Tech Fleet Is Now a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Nonprofit!
Written by Laure X Cast and Morgan Denner
Video from the Founder
Introduction
Tech Fleet has some exciting news that relates to our mission.
After a year of preparation, Tech Fleet has obtained 501(c)(3) public charity status in the U.S.
Tech Fleet made it!
We’ve spent the last four years increasing opportunities to first-time experience in tech. We’ve built a thriving, inclusive ecosystem to create fair access to tech careers. Along the way we’ve hit some big milestones:
- We’ve grown our community to over 10,000 contributors
- We’ve helped over 500 people have positive career outcomes.
- We’ve finished 60 apprenticeship projects with nonprofit and open source clients.
- We’ve taught industry-focused classes to over 400 people.
- Training alumni have gone to work for tech companies of all sizes. Walmart, John Deere, Pinterest, Microsoft, Meta, and ADP, to name a few, have all hired our grads.
Now we’re ready for the next era as a public charity.
Agenda
In this article, we answer your biggest questions about our future.
- Answering your burning questions
- How did Tech Fleet begin?
- Who’s involved in the nonprofit?
- What’s happening with the community side?
- Where is Tech Fleet heading from here?
All your burning questions
Why did we choose a nonprofit direction?
It’s always been about the mission. We as a community pride ourselves in giving back to the world. We help new grads and career changers succeed. With a nonprofit status, we can forever focus on our mission and never let profits get in the way.
What does a “501(c)(3) public charity” mean?
Public charity status is one of many types of nonprofits. Basically: we’re a non-religious, non-political, non-partisan organization with a charitable purpose. The money we make goes toward that purpose. Those who donate to our purpose get tax incentives which makes it worth it for them. As a public charity, we can receive government funds as well.
How is a public charity different from other businesses?
Tech Fleet could have been a for-profit or social enterprise company. We chose to be a public charity nonprofit so that the mission can live on beyond the founder. A public charity can give back to the world in its own way.
Do employees of Tech Fleet make money?
Not yet, but it’s on the roadmap! The nonprofit plans to have both volunteers and paid employees. Public charity status means that profits can’t go into the pockets of executives.
Should Tech Fleet continue charging for masterclasses as a nonprofit?
Yes! Nonprofits are still businesses. They need sound business models. We shouldn’t only rely on donations or grants to survive. Other sources of revenue help Tech Fleet thrive and increase impact. We always want to remain financially inclusive to all. By being in classes, you are supporting Tech Fleet’s future. You can also donate or volunteer to support Tech Fleet’s future.
Will project trainees get paid now?
Not quite. Project trainees are still trainees. People on projects are not considered employees. We provide project training services for free to under-served people instead of charging them, like bootcamps. In the future, the Tech Fleet Talent Network will help trainees get jobs after their training. Revenue in Tech Fleet will go toward better services and training you rely on.
Can Tech Fleet have volunteer workers?
Yes! We will have volunteer as well as paid employees working for the nonprofit. Look out for more updates about how you can volunteer to Tech Fleet soon.
Can Tech Fleet accept donations?
Yes! Tech Fleet will be able to accept federal grant money and donations moving forward. These help us sustain our mission. We look to increase our services revenue as much as we can with other services too.
How did Tech Fleet begin?
Tech Fleet began with humble beginnings and a large problem. The tech industry became more and more exclusive in the era of the pandemic. More and more people needed to get chances for first-time team work in Agile, but that was hard to come by. Some folks in the world who had the privilege had chances for internships. Others, who may have been changing careers, couldn’t get those chances.
The early days — 2020 and 2021
Morgan Denner started this online revolution. In 2020, he realized that if we give the newbies a chance to succeed, more talent can flourish. And so, Tech Fleet was born through a LinkedIn post and a call to action.
Tech Fleet started small with one client in 2020, and grew to three clients in 2021. We always provided inclusive ways to take part. Leads don’t need experience, and neither do apprentices. Over time, the community has iterated, but still opens space for first-time leaders.
