What's Good in Tech: Fast Forward Got a Makeover!

[Originally delivered to inboxes on December 9, 2024. Subscribe here to read it first.]

New Look & New Roles

After 10+ years of backing tech nonprofits, Fast Forward is stepping into the next decade with a new look. It’s vibrant, purposeful, and rooted in what we’ve always done best: empowering builders to tackle the world’s biggest challenges with tech. With new tools for tech nonprofits, a hub of sector perspectives, a revised Tech Nonprofit Directory, and so much more, there is something for everyone.

This rebrand isn’t just about looking good (though we think it does!). It’s about doubling down on what we’re here to do. That means expanding impact — and our team. Excited about tech for good? Explore our open roles here.

Putting AI to Work for Small-Holder Farmers

Rikin Gandhi never planned to transform farming with AI, but one question set him on a new path: Could the same tech driving global innovation also empower small-scale farmers? The short answer: a resounding yes. Today, Digital Green’s AI-driven tools are a trusted resource for nearly 7M farmers, delivering advice that changes fields and futures. In the first edition of Humans of AI for Humanity, a joint series we’re authoring with our partners at the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, we share the full story.

Tech Meets Teaching

What if every learner — whether in a remote village or a packed urban classroom — had the tools to thrive? Fast Forward alums Jamie Alexandre of Learning Equality and Tiffany Green of Uprooted Academy are on a mission to ensure they do. Learning Equality’s offline-first platform, Kolibri, equips disconnected communities with a vast library of adaptable educational content. Uprooted Academy pairs AI with social-emotional support to guide under-resourced students through the college admissions maze. Meet the builders behind these big ideas and see how they’re making education more equitable.

Turning $50 Into Over $650K for Nonprofits

BlackRock’s Pay It Forward campaign, powered by Fast Forward, gives every employee $50 to support AI-powered nonprofits. This year, a record 58% of BlackRock employees stepped up, donating $658K to food access, medical debt relief, and climate resilience. Small actions = big impact!