FAQ

Fast Forward supports entrepreneurs applying the best technology to our biggest social problems. We bring together the tech, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors to deploy cutting-edge solutions for a better world. Fast Forward has accelerated 100+ tech nonprofits that have gone on to impact over 415M lives and raise over $1.4B in follow-on funding. We provide tech nonprofits with all the things needed to thrive (see below)! The TLDR? We’re here to help.

Fast Forward is all about empowering the tech nonprofit sector. We offer a range of resources — from our flagship Accelerator program to mentorship, playbooks, workshops, and funding. Whether you're looking to scale your impact, sharpen your skills, or connect with others driving social good, we’ve got the support you need to make a difference.

• Tech Nonprofit Tools: Comprehensive guides to starting and scaling a tech nonprofit featuring expert advice on scaling, fundraising, product design, revenue, and more.
• Tech Nonprofit Directory: A Crunchbase-style database of the world’s tech nonprofits, making them discoverable to potential funders, employees, and advisors.
• Tech Nonprofit Job Board: Postings for great jobs with purpose from hundreds of tech nonprofits. If you’re a tech nonprofit, we can include your organization’s jobs too.
• Funding Forward: A once-a-week email curating the latest grant opportunities, events, and articles social entrepreneurs need to have on their radar.
• What’s Good in Tech: A monthly dispatch featuring the top happenings in the Fast Forward universe and the tech-for-good space.
• AI for Humanity: A monthly newsletter covering the unfolding world of AI-powered nonprofits — and how you can help shape it.

A tech nonprofit is a nonprofit that uses technology, including AI, to solve challenges that affect the world and humanity at large. Think healthcare access, climate action, and education equity. These organizations follow a nonprofit business model, ensuring social impact is their top priority.

Never heard of a tech nonprofit? We bet you have. Wikipedia and Khan Academy count themselves among the 1,400+ tech nonprofits in the world as of 2026. This number is growing all the time and proof that great tech can serve people over profits.

Fast Forward is a 501(c)(3). We partner with tech companies and philanthropic foundations to leverage their financial and human capital to help tech nonprofits scale. Some funders support Fast Forward to run meaningful programming (sometimes by using their employees' talents to help tech nonprofits) and produce helpful content that supports the sector. Other funders partner with us to provide funding directly to tech nonprofits (100% pass through!).

We have amazing supporters. They include: Google.org, BlackRock, The HPE Foundation, Ballmer Group, Bloomberg, Salesforce, Okta, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Twilio.org, ServiceNow, Dell Technologies, Arrow Impact, The Solid Foundation, Reid Hoffman, Endless Network, Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, Deloitte Health Equity Institute, The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Splunk, Pinterest, EY, eBay Foundation, The Equinix Foundation, The UPS Foundation, Akamai Foundation, Lemnis, Greenbridge Family Foundation, Arnold Ventures, CDR Johnson Family Foundation, The Gitlab Foundation, Kamath Family Foundation, Comcast Business, Cadence, OpenAI, HubSpot, CTIA Wireless Foundation, New Relic, and Docusign.

We’re focused on five key areas:

1. Build the Pipeline: We invest in the tech nonprofit sector to grow a diverse pipeline of high-impact, community-driven builders.
2. Launch Promising Builders: We fuel high-potential tech nonprofit builders through the Accelerator, our flagship program.
3. Support Scale: We double down on our post-startup stage nonprofits, providing the guidance they need to evolve into major players.
4. Strengthen the Ecosystem: We work with leaders across the tech-for-good space to bring in capital, resources, and visibility for tech nonprofits.
5. Maximize AI for Social Impact: We help nonprofits harness AI to supercharge their mission and make a bigger difference.

We evaluate our impact on an annual basis. Check out our Impact Report for our latest numbers.

Social impact programs coordinate efforts to create positive change across lives, communities, and systems. A social impact program can be run by a nonprofit, foundation, company, corporate social responsibility team, government agency, school, or other community group.

