Fast Forward

Callisto is back! After nearly shutting down, Callisto has fully restored operations, ensuring survivors can once again access these critical tools. This comeback is a testament to the power of community support. Callisto, a Fast Forward alum, leverages technology to support survivors of sexual violence. Through its encrypted platform, Callisto Vault, survivors can securely document their experiences and identify serial perpetrators using its groundbreaking Matching System. Learn more about how you can support their work: https://lnkd.in/g7dh7q9k

CareerVillage.org & Coach founder & executive director Jared Chung just launched a thought-provoking new newsletter: The Agentic Era. 🚀 #AIagents — autonomous tools capable of performing complex tasks—are going to reshape how we work, learn, and prepare for the future. But as Jared points out, many sectors aren’t ready. Jared’s newsletter dives into some big questions regarding AI agents: 💡 How can we prepare workers, learners, and organizations for the 'agentic economy'? 💡 What skills will be essential in a world where many roles will be managing agents as part of their daily/weekly workflow? 💡 How can we use this shift to advance #EconomicMobility and #Equity? Expect expert interviews, real-world examples, and practical advice to help you and your organization stay ahead. Join the conversation today! Subscribe and explore how AI agents can transform work for the better: https://bit.ly/agentic-era #FutureOfWork #AI #WorkforceDevelopment #EconomicMobility #AgenticEra

Thank you to our partner ServiceNow for co-hosting Pitch Camp with us last week! We welcomed 16 incredible ServiceNow volunteers, plus volunteers from our friends at HubSpot, PagerDuty, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and more. Pitch Camp helps tech nonprofit teams master the art of crafting and delivering powerful pitches — and they’re already putting those skills to work. Dreaming of hosting your own Pitch Camp? Learn how: https://lnkd.in/ggvDN9B3

At ColorStack we just launched our first Alumni Resume Book 👀 If you're hiring engineers, product managers, or designers with 0-3 years of experience I'll send you this resume book at no cost. Comment below if you're interested our email us: partnerships [at] colorstack [dot] org.

Tiffany G. grew up just a mile from Yale, yet higher education felt light-years away. Without a mentor, she navigated the admissions process alone, carrying the weight of stress and uncertainty. “The first college diploma I ever saw was my own,” she recalls. That experience sparked Uprooted Academy — an AI-powered nonprofit that guides students through the college application process. At its core is Rootie, a digital sidekick that’s part coach, part cheerleader, and fully committed to keeping students on track. By blending technology with genuine human connection, Uprooted Academy proves success isn’t just about grit. It’s about creating better systems. With over 10K students served and a goal to reach 100K by 2030, Tiffany’s mission is clear: “Every student deserves a shot.” Read more about her journey here: https://lnkd.in/gfJ6cFjh

Dream job alert: Fast Forward is hiring! Join us to help tech nonprofits tackle the world’s biggest challenges. 📍 Director of Corporate Partnerships (SF) Build game-changing partnerships to power tech nonprofits solving global problems. 📍 Office & Finance Manager (SF) Own operations, finances, and team culture in our vibrant Presidio office. Learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/gbqztny3

Announcing the launch of “Humans of AI for Humanity,” a new monthly series from The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Fast Forward. This series highlights the leaders putting AI to work for good — starting with Rikin Gandhi, CEO of Digital Green. Rikin’s work is helping nearly 7M small-holder farmers in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa thrive with Farmer.Chat, an AI coach tailored to local farming needs. This work is proof that with human-centered design, AI can amplify (not replace) farmer expertise. The result? Stronger communities and smarter, more sustainable farming. Read more about Rikin’s vision: https://lnkd.in/gHU_iekP

With artificial intelligence evolving so rapidly, it's no surprise that we’re highly engaged at Fidelity Charitable® in exploring its potential impact on the philanthropic sector. In fact, earlier this year, we convened a group of visionary thinkers and innovators at the intersection of AI and social good to dig in together on how AI can enhance philanthropic effectiveness and optimize donor strategies. This led to some incredible conversations and insights—many of which we’ll be sharing with you in the coming weeks (so keep an eye out). A huge thank you to all of our incredible roundtable participants, and I look forward to continuing the conversation. 

Guess who just got a glow-up? That's right — Fast Forward is stepping into its second decade with a brand refresh. After 10+ years of backing the boldest tech nonprofits out there, we decided it was time to zhuzh things up. While our look has changed, our mission hasn’t: accelerate good. Back when we launched, “tech nonprofit” wasn’t even a thing. But we knew tech could do more than just make life easier — it could help solve real problems. Since then, we’ve coalesced a portfolio of over 100 organizations, proving that tech for good is here, growing, and making a serious impact. Our new brand reflects this momentum. Check us out: https://lnkd.in/ghp7C6Du

Meet Jessica Hicklin, a builder redefining prison education. Jessica was sentenced to life without parole at just 16 years old. While incarcerated, she discovered Learning Equality’s tools, which bring quality educational resources to offline environments like prisons. These tools helped Jessica pursue her education, paving the way for her release and the founding of Unlocked Labs. Now, Unlocked Labs is helping close the education gap in prisons and support returning citizens. Both Unlocked Labs and Learning Equality are proud alums of Fast Forward’s Accelerator. Hear Jessica’s inspiring story and her vision for change: https://lnkd.in/gxcrFacC