work for me. Plus, it hits the sweet spot of cost and function. I love the fact that this is so easy, and you can trigger automated email notifications from the Alchemer Platform.”
— Mike Yeaton, Senior Consultant at TechSoup
TechSoup faces challenges in conducting random sampling due to varying definitions of nonprofits across countries and inconsistent access to nonprofit registries. “Each country has its own definitions of what constitutes a nonprofit, and some have varying levels of clear registries,” says Mike Yeaton, Senior Consultant at TechSoup. As a result, TechSoup can only survey organizations it has already identified that also have internet access. Additionally, many organizations, particularly in underserved regions, lack reliable internet access, making online surveys difficult to complete.
From the rich data TechSoup collects with Alchemer, they can then analyze and sort by country and see where there is a lack of internet tools or skills. “We can compare regions and see that the speed of the internet is not a problem in Japan, but it’s a challenge in Indonesia” Mike explains. TechSoup works with an organization called Connect Humanity, whose goal is to reduce the digital divide and wire the world. Today, only half the world has reliable internet access. “Having data about internet access, obstacles, and safety is useful in Connect Humanity’s campaigns. And it also fits with our mission of helping digital transformation in nonprofits.”
Using Alchemer, TechSoup can analyze digital access disparities by sorting survey data by country, identifying regions with connectivity challenges, and adjusting outreach strategies accordingly.
With a global nonprofit network, TechSoup must translate surveys into multiple languages to ensure accurate responses and broad participation. With surveys translated into 26 languages by partners around the world, the ability to efficiently manage translations is crucial.
Alchemer streamlines survey translation into all necessary languages, allowing TechSoup to localize content seamlessly and connect with nonprofit organizations worldwide while conserving time and resources.
“We hand the survey and an Excel file with all the questions and responses to someone who could translate it,” says Mike. “And then we get back a translated file which we can then load for different languages. This really blew me away the first time, because we translate this survey into 26 languages using partners around the world. The fact that we could actually manage that was pretty cool. It was not something I had anticipated.”
TechSoup needed a way to personalize surveys and enrich the survey taking experience, while updating contact data. Additionally, nonprofits often register under limited categories, making it difficult to capture a full picture of their activities.
Alchemer’s integration with HubSpot allows contact data to be pulled into surveys, enhancing the survey experience. If respondents update their information, the integration dynamically updates their records in HubSpot. This ensures TechSoup captures more nuanced details. Mike adds, “This is really exciting for us because when nonprofits register with the government, they can only choose one area. But half of all the food banks in the US are run by churches. And now we can capture that information, too.”
TechSoup needed an efficient way to assess nonprofits’ digital preparedness without building custom solutions.
Alchemer serves as a powerful self-assessment tool, allowing nonprofits to evaluate their digital readiness. Automated scoring and email notifications further streamline the process.
“I know it’s designed for quizzes,” says Mike. “But I can use Alchemer as a self-assessment tool for us. One of my tenets is don’t build anything you don’t have to, and Alchemer is a much more efficient way for us to use assessments. I love the fact that this is so easy to do, and you can also trigger automated emails notifications from the Alchemer Platform.”
Beyond its technology, Alchemer’s strong customer support and service have made a lasting impact on TechSoup’s ability to operate efficiently.
Through Alchemer, TechSoup continues to bridge the gap between nonprofits and the technology they need to thrive, ensuring a more connected and digitally empowered sector.
“Alchemer is a great company to work with because they stand behind their products in a way that’s really unusual. Every single interaction I’ve had with my sales team, with the professional services team, or with the support team has been positive.”
— Mike Yeaton, Senior Consultant at TechSoup
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