The result of a successful collaboration between The Council onFoundations, Foundation Center,Independent Sector, InterAction and a number of international grantmakingfoundations, the purpose of the repository is to provide an easier meansfor non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world to obtain cashgrants from U.S. foundations, and for foundations to vet organizations andprovide grants. Currently there are few international standards ortreaties that NGOs or foundations can follow to give or receive grants, andfoundations spend significant resources determining which NGOs outside theU.S. are considered eligible under IRS rules. The process also places aheavy burden on the NGOs trying to qualify for grants.

Said Rob Buchanan, Managing Director, International Programs, Council onFoundations: "TechSoup Global was selected as the organization best suitedto establish and manage the Equivalency Determination InformationRepository because it most clearly met all the critical requirements wewere looking for: its core mission and strategic goals; its establishednetwork of globalpartners; its highly qualified and integrated team of management andstaff; its customer support expertise; its partners' extensive legalexpertise, and its innovative use of technology to create similar processesand systems. We anticipate TechSoup Global's work on this groundbreakingproject will have a hugely positive impact on grantmaking around theworld."

TechSoup Global will now work together with the Council of Foundations andlegal counsel to seek all of the necessary rulings from the IRS to enablethe repository's operation and realize significant benefits to the sector.One of the key anticipated benefits is that once the repository makes adetermination for a particular grantee, multiple funders may rely upon thatsingle current determination. This will save significant repetitive workand cost for both funders and grantees. An additional goal of therepository will be to provide a variety of tools to assist NGOs in moreeffectively and efficiently collecting, preparing and submitting all of theinformation required to be considered for equivalency status. Further, therepository will assist NGOs in maintaining up-to-date information and willprovide grantmakers with up-to date information about the status of EDprocessing. Utilizing the repository will potentially help raise thestandard and create consistency of quality of making equivalencydeterminations across the grantmaking sector.

Known for its leadership in innovativeuses of Internet technology for social benefit, TechSoup Global plansto utilize leading-edge systems and platforms to make the repository asaccessible and sustainable as possible. Further, TechSoup Global plans toadvise the repository committee on other possible ways to leverage therepository platform; for example, it may be used as a key resource to helpquickly marshal resources in the event of a major natural disaster,assisting donors who are trying to rally on short notice thoseorganizations who can help deliver support.

"TechSoup Global'smission is to ensure that every social benefit organization on theplanet has the resources to further their own missions," said Rebecca Masisak,co-CEO, TechSoup Global. "By enabling new models of philanthropy throughthe effective use of technology, we make it easier for both NGOS andfoundations to work together for social good. We strongly believe that theexistence of services like the Equivalency Determination InformationRepository will support foundations to do more effective grantmaking byallowing them, as well as the NGOs and communities that they hope tosupport, to spend more time on local engagement, innovation and evaluationas well as critical program delivery. We're proud that the Council onFoundations recognized that as a trusted brand in the NGO sector withglobal reach and high touch with these international NGOs, we canultimately help build capacity locally in the philanthropic sectors ofthese countries."

ABOUT TECHSOUP GLOBAL

San Francisco-based TechSoup Global (www.techsoupglobal.org) is workingtowards a day when every social benefit organization on the planet has theaccess to resources they need to fulfill their mission. TechSoup providestechnology information toindividuals and organizations in more than 190 countries, has providedconsulting services in more than 50 countries and, through its globalnetwork of capacity-building NGOs, manages product donationsto more than 80,000 organizations in 22 countries. The product donations program hasenabled organizations to save over $1.2 billion in expenses as of September2008. TechSoup Global continues to innovate with a goal of bringingincreased resources and capacity to organizations working diligently ontheir social missions. TechSoup Global employs a staff of 170 anddeploys a budget of US $22 million.

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Contact:Krista Van Lewenfor TechSoup GlobalEmail Contact303-963-5530