Home»Community»Serving»BucherTech set to open applications for annual nonprofit IT Grant program – over $77K in goods & services awarded since 2019

BucherTech set to open applications for annual nonprofit IT Grant program – over $77K in goods & services awarded since 2019

BucherTech set to open applications for annual nonprofit IT Grant program – over $77K in goods & services awarded since 2019

Summer is just around the corner, which means Bucher Technologies (BucherTech) is preparing for another round of its annual Grant Program. The Valparaiso-based IT and managed service provider distributed $25,000 in IT products and services to nonprofits across Northwest Indiana last year, and is targeting a similar total for 2025.

BucherTech President and Co-Owner Tim Bucher launched the program in 2019. Decades of work in the Region’s IT sector had shown him that many of the area’s nonprofits were struggling, getting by as what he calls “IT paupers.” Many work with outdated software, decades old computers and phone systems, and countless other problems that they simply lack the budget, time, or technical expertise to solve.

“We want to help these organizations that are helping others,” Bucher said. “We see so many of them struggling to get by, sometimes on technology that was outdated years ago. This grant program is meant to help these nonprofits use tools that most of us take for granted.”

Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit in or around Northwest Indiana is eligible for BucherTech’s IT grant. Since 2019, the company has distributed just over $77,000 in total products and services to organizations in all kinds of fields – from churches and food banks, to women’s centers and volunteer fire departments.

The rules for the grant are simple: explain your nonprofit and its mission, provide a specific statement of need (such as a broken computer, poor Wi-Fi, etc.), and what goals addressing that need will help your organization fulfill.

Past winners have used their grant to install new PCs, TVs, or phone systems. Others have updated their cloud infrastructure, anti-virus protection, or Wi-Fi connectivity.

Family Focus Inc., one of last year’s 16 winners, completely overhauled their IT foundation by getting three new computers. It immediately allowed the company’s case workers to work more effectively, helping them with their mission to support children from struggling homes.

“There are so many organizations around the Region with many different needs,” Bucher said. “They’re out there in the field, working with people who are struggling and making a real difference. We want to help, no-strings attached.”

Applications for the 2025 Grant Program will open on July 1 and accept applications through August. Winners will be announced in October, with BucherTech aiming to implement the grants during the fourth quarter of the year. More information and an online application will be available beginning in July on buchertech.com.