RICHMOND,VA—IT4Causes, Inc. continues to make a lasting impact on local non-profits, and we aren’t the only ones who have taken notice. Because of the tremendous work that IT4Causes is doing, the Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond has awarded IT4Causes a $20,000 grant to expand workforce development in the local community through our internship program.
These grant funds will enable IT4Causes to support the educational and experiential growth of our student interns and volunteers. Specifically, students and interns from low-moderate income backgrounds who historically face employment barriers will now be able to engage information technology in positive ways. This grant will allow volunteers and interns access to valuable resources that will assist them in building experience, professional networks, and soft skills. And we hope that these resources will provide them more access to better, higher-paying jobs in the IT industry.
As of July, IT4Causes engages students in a variety of ways because of this grant. A few highlights of our implemented plan include:
- Hiring students eligible for Federal Work-Study (FWS) from local schools such as the University of Richmond, ECPI, Innsbrook, and Virginia Commonwealth University
- Engaging the interns in meaningful work experience on projects organized by IT4Causes and at our help desk service at Networking and Technology Solutions (NTS)
- Supplementing their hands-on learning with soft skills development programs and networking opportunities with IT professionals from our volunteer pool.
Relying heavily on students and interns that study IT related fields allows IT4Causes to provide IT services to our non-profit partners for lower costs. We are a proud supporter of these individuals’ academic and professional growth, and we hope to continue our engagement in positive, meaningful ways.