Fast Forward is a nonprofit focused on scaling technology-driven solutions for social good. Founded in 2014 by Kevin Barenblat, a tech entrepreneur, and Shannon Farley, a seasoned nonprofit leader, Fast Forward was the first organization exclusively dedicated to supporting tech nonprofits. It was seed funded by Google.org, which has gone on to be its longest standing partner. Other notable partners include Reid Hoffman, BlackRock, Salesforce, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation, The Ballmer Group, Bloomberg, and the Patrick J. Mcgovern Foundation.
Through its flagship accelerator, Fast Forward has supported over 100+ tech nonprofits, helping them secure more than $1B in cumulative follow-on funding and impacting over 262M lives worldwide. Beyond its accelerator program, Fast Forward supports the tech nonprofit ecosystem more broadly. To date, the organization has launched resources like tech nonprofit playbooks, the AI for Humanity newsletter, and the tech nonprofit directory.
The organization operates on the belief that technology, when harnessed by those closest to social challenges, has the power to drive meaningful change.
Mission
Fast Forward’s mission is to empower nonprofits building tech for humanity by providing them with funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. The organization partners with funders and companies that believe in the potential of tech nonprofits to drive large-scale impact.
Accelerator
The Fast Forward Accelerator supports early-stage tech nonprofits that leverage technology to address global challenges. The program offers participants a combination of funding, tailored mentorship, and workshops focused on critical topics like fundraising, product development, and measuring impact. Each cohort culminates in a Demo Day, where participants present their solutions to funders, partners, and industry leaders. Post-Demo Day, Fast Forward continues to support its portfolio of grantees with everything they need to scale.
Eligibility for the accelerator includes being a registered nonprofit organization with a technology-driven solution, a measurable social impact, and an early-stage development focus.
Notable alumni of the program include:
CareerVillage: An online community providing career advice to underserved youth
Medic: A nonprofit organization that develops mobile and web tools to help health workers deliver equitable care in hard-to-reach communities
CommonLit: A free online reading program for educators and students aimed at improving literacy outcomes
Tarjimly: A mobile platform connecting refugees with real-time translators
Beyond 12: A data-driven platform ensuring college students from underserved communities receive the support they need to graduate
Partnerships
Fast Forward collaborates with a diverse network of philanthropic partners to support its mission of advancing technology-driven social impact. These partnerships play a critical role in providing financial resources, mentorship, and strategic guidance to tech nonprofits participating in the accelerator.
AI for Humanity
In 2023, Fast Forward began its ‘AI for humanity’ campaign. The campaign focuses on bringing visibility and support to AI-powered nonprofits (APNs), which are nonprofits deploying AI to tackle poverty, improve healthcare, and transform education. Fast Forward’s primary vehicle for getting these stories out there is through its funding of AI-powered nonprofits, programs, and AI for humanity newsletter.
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