3.12.2005 ET

(CSRwire) San Francisco, CA - In today's economy, every dollar counts, especially when it comes to dollars managed by philanthropic agencies. In an effort to help nonprofits efficiency and results, TechSoup (www.techsoup.org), the nonprofit technology Web site, announced that it is working with Microsoft Corp. to launch a newly enhanced Microsoft Software Donation Program (http://www.techsoup.org/DiscounTech/microsoftprogram.asp). Through the program, Microsoft donates all software products, and TechSoup administers the program and provides complimentary resources and support. Ultimately, the enhanced program makes more software donations available to more U.S-based nonprofits. The purpose of the program is to help nonprofits focus their sparse resources on meeting the increasing demand for their services in our communities.

The enhanced program builds on Microsoft's well-known donation program on TechSoup. It allows organizations to effortlessly obtain essential software products and to quickly build expertise about their implementation and use. Featuring a streamlined donation request and fulfillment process, it offers a wider variety of software titles and increased donation quantities to more U.S.-based nonprofits. Additionally, it gives nonprofits access to a broader range of technology resources and tools that support their technology needs and help them make best use of Microsoft's donations.

"Over the past five years, donation requests made to Microsoft have increased by 350 percent," said Bruce Brooks, Director of Microsoft Community Affairs. "A significant part of our commitment to the community is being responsive to the soaring needs of nonprofit organizations. TechSoup's resources round out the enhanced Microsoft Software Donation Program. We now work together to provide an end-to-end technology solution to meet those needs."

Through the enhanced Microsoft program, up to 6 software titles and up to 50 licenses per title will be available to each qualified nonprofit, including popular titles such as Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server or Microsoft Office XP. This substantial increase in software selection makes the program attractive to a wide range of nonprofit organizations, from nonprofits that use technology for administrative and program purposes to organizations that run computer labs, such as Community Technology Centers or Senior Centers.

Nonprofits will be eligible to make one donation request every two years. Expanded technology support resources on TechSoup, such as community boards, tech planning articles and worksheets, will support them in planning for their donation request. After receiving their donation through TechSoup, nonprofits can fulfill additional needs for Microsoft titles or licenses during the two-year period through Microsoft's charity pricing program.

Phil Ferrante-Roseberry, CompuMentor's Executive Director, added: "Microsoft's widely popular donations have been a cornerstone of our ability to successfully serve the nonprofit community. We are convinced that the enhanced program will have a positive impact on the nonprofit sector as a whole, because it allows organizations to quickly obtain better technology at a nominal cost and it frees up resources for mission-critical programs."

For the fiscal year 2003, Microsoft expects donations with a retail value of $67 million to be made through TechSoup, more than double the donation from the year before. In fiscal year 2004, Microsoft expects to nearly double the donations available through TechSoup.

Since TechSoup began distributing Microsoft donations through its product philanthropy service in January 2002, more than 73,400 products have been shipped to the nonprofit community. TechSoup is the exclusive distributor of Microsoft software donations to U.S. nonprofits.

Products and eligibility guidelines are available on http://www.techsoup.org/DiscounTech/restrictions.asp#ms

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About TechSoup
TechSoup.org, the nonprofit technology Web site created by CompuMentor, empowers nonprofits to succeed in the Digital Age by providing timely and targeted technology information and resources. TechSoup provides other nonprofits with the tech know-how they need to more efficiently and effectively achieve their missions. TechSoup partners with a wide range of technology organizations such as CNET and NPower and Philanthropy Journal to provide content. TechSoup's weekly e-newsletter, By the Cup, is distributed to more than 27,000 subscribers. Through its product philanthropy service, TechSoup also offers access to affordable technology products and services just for nonprofits. Through this program, nonprofits can receive donated and discounted software and other technology products from leading technology vendors - such as Microsoft, Cisco and Intuit - for a small administrative fee. Since its inception in January 2002, the service has distributed more than 94,000 products to more than 10,000 nonprofit organizations.

About Microsoft Community Affairs
In 1983, Microsoft established one of the first philanthropic efforts in the high-tech industry. Today, Microsoft Giving is aimed at providing underserved communities with the resources they need to help realize their full potential by supporting innovative programs and projects that enhance technology access, strengthen nonprofits through technology, diversify the technology work force and build community. In fiscal year 2002, Microsoft gave $39.9 million in cash and $207 million in software donations to more than 5,000 nonprofit organizations. In addition, Microsoft supports its employees' individual acts of giving and the organizations that inspire them by matching, dollar for dollar, employee charitable contributions up to $12,000 per employee annually. More information on Microsoft Community Affairs is located at http://www.microsoft.com/giving/. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their
respective owners.

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