T4T in Colorado Springs plans to add three new programs to its repertoire during the following VISTA year (July 2006 – July 2007) to dramatically enhance the services T4T offers: IT Services, Creative Works, and Software Training. In addition to these programs, T4T would like to organize a monthly Tech User Group meeting to introduce topics of interest, such as “Should I Host My Own Website?” and “What Are the Pros and Cons of Open Source Software?” We encourage all our Colorado Springs member agencies to participate in our exciting new program of services!

IT Services:

The IT Services program is all about getting information technology assistance out to all nonprofits in need. Currently, T4T in Colorado Springs has reestablished a partnership with IT!, a nonprofit organization that provides this service to nonprofit organizations in our community. IT! was established in 2003 as "IT Samaritans, Colorado Springs." They have since become the nonprofit organization IT!, and are located in the Business of Art Center in Manitou Springs. The full-time staff is augmented by dedicated part-timers and volunteers. Founded by IT professionals, they recognize the value of, and want to support, what local nonprofits offer the community. Their service rates are competitive for small businesses and discounted or free of charge to nonprofit organizations.

The IT! staff will come to your place of business and assess your current technology systems, develop a work plan, and see the project through to resolution. Nonprofit organizations receive 40 hours of free IT services. Services beyond 40 hours are billed at approximately half the market rate.

Creative Works:

The Creative Works program is designed to assist our nonprofits in the areas creative services. We plan to implement software training in Adobe products such as the Creative Suite: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, and Go-Live. In addition, the program will also offer courses on how to create business cards, brochures, posters, mailers, and websites. Various workshops will also introduce the creative side of the brain: how to tap into your own creativity. Other services may include low cost printing, web hosting, and possibly backups. This is an exciting program and we hope all our member agencies participate with their unique ideas!

Software Training:

The Software Training program is designed to teach our member agencies how to use their MS Office software efficiently and effectively in a nonprofit capacity to reduce duplication of efforts, human errors, and time spent away from their missions. These trainings will address real-life, relevent nonprofit issues. These workshops are different than other run-of-the-mill trainings in that we will focus our trainings on what nonprofits actually need. For instance, maybe you want to create a cover letter for all the people in your address list without typing the information on each sheet...Or you just want to know how to create a cover letter...Or even create an address list in the first place! What about spreadsheets? PowerPoint presentations? How does Outlook email work with other applications? Any tricks in using Microsoft Word? What about including pictures in documents?

T4T in Colorado Springs has started an initiative where a T4T volunteer will visit agencies and examine how computer software is currently used. Then, we will tailor classroom training sessions that are beneficial to the specific organization. Our volunteer group consists of individuals from the community who have a large body of experience using computers to facilitate their jobs. They'd like to share some of that knowledge and capability with you!

Call us now to schedule time with our volunteers...

...Help us create classes that benefit you!