For example, Fast Forward’s flagship social impact program, the Accelerator, provides training tailored to the specific needs of early-stage tech nonprofits. This ultimately contributes to Fast Forward’s overall goal of growing the tech nonprofit ecosystem and scaling social impact. Other well-known social impact programs include Google.org’s Impact Challenge or MIT Solve Challenges.

Thanks for asking! If we are hiring, you will see the job listed on the top of the Tech Nonprofit Job Board.

Easy — by jumping in! Whether you're here to build, support, or fund, you’ve got a front-row seat to tech-powered impact. Ready to change the world? Let’s do it.

The Accelerator is Fast Forward’s longest-standing program for early-stage tech nonprofits. Through the program, tech nonprofits get a $25K philanthropic grant, mentorship, community, and so much more. It bridges the gap between the tech and nonprofit sectors, providing training tailored to the challenges tech nonprofit entrepreneurs face.

Fast Forward’s Accelerator focuses on the unique needs of tech nonprofits:

• Capital: We help you navigate the distinct fundraising landscape for tech nonprofits. And we provide you with $25K+ seed capital to get your tech nonprofit off the ground.
• Content: Our curriculum hits both the tech and nonprofit side of things. On the nonprofit end, participants will learn about things like board development, impact measurement, and volunteer management. On the tech side, we go deep on topics like product, GTM, and strategies for scaling.
• Cohort: Tech nonprofit founders face unique challenges. The Accelerator offers a community of peers who understand those challenges, both within each cohort and across our larger portfolio.

We aim to include ten teams in each cohort. The number may fluctuate slightly depending on the applicant pool.

Glad you asked! We have 100+. Check ’em out.

• Application Period: August 17 to September 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT
• Application Workshop: August 12, 10-11 a.m. PT
• Interviews: October to December
• Final Notifications: By the end of 2026
• Program Duration: Late February to early June 2027
• Demo Days: Late May to early June 2027 (in-person and virtual)

It’s a big-time commitment. We repeat: BIG TIME COMMITMENT. The program runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM-12 PM PT, with ~3 additional meeting hours weekly. There is “homework” outside of programming. At least one co-founder must attend every session, and the co-founder pitching at Demo Day must attend all pitch practice sessions.

It’s hybrid. There’s an in-person kickoff in February in San Francisco and in-person and virtual Demo Days in May and/or June. Most programming is virtual, and Fast Forward provides additional travel support for teams based outside the Bay Area.

One co-founder must attend all sessions, though other team members are encouraged to join certain events, like Quick Consults.

Demo Days bring it home. They’re the final stretch, where teams pitch hard-earned progress to a packed audience of 1,000+ funders and supporters, unlocking potential capital for growth.

Our application review process is holistic, assessing all facets of an organization. Our only hard requirement is that you are an early-stage tech nonprofit with at least a minimum viable product (MVP) built. Here are the criteria we look at when evaluating a tech nonprofit’s fit for our program.

• Leadership: Visionary leaders who can navigate both the tech and nonprofit worlds.
• Tech Talent: Mission-driven tech talent in leadership roles or solid plans to bring it on board.
• Impact Potential: The scale and depth of the organization’s potential impact.
• Scalability: Software-based solutions with high growth potential.
• Lived Experience: We believe leaders who have personally experienced a problem are best equipped to solve it.
• Alignment: Organizations where we know our investment can make a difference.

Got most (but maybe not all) of these? Just apply. Studies show that women and people of color often hold back if they’re not a ‘perfect’ match on paper. We want to hear from you anyway — send in that app!

Applications for the 2027 cohort will open on August 17, 2026. The application closes September 7 at 11:59 PM PT. Subscribe to our newsletters to be the first to know when the application goes live.

Want to learn more? Attend our Application Workshop on Wednesday, August 12th from 10am-11am PT. On this call, recent Fast Forward alumni will share what to expect from the application process, how to be a compelling applicant, and more. Register for the workshop here.

