Zendesk Foundation Tech for Good Impact Awards 2026 for Non-Profits (Up to $50,000 in Free Software and Grants)

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Applications are open for Zendesk Foundation Tech for Good Impact Awards 2026. The Tech for Good Impact Awards will be providing free software and multiple grants ranging from $5,000 – $50,000 to global nonprofit organizations.

The Tech for Good Impact Awards are an initiative designed to strengthen nonprofit service delivery by combining financial support with access to Zendesk’s AI-powered Resolution Platform. The awards aim to help organizations scale operations, improve responsiveness, and serve beneficiaries more effectively.

Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards Focus Areas

They are looking for organizations or projects that seek to make a tangible difference in one of the Zendesk Foundation’s impact areas:

Foster community – enable connections that offer support and allow people to thrive;
Promote resilience in a time of crisis – safeguard against disaster and reduce human suffering;
Create career pathways into tech – close the economic opportunity gap and reduce unemployment.

Applicants should demonstrate how Zendesk’s products will help them serve more people and create more impact among vulnerable or disadvantaged populations.

Zendesk Tech for Good Impact Awards Benefits

The Tech for Good Impact Awards provide a combination of in-kind and financial support to selected organizations.
Award components include free access to Zendesk software and cash grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
This blended support model enables nonprofits to strengthen internal service systems while expanding their impact.

Who can Apply?

The Zendesk Impact Awards are open to registered nonprofit organizations that would like to use Zendesk software to serve their beneficiary communities and help organizations scale their service response.
Organizations and their proposed projects should fit within the Foundation’s core focus areas of fostering community, promoting resilience in times of crisis, and creating career pathways in tech.

Eligibility Requirement

You MUST submit proof of nonprofit status with your application in the “attachment” section of the application form.
Current Zendesk customers are not eligible for the impact awards.
Current and past Zendesk grantees are not eligible for the impact awards.
Only applications submitted through the application form will be considered. Zendesk will not accept emailed applications.
At this time, Zendesk is only accepting applications written in English.
At this time, we are unable to grant to organizations based in: Belarus, Central African Republic, Crimea Region of Ukraine, Congo, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated by the Zendesk Social Impact review committee against the following criteria:

Programmatic Fit: Applicants must demonstrate how new technology and grant funding will support beneficiary communities and program goals. Applicants must also demonstrate a fit with the Zendesk Foundation focus areas of fostering community, promoting resilience, and creating career pathways in tech.
Impact: Strong applications will focus on the desired outcomes of the project and should describe any potential long-term benefits to the program. Applicants should focus on how projects will ultimately generate positive results for beneficiary communities and program participants.
Scale: Applicants should display an understanding of how technology and grant investments will support program growth. Applicants should discuss any potential challenges and planned activities to address them including requesting support from Zendesk Foundation to achieve these goals.
Tech Readiness: Applicants should demonstrate their organization’s ability to invest time in ensuring new software is implemented and effectively used by relevant project stakeholders. Zendesk will provide expert support as needed but applicants should describe what team members will be responsible for managing the platform, how staff buy-in will be encouraged, or overall plans on how to ensure the usage of the software for maximum project impact.