As the Global Lead of Tech for Social Impact at Microsoft, Justin Spelhaug brings together 21 years of experience spanning commercial and social businesses. He utilizes this experience to empower nonprofits to fight inequality, eliminate poverty, protect the planet, and drive massive impact.  Microsoft Tech for Social Impact aims to accelerate digital transformation across three million nonprofits globally, so they can have a greater impact on the world’s most critical social issues.

Every day, communities around the world rely on nonprofits and international organizations to provide first response relief, critical care and deliver vital services. By promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, nonprofits help build institutions that are effective, accountable, and inclusive.

The COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustices have shone a spotlight on how vital nonprofits are—we’ve seen so many heroes from these organizations go above and beyond to serve others. Yet like many organizations, nonprofits are facing major challenges due to the pandemic. They are experiencing a tidal wave of demand, but many are constrained by funding shortfalls, staff furloughs, and volunteer shortages.

Microsoft is committed to supporting the nonprofit sector through philanthropy programs and partnerships, as well as through Microsoft Tech for Social Impact, which focuses on delivering relevant, affordable and innovative cloud solutions to help nonprofits tackle the world’s biggest challenges and have even greater impact. Through Tech for Social Impact, today we support more than 300,000 nonprofits on the Microsoft cloud. We also collaborate with partners who offer services, and technology specific to the nonprofit sector, building solutions on the Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator and Nonprofit Common Data Model.

At Microsoft Inspire, we discussed our joint opportunity in the nonprofit industry, how Microsoft is increasing our commitment to the nonprofit sector, and how partners have the opportunity to drive growth and accelerate social impact.

#BuildFor2030: Celebrating partners driving societal impact

#BuildFor2030 highlights technology that enables an inclusive economy, creating opportunities and positive business outcomes that align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We launched the campaign in conjunction with International Women’s Day and featured female founded partner organizations, in support of SDG 5: Gender Equality. In May and June, we highlighted Global Accessibility Awareness Day by recognizing partners using Microsoft technology to empower people with disabilities and create a more accessible world.

At Microsoft, we are committed to applying the technology and tools available to us to help organizations deliver their mission and have a greater impact. Support of SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, is aligned with our values and with our commitment and investments on humanitarian action, disaster response, to protect our planet and to our steadfastness on digital peace, safety, and human rights— we believe it contributes to more peaceful and resilient societies. 

In conjunction with National Nonprofit Day on August 17 here in the United States, we want to recognize Microsoft partners around the world, who are developing innovative solutions serving nonprofits that promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16.

Microsoft partners: helping build innovative solutions for nonprofits

Microsoft partners are creating innovative solutions for all types of nonprofits, from health and human services to racial justice and equality organizations. Our partners have been incredibly agile, in some cases creating solutions for nonprofits in just days or a week. Here are some of the solutions partners have created to serve nonprofits.

Avanade’s grantmaking solution offers end to end grant management over the grant lifecycle, allowing grant-makers to make processes more efficient, effective, and transparent. It leverages the Nonprofit accelerator and Common Data Model for Nonprofits to ensure interoperability and to accelerate impact to the nonprofit sector.

BetterUnite created a comprehensive fundraising solution for nonprofits built on the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Nonprofit Accelerator. The BetterUnite Enterprise solution provides virtual event tools, live and silent auction support, Text to Give, online and peer-to-peer fundraising tools and volunteer management on a single platform.

Cyclotron enabled Make-A-Wish Foundation America, on a rapid implementation of Teams, during the Covid-19 outbreak to support their national fundraising efforts. TeamsHub by Cyclotron is the integrated adoption platform for end user training and self-help on Microsoft Teams, to enable non-profits to accelerate Teams training and adoption.

RedBit helped Second Harvest meet the increased need to feed people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Azure Cloud, they upgraded the existing platform to ramp and serve the influx of new and large-scale donors and also created a Dynamics 365-based mobile app and portal to better connect donors and charities, and to distribute funds to charitable organizations. 

RedMane Technology’s mCase is an Azure-based solution that provides caseworkers with more insight and guidance, and makes case management tasks more efficient, enabling more focused attention on their clients. mCase enables nonprofits like Williams and Associates to effectively engage with their communities effectively and securely.  

Wipfli has enabled non-profits and charities to amplify their mission impact. Organizations such as Operation Smile have benefited from Wipfli’s Dynamics 365 assessment to help them meet their mission needs to effectively develop, manage and engage volunteer communities to drive positive surgical outcomes. 

You can explore more Microsoft partner solutions featured in our #BuildFor2030 campaign here and on the homepage of our commercial marketplaces Microsoft AppSource and Azure Marketplace.

Do you have a solution that supports the UN’s Sustainable Development goals? Nominate your solution here to be considered for a future feature as part of the #BuildFor2030 campaign.

Learn more about our technology and resources for nonprofits on our Microsoft Nonprofits website.