• I’m not in San Francisco? Yes. Our program is global, and we prioritize having geographic diversity in each cohort. However, you must attend in-person events at the end of February and late spring/early summer. Fast Forward provides flight and lodging stipends to help facilitate this participation.
• My organization isn’t formally registered as a nonprofit yet? Yes. We can help with the incorporation process. Teams that are fiscally sponsored by larger nonprofits are also eligible.
• My organization is based outside the U.S. without a 501(c)(3)? Yes. As long as you’re registered as a nonprofit in your country.
• I have an idea, but no MVP yet? Our Accelerator requires an MVP to apply, so if you’re still in the idea or research phase, check out our playbooks for tech nonprofits. It’s packed with insights from top social impact leaders to help you move from idea to action. And for ongoing support, subscribe to Funding Forward — our weekly email with resources, tips, and funding opportunities for tech nonprofits.
• My team outsources software development? We prefer teams with in-house tech leadership or plans to hire a CTO soon, but we know that this cost isn’t always feasible for startups. As long as your software is central to your impact, we encourage you to apply.
• I’m not a founder but lead the organization? Yes. If you’re the current leader, you can apply.

If selected, you’ll participate in a 40-minute interview with our team. We may also ask clarifying questions via email during the application period.

A Zoom recording or combining video clips from each co-founder works.

Yes. We encourage reapplying. Many teams apply multiple years in a row before they are a fit for the program.

We provide accommodations for in-person programming weeks but not for the entire program.

No. Fast Forward focuses on tech nonprofits.

Email us at accelerator@ffwd.org.

Multiple founders from the same organization are welcome to apply, and each application will be reviewed independently. However, because the program is designed for one participant per organization, if more than one founder is selected, only one founder will be invited to participate.

You must be a U.S.-based founder building an AI-powered nonprofit who needs support to get to beta. If you meet that criteria, you should apply.

The Academy application is open until July 17th. We’ll interview founders on a rolling basis, and notify all applicants of their status by August 30th.

The Academy kicks off virtually the week of October 8th & concludes the week of November 9th. The week of October 19th, Fast Forward will convene founders in San Francisco for a week of in-person building.

Up to 24, depending on founder alignment.

No. We anticipate that many of our Academy founders will be pre-incorporation. But, anyone who applies for this program should be committed to becoming a tech nonprofit in the near future.

Not yet. We know many early-stage founders are still juggling other roles and responsibilities. That said, you should be far enough along that you can commit roughly four hours per week to program calls (+ additional build time!) and one in-person week in San Francisco.

Email us at academy@ffwd.org. We look forward to reviewing your application.

AI for Humanity is a movement that serves the needs of the global majority, especially those in marginalized communities, with AI-powered solutions. To do so creates impact at scale, with greater efficacy and efficiency, and without sacrificing any of the compassion. AI-powered nonprofits are putting this into practice by designing solutions to reduce poverty, improve healthcare, tackle climate change, and more.

A good first step to ensure you’re building AI for humanity is to make your responsible AI practices crystal clear. Ethical guidelines are crucial to designing an AI solution that prioritizes safety and security. To get started, try out Fast Forward’s free Nonprofit AI Policy Builder to quickly create a custom AI policy for your organization.

An AI-powered nonprofit uses AI as a core part of how it delivers impact, not just how it works behind the scenes. Example: Visilant’s AI-powered platform, Seeker, addresses preventable blindness at scale. Health workers use a smartphone to capture clinical-grade eye images, then Seeker uses AI to spot diseases like cataracts. From there, Visilant connects patients to follow-up care, including sight-restoring surgery.

Fun fact: Did you know that 75% of our portfolio are AI-powered nonprofits? These AI-powered nonprofits apply AI to a variety of use cases such as early wildfire detection, case management, and eye screenings.

AI tools for nonprofits range from general-purpose assistants like Claude and Gemini to sector-specific resources like Google's Nonprofit Prompt Library and Tech Matters' Nonprofit AI Treasure Map. Many organizations in our portfolio use AI across fundraising, service delivery, and operations. Google for Nonprofits AI Resources is a great place to start.

As you integrate AI into your workflows, consider what AI tools are best suited to your needs. Nonprofits can use Fast Forward’s AI Policy Builder, a free, easy-to-use tool, to help create their own AI usage policy. For more AI-focused tools and resources for nonprofits, visit our AI for Humanity page.

