About HandsOn Tech Chicago

Program Overview:

HandsOn Tech Chicago is a new program that will transform how nonprofits use and embrace technology in the Chicago area. Our mission is to increase the nonprofit sector’s use of technology and ultimately improve outcomes for low-income communities and families.

Created through a partnership between HandsOn Network, AmeriCorps VISTA and leading technology corporations, HandsOn Tech seeks to encourage nonprofits to adopt modern tools to increase capacity for change. An emphasis will be placed on cloud solutions because of their low cost, deployment flexibility and ability to free up resources that would otherwise be spent on administrative/IT tasks.

Over the course of the next year, the HandsOn Tech team, with the support of volunteers using their professional skills, will conduct in-depth technology consultations with 30+ nonprofits in Chicago and provide training for hundreds more. Volunteers are currently being recruited to assist team members with both tech consultations and trainings.

Volunteer:

One of our major focuses is to make both of the two different types of projects, training and consulting, convenient for volunteers. Technology training sessions for nonprofits will be held throughout the year. We expect a one-time commitment of 1-2 hours per training. The volunteer will be able to choose from a variety of topics, or they can suggest material they feel comfortable teaching. These training sessions will be recorded and posted online afterwards for free. Examples of what a volunteer could present include cloud-based software (e.g. Google Docs, Office 365, etc.), online advertising, or social media (e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, etc.)

Volunteers will also help HandsOn Tech team members conduct initial technology assessments at nonprofits in the Chicago area. Consulting projects will be a longer time commitment; we expect around 1-2 hours a week, much of which can be done remotely, for 2-3 months. Consulting content will be determined by the tech needs of the nonprofits, but we expect we will be dealing with issues such as synchronizing and sharing data, data management, or networking. We will be specifically looking for ways to implement cost-effective cloud solutions that improve a nonprofit’s ability to accomplish its mission. Volunteers will help craft a technology plan, implement it, as well as offer follow-up training and support to nonprofit staff. Volunteers will be able to choose from a variety of projects and nonprofits that they would like to work with.

Projects will begin in November. Trainings will begin in October. If you are interested in volunteering for either of these projects, you can find more information on our website: volunteerinfo.net/hotc/serve or contact us at HandsOnTechChicago@gmail.com.

If you have any nonprofits that you work with in the area or are interested in working with, please have them fill out this survey.