Microsoft Awards United Way, 18 Other Local Nonprofits $15 Million in Software Grants

Despite economic downturns and government shutdowns, nonprofits throughout the east metro are smiling—thanks to a $15 million software grant from Microsoft Corp.

The United Way of Washington County-East (UWWCE) and 18 partner agencies were awarded the software grant that will increase efficiency and communication, and in turn, help the clients they serve.

“It’s big,” said Marna Canterbury, executive director of United Way of Washington County-East. “This collaborative grant is a huge infusion of support for United Way and partners serving Washington County. We are so grateful to Microsoft for working with United Way to support essential services in our community through this amazing investment.”

At a time when community needs are growing and resources are becoming scarce, an investment like this is an investment in the future, Canterbury said. “This software has efficiency tools built into it—tools that will allow us to work smarter.”

The $15 million grant is the fruit of a six-month process that began after United Way volunteer and Microsoft employee Jim Brown saw UWWCE’s technology and said, “We could use an upgrade,” Canterbury recalled.

The UWWCE works collaboratively with other nonprofit agencies throughout the area, which is why the opportunity of the software grant was expanded to all other partnering agencies.

Brown literally worked hundreds of hours to help the UWWCE and the other local nonprofits through the application process, Canterbury said. All 18 applications that were submitted to Microsoft Corp. were approved.

“When the agencies learned of the grant they were in shock—in disbelief,” Canterbury said. “This is a real boost in morale. Microsoft was so gracious and flexible.”

The UWWCE and other nonprofit agencies in the area have worked together for many years on many different projects, but this is the first time the group’s have brought their IT specialists together to share ideas and “offer support to smaller agencies who don’t have the luxury of having daily access to an IT professional,” said Arba-Della Beck, president of FamilyMeans.

The software grants range from $15,000 to millions of dollars per agency, depending on the agency’s needs and number of computers, Canterbury said. The impact of the Microsoft grant, however, does not stop with just software.

In addition, United Way and partner agencies are working together on support and training to ensure that the new software can be utilized effectively.

“With the needs being faced throughout our state and local community, the impact of this gift will reflect in how we serve the people in our community for a very long time,” Canterbury said. “The St. Croix Valley now really is ‘powered by Microsoft.’”

The impact of the grant will directly impact the residents of the east metro, Canterbury said. Nonprofits have to purchase software—just as businesses do—and that is now off of the list of things that would have eventually been expensed.

“Those resources can now be used toward client needs,” she said.

Better efficiency translates into better communication to serve clients and less time staff members have to spend on tasks pertaining to outdated software, Canterbury said.

“This grant will also improve the lives of those of us who serve society by increasing our efficiency while at the same time lowering our frustration levels caused by incompatible and slower, older-functioning software,” added Steve Hunt, CFO of Human Services Inc. “This is absolutely incredible.”

This is the sort of software that can make a world of difference for nonprofit organizations, creating new efficiencies and vastly improving the way the groups operate, Beverly Dusso, executive director of Tubman.

“It’s really neat to see everyone on the same page—helping each other out,” Canterbury said. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s what it means to work with this great group of nonprofits.”

• United Way of Washington County-East
• Tubman
• Courage Center/ Courage Center St. Croix
• FamilyMeans
• Human Services Inc. (HSI)
• Legal Assistance of Washington County
• Youth Service Bureau
• East Metro Women’s Council
• Community Thread
• Lakeview Hospice
• East Suburban Resources
• Portico Healthnet
• St. Croix Family Medical Clinic (Southside Community Health Services)
• Stillwater Family Resource Center (Episcopal Community Services)
• ARC Greater Twin Cities
• Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America
• Girls Scouts of MN and WI River Valleys
• Children’s Home Society and Family Services
• Charities Review Council