Fast Forward works with grantmakers who are looking to fund or otherwise support a tech or AI-powered nonprofit via partnership. If you want to explore any of these opportunities, reach out to partner@ffwd.org or visit our partner page.

Interested but don’t know where to start? Explore our Tools for AI Grantmaking so you can learn to fund with clarity and confidence. Experienced funders such as Google.org, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and Bridgespan contributed to this collection of curated resources.

Yes. Fast Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Join us in supporting tech-powered social good — every dollar makes a difference. Our EIN is 46-4626500.

Yes. We are happy to facilitate a pass-through donation to any of our alums. We pass 100% of the donation onto the nonprofit(s) of your choosing. For more information on how we can assist you, reach out to us at donate@ffwd.org.

Yes. If your company offers donation matching, your gift to Fast Forward can be matched! Just search “Fast Forward” or “FFWD” as the beneficiary in your company’s matching system. To confirm it’s us, use our address: 1002A O'Reilly Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129, and EIN 46-4626500. Need assistance? Reach out to us at partner@ffwd.org.

Pitch Camp is a free, two-hour Zoom workshop designed to help tech nonprofit teams nail their pitch. This session is hosted by Fast Forward and our partners. Pitch Camp covers the essentials of an elevator pitch, gives you time to craft your own, and lets you practice pitching to trained tech volunteers who provide real-time feedback. Plus, it’s a great chance to connect with other tech nonprofits and leaders in the industry.

Participants must work at a tech nonprofit, which is a 501(c)(3) tech startup building software to scale impact, not profit.

Everyone on a team should be able to tell their organization’s story. True story: a Fast Forward intern once casually pitched a funder at an event and unlocked funding. At Pitch Camp, your team will learn how to tell your tech nonprofit's story with any audience at any time.

We’re excited you’re going to sign up! You can use this link or reach out to hello@ffwd.org to learn when the next Pitch Camp will be.

• Orientation (45 minutes): In a breakout room, you will be guided through the elements that make up an elevator pitch. After this training, you will write and revise an elevator pitch using this worksheet.
• Tech Nonprofit Intros (5 minutes): You will participate in introductions of attendees and volunteers in the main Zoom room, followed by a brief one-line pitch from each tech nonprofit.
• Pitching Sessions (3 rounds of 15 minutes each): You’ll be placed in breakout rooms with one to three volunteers to deliver your pitch and receive feedback. Between each session, you'll have time to revise your pitch.
• Closing (15 minutes): You will debrief with other attendees and wrap up with the Fast Forward team.
• How do I prepare for Pitch Camp? We’ll use this worksheet to guide us through writing our own elevator pitches. We strongly encourage you to make a copy of this worksheet and come to Pitch Camp with a finished first draft. You can also check out our playbook on fundraising, which dives deep into crafting a pitch.

Kick off with training from the Fast Forward team, then dive into practice sessions where volunteers from our partner organizations give you tailored pitch feedback.

Introduce yourself and your job title, give your elevator pitch, and receive feedback from volunteers. You can ask follow-up questions like:

• What do you remember from my pitch?
• What detail stuck with you?
• How was my cadence?
• What would you like to hear more/less about?
• Can you repeat what I did back to me?

Yes. We encourage you to invite your whole team to Pitch Camp! Just make sure they sign up using the form. Please have each team member join on a separate device, as participants will be practicing and delivering their own elevator pitches (not working together).

Yes. You’ll receive a list of participants and volunteers with their LinkedIn profiles. You're encouraged to connect and send thank you notes.

If you can’t make it to Pitch Camp, we appreciate you letting us know so we can fill your spot. You can email us at hello@ffwd.org or reject the Pitch Camp calendar invite. When possible, please notify Fast Forward at least 24 hours in advance. Thank you!

Yes. We allow tech nonprofits to join multiple times. We have seen participants find value in practicing their pitch over multiple sessions.

A stable internet connection and an active camera are required for the workshop to run smoothly.

97% of nonprofits feel their pitch is stronger after attending Pitch Camp. You probably will too.