Tech Alliance raises $25,000 for DEI efforts
NH Gives effort boosts launch of NH Tech Foundation initiative
Support for the NH Tech Alliance’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative ‘gets us one step closer to the organization’s sustainable and transformational strategy and vision,’ says Executive Direcetor Julie Demers.
The NH Tech Foundation raised $25,000 during the recent NH Gives 24-hour online fundraising event – a big boost to the NH Tech Alliance’s new initiative to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the Granite State’s tech sector.
The newly launched 501(c)3 charitable organization’s primary mission is to champion and support innovation and entrepreneurship while creating career pathways in technology for the next generation and underrepresented populations.
According to the alliance, the tech sector in New Hampshire represents more than 13% of the state’s GDP – a size that it says enables it to be able to institute “meaningful change.”
In starting the foundation, the alliance set a goal to raise funds to employ a dedicated staff person who will focus on gathering data, relationship building-within under-served communities, strategy development, goal-setting and development of an implementation roadmap to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the sector.
The NH Gives campaign was its first public fundraising effort. The Pierson Family Foundation committed a $10,000 matching grant for funds raised during the effort. Matt Pierson, who currently serves as managing director at Dun Rush & Co and is a co-founder of Kincern Inc., has been working with alliance staff to support efforts that promote diversity and equity in the workforce as well as efforts to make technology more accessible to all people in New Hampshire.
In addition to support through NH Gives, the effort is being funded with help from the Entrepreneurs Fund of NH and many individual donors in the industry, said Julie Demers, the alliance’s executive director.
She said all of the support for the initiative “gets us one step closer to a sustainable and transformational strategy and vision for diversity, equity and inclusion within our sector and the state. It is so encouraging to see that so many people share this vision and want to help us get there.”
