What’s Good in Tech, Issue 12
This month, 10,000,000 is our lucky number. Why? Because we’re celebrating big tech nonprofit wins: CommonLit reaching 10 Million users, and TalkingPoints facilitating 10 Million conversations. But it doesn’t stop there. March brought big news like tech nonprofits Thorn and Crisis Text Line receiving the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship, New Story announcing a 3D-Printed community, and more!
Photo: David Dines
Tech Needs to Step it Up
In Future of Good, Shannon Farley discusses the imperative role for-profit tech is playing in the tech nonprofit sector, and why Fast Forward stays grounded in tech optimism.
CommonLit Hits the 10 Million Users Milestone
By now you probably know about breakout edtech nonprofit, CommonLit. Its free, standards-aligned literacy platform has been a viral hit with teachers and students alike – reaching 1M users as fast as Facebook did! Now they’ve surmounted the next milestone: 10 million users.
The Skoll Awardees Will Make The World A Better Place by 2030
NPR asked the five recipients of the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship to predict what they hope to accomplish by 2030. We have no doubt they can achieve these goals. Special shoutout to Crisis Text Line and Thorn, two tech nonprofits who received this prestigious award.
Photo: Peter DaSilva
Alex Bernadotte Guides College Freshmen Through Overwhelming Challenges
A finalist for The SF Chronicle’s Visionary of the Year award, Alex Bernadotte shares the struggles that inspired her to start Beyond 12, a tech nonprofit shifting the scales for college students from low income communities.
Colorado to Launch Smart-Charging Pilot Program as it Prepares for EVs
WattTime is helping the state of Colorado track the availability of renewable energy and reduce its costs during peak charging times, thanks to a partnership with Platte River Power Authority and eMotorWerks.
There Will Soon Be a Whole Community of Ultra-Low-Cost 3D-printed Homes
Fast Company details how tech nonprofit New Story is building an entire 3D-printed community in Latin America. True to mission, they have received community buy-in every step of the way.
Photo: Ashoka
So You Want to Start a Movement? Read This First
Looking for time-tested wisdom on movement building? Look no further than the insights gathered on Ashoka’s Welcome Change national tour, which included Callisto’s Founder, Jess Ladd.
The Future of City Innovation
“I hope that government will stop thinking of digital as something you buy, but rather something you do,” says Jen Pahlka, Founder and CEO of Code for America, in Bloomberg Cities.
Whether Through Texts or Apps, Schools are Using Technology to Get the Message Out to Students’ Families
TalkingPoints is celebrating 10 Million conversations shared. The communications platform, connecting teachers and parents in their native language, is profiled in The 74.
Photo: Asana
10 Standout Women Who are Changing the World With Asana
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Asana highlighted women founders whose trailblazing work is charting a path for women everywhere. Naturally, tech nonprofits Callisto and Vote.org were featured.
Disaster Relief Done Right: 4 Mistakes People Make When Trying to Help After a Disaster
When giving back in the wake of a disaster, does being a more informed giver make you a more effective giver? Ben Smilowitz, Founder of Disaster Accountability Project, thinks so and explains why in this Salon piece.
100 Things Crisis Text Line Learned From 100M Messages
In just five and a half years, Crisis Text Line has exchanged 100 million messages between its crisis counselors and texters in need. In honor of this milestone, they’re sharing 100 amazing things they’ve learned along the way.
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Launches New Database of Grantmaking and Investments
Ever wanted to know exactly what funders are investing in? Now you can (for CZI, at least) thanks to a new interactive database that gives potential grantees insight into what the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is making bets on these days.
Photo: Medic Mobile
Medic Mobile Releases its 2018 Annual Report
Highlights include: 14 countries with active Medic Mobile deployments, nearly 25,000 health workers supported by Medic’s tools, 18 product release, and much, much more.
Top Universities Join to Push ‘Public Interest Technology’
Twenty one U.S. universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, have joined forces in a Public Interest Technology University Network, aimed to instill a more humane approach in future technologists.
Have some tech for good news for What’s Good in Tech? Send it to press@ffwd.org.