We convene and facilitate events that bring together software users, developers, intermediaries, and investors to articulate and focus their needs, spark relationships and collaboration, and share skills and knowledge in the nonprofit software realm.

Aspiration events are convened with two primary goals in mind: to allow people doing technology work in the non-profit and NGO sectors to discuss their work, and to grow and strengthen the social and knowledge networks of those interested and involved in related topics.

While much technical information gets shared at such gatherings, keeping discussion focused on technology needs and “pains” of non-profits tends to yield the most substantial outcomes. When participants discover allies and available resources, they put themselves in a position to ask questions and get answers long after the event is over. We design, facilitate, and co-host convergence and sprint events.

• Convergences bring together a heterogeneous range of stakeholders focused on a specific area of nonprofit technology to compare needs, share knowledge and practices, and brainstorm solutions to address gaps.
• Sprints bring together participants who collaborate actively in a mutually supportive environment to generate documentation and specifications, such as usability guidelines for developers, or documentation for users of advocacy applications.

A sampling of events that Aspiration has facilitated include:

• Free and Open Software Usability Sprint
• Software Localization Sprint
• Source Camps for NGOs in Europe, Asia, and Africa (with Tactical Tech/Poland)
• Code Sprints for select client organizations in Africa and the U.S.
• SMS/VoiP Sprint
• Advocacy Software Developer Convergence
• Penguin Days on Free and Open Source Software for Nonprofits
• Mobile Active — SMS and Cell Phone Activism: Strategies and Tools

Please contact us if you are interested in Aspiration’s technology event faciliation at info@aspirationtech.org.