Partnership programs become mechanisms for improving human resources, technological resources, educational resources and economic development opportunity, while providing market access at the same time. Thus, successful strategic investment initiatives, aside from being successful marketing campaigns, are also successful community-building campaigns. The vast majority of such strategic philanthropic efforts take the form of donated hardware. However, successful partnerships require specific needs and specific resources to fulfill these needs. Nonprofits must be aware of the pitfalls and challenges of donated hardware and virtual services.
Virtual services are precisely what they sound like-virtual.
They should not be seen as a substitution for necessary onsite expertise. They should be viewed only as a helpful outside resource. And while donated hardware is helpful in easing the immediate financial burden of purchasing new equipment, it often comes with hidden expenses such as maintenance, upgrading, training and system integration that often times eclipses the actual cost of purchasing new equipment. Organizations and nonprofits should make sure that donated hardware satisfies their respective needs, and that cost of upgrades, maintenance and training associated with such equipment does not outweigh their intended benefit. ITI's two primary goals were to improve the management of settlement housing programs, and initiate community technology centers to help area residents gain access to PCs, the Internet and technology education and training.