Microsoft Software Grants: Empowering Youth to Change Their World
September 8, 2013 By
Microsoft believes that the world stands at a crossroads. While there are more young people on the planet than ever before, youth unemployment is double that of the adult population. Countries are struggling to develop modern workforces due to the growing gap between the skills of unemployed workers and the skills needed to perform the jobs of today and tomorrow.
Today’s young people face an opportunity divide – a gap between those who have the access, skills and opportunities to be successful and those who do not. Closing this opportunity divide is one of the most important actions we can all take to secure the future of our youth and the future of our global economy.
Microsoft YouthSpark is a companywide initiative designed to create opportunities for hundreds of millions of youth around the world. Through partnerships with governments, nonprofits and businesses, Microsoft aim to empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them with greater education,employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Microsoft want to empower youth to change their world.
The majority of Microsoft’s grants to nonprofits organizations are in the form of software. Microsoft provides limited cash grants to eligible organizations whose missions and activities align to their core programs, including YouthSpark. Application for cash grants are by invitation only. Unsolicited requests for cash grants are not accepted.
Software Donations
Microsoft recognizes the great work that nonprofit organizations do to support communities and individuals in need. Microsoft donates software to help suitable organisations to achieve their missions.
Many nonprofit organizations are eligible to receive Microsoft software donations. Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations must hold recognized, charitable status as defined in their countries in order to be eligible for a software donation. Eligible organizations will operate on a not-for-profit basis and have a mission to benefit the local community that could include, but is not limited to:
- Providing relief to the poor
- Advancing education
- Improving social welfare
- Preserving culture
- Preserving or restoring the environment
- Promoting human rights
- Establishment of civil society
Organizations that engage in discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training or services, promotion, termination, and/or retirement based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status, other than as allowed by law, are not eligible for software donations.
What’s available: Software Donations & Resources
As a nonprofit organisation, you work every day to meet community needs. Microsoft has technology solutionsto help you meet those needs more efficiently and with greater impact. Whether you’re a small organization serving a single community or a global nonprofit serving millions, Microsoft can help through software donations, training and resources.
The right software is just one part of improving your organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. Microsoft also supplies support, training, and tools can help you evaluate your technology needs and get the most out of your software.
Microsoft software donations include several valuable benefits to help you get the greatest value from your software. After your organization is awarded a grant from the Microsoft Software Donation Program, you are entitled to access benefits for a period of two years from the date of your donation. These Software Assurance benefits apply to donations received directly from Microsoft or via our nonprofit software donation partner, TechSoup Global.
To apply for a software grant for your organisations click here.
We could like to know more about how we can submit our proposal.
Mr. Alfeus Ramon Kamati
Executive Chairperson
SCHR
We look forward for serious partnership to fight poverty among the youth
Dear Donor,
We take the opportunity to introduce ourselves as a development agency (NGO), whose aim is to fight poverty and injustice. Since 2002, we are trying to work with the poor and marginalized tribal people of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa of India, almost without any fund. We are working with local communities to address collectively the people’s movements, poverty, inequity and injustice.
We are reaching out with the target groups, through SHGs (Self-Help Groups) of which, mostly are poor and marginalized, belong to tribal communities, supporting them in their struggle to access their rights to food, shelter, work, education, healthcare and human security and helping them have their voice in the development decisions affecting their lives and livelihood.
The people we work with include the dalit and tribal people, other sections of the rural poor, women, children, and minorities. Within these groups, our focus is on people in vulnerable situations such as people living with chronic hunger, ill health, migrant and bonded workers, children out of education, homeless people, trafficked persons, persons with disability, displaced people and refugees, and people affected by natural and human-made disasters.
As we are working with the Tribal and other backward communities at the Purulia, Balasore and East Singhbhum districts, under the State of West Bengal, Orissa & Jharkhand respectively, that are why, we would like to propose the welfare program for the children and the women of Tribal and other backward communities for said areas. Both the areas are hilly and forest with tribal dominated.
Member Secretary, SPREAD/India
h.s. zamisa