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Tech Impact, Idealware Set Merger Plan

Two providers of nonprofit technology education and training will become one in a merger announced today that will become effective Oct. 1. Tech Impact and Idealware will combine business operations over the next year.

The two nonprofits have been independent leaders in nonprofit technology capacity building for more than a decade and expect a merger will be able to provide greater scope of service and support to organizations. Tech Impact provides nonprofit technology solutions and operates IT training programs for underserved youth. Idealware provides “independent, researched technology resources for the social sector.”

Under its own program and branding, Idealware will continue to offer free webinars, online courses, and on-demand learning experiences taught by Idealware expert trainers while Tech Impact will continue to offer free technical webinars taught by staff experts. By merging, the nonprofits expect to be able to provide a greater scope of service and support, “giving nonprofits coordinated access to a wide range of impartial technology education, publications, and services,” according to an announcement on the deal.

Tech Impact has long viewed Idealware as an essential capacity builder in the sector and has sponsored several Idealware publications over the years, according to Patrick Callihan, executive director of Tech Impact. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the Idealware team into the Tech Impact family and are eager to expand our service offerings and continue our mission of helping nonprofits do more good in the world,” he said in announcing the merger, which was months in the making.

“We knew that, in order to make a quantum leap in our impact, we would have to partner with organizations that share our goal of unlocking the power of technology for social good,” said Karen Graham, executive director of Idealware, via the announcement. “This merger gives us a chance to do that,” she said in an email to supporters.

The merged organization will be known as Tech Impact and will maintain all current offices. Tech Impact’s global headquarters is located in Philadelphia, with offices in Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, Nev. Idealware is based in Minneapolis, Minn. Idealware will continue to use its name and brand as a program of Tech Impact. Graham will be director of the Idealware program, reporting to Callihan, who will continue as executive director of Tech Impact.

Graham doesn’t expect any dramatic changes to current research and training programs and the organizations are exploring possibilities to offer new programs together.

Idealware reported total revenue of $512,101 in 2016, the most recent year available, and net assets of $28,210. Tech Impact reported revenue of $5.6 million and net assets of $2.6 million in 2017.