eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Cloud storage and collaboration tools provider Box on May 28 launched Box.org, a project aimed at helping nonprofits and developmental organizations to improve business efficiencies through better use of technology.
It’s also a move that helps open up some new markets globally for the cloud services company.
The Los Altos, Calif.-based company also introduced Bryan Breckenridge as executive director of Box.org, and announced an advisory board to help shape future Box.org efforts. Representatives from the Clinton Global Initiative, Salesforce Foundation, the World Bank Group and others will join the board.
The Box.org initiative will include free licenses to the Box business platform for eligible organizations.
“There is enormous potential for innovation in the nonprofit sector, but only 27 percent of these organizations today have a dedicated IT department, and most are strapped for resources,” said Karen Appleton, senior vice president of Global Alliances at Box of Box.org. “We believe that organizations committed to doing good and serving others should have access to innovative technologies that will help them be more connected, productive and effective in achieving their goals.”
Box itself has seen significant demand for better ways to share and collaborate in the nonprofit world. New customers include the World Bank Group, the United Nations Foundation, Charity: Water, International Rescue Committee, Teach for America, The Conservation Fund and NetHope.
These organizations join 1,000 other nonprofits–such as Kiva, Grameen Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society–that already use Box to collaborate internally and externally, manage and share information, communicate with donors and access documents from anywhere in the world on any device.
The vast majority of nonprofits worldwide operate with small staffs and limited budgets; in fact, Box said, about 1.8 million registered nonprofits employ an average of six or fewer employees.
To help small teams achieve their goals, Box is gifting 10 free seats to all eligible organizations. Special plans for nonprofits include 10 donated Box licenses as part of a special Starter package; nonprofits requiring more than the 10 free seats will receive a 50 percent discount off official Box list prices.
To be eligible for Box.org pricing, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) or equivalent designation. Go here to find out if your organization is eligible for membership.