Microsoft Philippines holds annual NGO Connection Day

Microsoft in partnership with TechSoup Asia connect with local NGOs to support and strengthen their operations with technology

Manila, Philippines, June 22, 2014  – In line with its commitment to create a lasting impact in the Philippines through technology, Microsoft Philippines with the support of TechSoup Asia gathered over 120 Non-Government Organization leaders in the country for its annual NGO Connection Day.

NGO Connection Day is a yearly gathering, organized by Microsoft to bring together NGOs in the Philippines for best-practices sharing on the many ways technology can help non-profits advance their goals. The event features case studies from NGOs, sessions on technology for social good, as well as demonstrations on the latest Microsoft solutions to facilitate more efficient systems and processes in nonprofit operations.

This year’s NGO Connection Day focuses on how the Cloud can power non-profit operations, featuring Microsoft’s all-around Cloud tool Office 365 made accessible to eligible nonprofits for free or at a significant discount.

The NGO leadership in attendance are from a wide spread of focus areas, ranging from education, livelihood, to youth, environment and health, including long-established organizations such as Gawad Kalinga and Student Catholic Action of the Philippines, both of which have deployed Microsoft solutions and have seen increased organizational efficiency with Office 365.

“Office 365 for Nonprofit has transformed our ministry work with faster and easier interaction,” shares Frence Boiser, Admin Officer Student Catholic Action of the Philippines.

When asked about their entire Office 365 experience, Boiser shares: “We’ve never imagined how cloud technology today can maximize collaboration and content management within our organization minus the costs. Office 365 for Nonprofit has transformed our ministry work with faster and easier interaction among our national staff, coordinators and members wherever we are. I am personally excited by how cloud solutions can support more of our advocacies on social action in the future.”

“At Microsoft, we are committed to support nonprofits with easy access to technology and tools that can help them become more efficient in accelerating their social impact and realize their full potential. Events like NGO Connection Day open conversations and opportunities for us to further contribute to their work,” said Raul Cortez, Legal and Corporate Affairs Director.

NGO Connection day is part of Microsoft Citizenship’s Technology for Good (Tech4Good) initiative. Tech4Good provides NGOs around the globe with technology donations to help them increase productivity, foster better collaboration, and advance their mission in their work with local communities.

“Technology plays a powerful role in helping non-profit organizations achieve their mission. NGOs that have access to technologies report a boost in productivity and become more effective and innovative; ultimately they are able to do more good for communities they serve,” Cortez added.

Whether it’s through software donations, technology solutions for challenges in non-profit operations, or Office 365 Nonprofit, Microsoft with its many strengths as a technology provider works to help NGOs do more good.

Over the years, Microsoft has worked with over 86,000 non-profit organizations around the world. In 2014 alone, over 11,000 non-profit organizations from over 125 countries received Office 365 donations from Microsoft.