Aspiration sees incredible user innovation in organizations that build, buy, or bend software to achieve their missions better – to serve clients, to deliver food, to reduce illness, and to advocate for policy changes. But these innovations are not necessarily open – they are not shared or distributed widely but are siloed within organizational walls and are thus not realized by larger numbers of groups all working for a greater good. We are driven by reducing costs and risks for nonprofits, by sharing to the greatest extent possible great software, and by spurring innovation across the silos in the nonprofit arena.

Aspiration has four main constituencies: Application developers, technology service providers, and nonprofit IT and program staff.

We bring these interrelated communities together in productive dialogue, providing valuable information for all parties, and facilitating collaboration and new projects.

What do we do?

1. We build software developer and nonprofit user communities.

Since 2004, Aspiration has convened and facilitated over 40 events for more than 5,000 nonprofit IT staff, developers, and intermediaries in the US, Asia, and Africa. Our events range from code sprints to convergences of nonprofit software users and software developers.

At Aspiration-led events, we spark collaboration and innovation, share applications, systematically document and assess where there are software gaps, and build networks of each other that are ongoing far beyond the convening.

2. We publish a comprehensive online software directory, the Social Source Commons.

The Social Source Commons is a “knowledge commons” that provides the user with:

• a directory of software applications;
  
• links to relevant documentation, localization tools, services, user reviews;
  
• and a place to request tools and features not available.
  

• helps nonprofit organizations find relevant and appropriate software;
• allows developers identify interesting projects and software gaps;
• provides funders and investors opportunities to prioritize requests for support and reduce duplicative and wasted investments. 

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