This was the original LinkedIn post that started it all:
2022
In 2022, community operations became larger and more complex. We took on more clients. Tech Fleet Guilds were born to distribute the decision-making.
2023
In 2023, Tech Fleet started building open source apps from ideas in the community. This opened new possibilities for tech training: “agency life” or in “startup life”. Over time, the Guilds helped Tech Fleet take on more and more projects at once. In that same year, we incorporated as a nonprofit corporation.
We beat our own record with 15 live projects at once. Tech Fleet also kicked off the Extension and Outreach program in 2023. Masterclasses provide an advantage for people training in Tech Fleet. Members build industry skills and practice in team projects.
2024
We’ve continued the great efforts in 2024 as a community-driven nonprofit. The guild work continues. The projects and masterclasses continue. We’ve helped over 500 people get a job role after Tech Fleet, and continue to grow the community’s services. We applied for nonprofit status in 2024 after a year’s worth of strategy and preparation.
Although the nonprofit status is new, our impact is not. Tech Fleet gives emerging tech workers the experience they need. Today we continue working with nonprofits and open source projects. We offer team members training in servant leadership, agile process, and product process. Our approach is open and leaderful. Every team meeting is open to member observers to start learning how we work. Our operations happen through member-led guilds.
Who’s involved in the nonprofit?
We’d like to introduce the new board of directors for 2024–2025. This amazing group of people will support the community as we work to change the face of tech!
Jason Buhle — Jason is a lecturer for USC’s graduate-level Applied Psychology program. He’s got experience running agencies. He can help Tech Fleet plan training operations for agency life.
Jonathan Bond — Jonathan is a product professional with experience in UX. His passion lies in mentoring and giving back to the future tech talent of the world.
Julia DeBari — Julia has varied experience in the tech industry. She’s a senior UX’er and runs an apprenticeship program like Tech Fleet.
LX Cast — LX is an experienced product and nonprofit consultant, as well as a founder and leader in the movement to make tech more ethical. They bring a mind for strategy and inclusion to the table that can help Tech Fleet push its mission forward.
Morgan Denner — Morgan is Tech Fleet’s founding contributor and executive director. He works in the Guilds and on the board of directors to align the board with community needs.
Natashia Davis — Natashia is an active Tech Fleet community and Guild member with experience in healthcare, med technology and community support services. She trains in project management while giving back to Tech Fleet and the board.
Neha Agarwal — Neha is an active Tech Fleet community and Guild member. She trains in UX while giving back to Tech Fleet and the board.
NR Costa — NR is an active Tech Fleet community and Guild member. They work as a Quality Engineer Lead and has worked in Engineering Program Management while giving their time to mentor and train in Tech Fleet.
What’s happening with the community?
The community is our heart, and it’s not going anywhere!
We do it different from most nonprofits. Most nonprofits don’t have a community. Their board of directors decides everything. Tech Fleet chooses to remain decentralized and give power to those we serve. The community will always be at the heart of the nonprofit. Community members and Guilds will have a voice in nonprofit decisions. They can work with the board of directors and make change in guilds. The community will still follow the voting proposal system we built over time. The nonprofit lives to serve the community, and we all have a voice in our own future!
Where is Tech Fleet heading from here?
For the rest of 2024, the board of directors will be working on nonprofit fundamentals and strategy. They will outline priorities to receive funding. Look for more news from the board of directors as they head into the community to work alongside members. The board and executive director will plan the changes that drive the most value.
In 2025 and beyond, the board will work as an extension of the community. They will drive change from the community’s desires, as it was always planned to be. As it states in the Tech Fleet Bylaws. As we grow, we invite you to take part as a supporter, mentor, or member. Join our mailing list to learn about upcoming programs and tell your friends!
Give a Gift Now!
Tech Fleet sustains itself through public support. As a Section 501(c) (3) charitable organization, EIN 92–1962909, all donations are deemed tax-deductible. This is absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer. No goods or services are provided in exchange for your contribution.
