Zendesk announces the fourth annual Tech for Good Impact Award winners

The Zendesk Foundation has announced the winners of its fourth annual Tech for Good Impact Awards, celebrating innovative nonprofit organizations dedicated to creating meaningful change. The 2025 application invited nonprofits worldwide to share how in-kind access to Zendesk’s AI-powered Resolution Platform and a cash grant would empower them to expand their reach, serve more people, and maximize their impact.

Empowering nonprofits with technology and resources

Chosen from over 500 global applicants, these 9 organizations stood out for their innovative use of technology to drive scalable, lasting change. Aligned with the Zendesk Foundation’s mission, each awardee is dedicated to promoting resilience, strengthening underserved communities, and expanding pathways to tech careers for those who need it most.

“Our Impact Awards recognize, amplify, and equip changemakers with our leading AI-powered technology and vital financial resources to create a lasting, positive change in their communities,” said Dr. Tiph Turpin, vice president of global communications and social impact, and president, Zendesk Foundation. “This program is important to us because technology — when aligned with purpose — has the power to expedite the work of organizations tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

The 2025 Impact Award winners are:

Global

• Disaster Accountability Project, an independent nonprofit dedicated to improving effectiveness and efficiency in disaster relief and humanitarian aid, will use AI Agents to transform its SmartResponse SmartResponse platform to allow donors to easily engage and support locally-led and last-mile organizations without any disruptions, facilitate requests for capacity building and mentoring support services through one centralized interface that allows coordination and fulfillment across our global team of skilled volunteers, and allow organizations to share essential data through a chat interface instead of only requiring more traditional surveys.
• Blue Marine Foundation, a global marine conservation charity working to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, will use AI Agents to conduct large-scale surveys and build dashboards that track technology use, challenges, and opportunities. A searchable knowledge base will host solutions, case studies, and contacts, while funding will support integration, data analysis, reporting, and community training—strengthening global collaboration for marine protection.
• Respond Crisis Translation, a global network of translators and interpreters that supports migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, will use AI Agents to resolve issues remotely, reduce disruptions, and support clients and partners in 200+ languages. It will expand their capacity and ensure refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors are not left without critical language support.
• Kobo, a leading open-source platform for data collection and analysis in humanitarian and development contexts, will use AI Agents to enhance service delivery for more than 32,000 organizations that use KoboToolbox to better serve crisis-affected communities and vulnerable populations in more than 220 countries. AI Agents will help Kobo’s global remote team to better support humanitarian response, public health, human rights, conservation, and development efforts worldwide, ensuring that field users working in challenging environments receive the assistance they need to serve affected communities effectively.

Latin America

• RET International, a nonprofit that supports communities made vulnerable by violence, conflict, and disaster, with a focus on youth and women, will use Zendesk software to streamline its case management, enabling youth-led community help desks, and using data dashboards to track needs—expanding access to education, protection, employability, and participation for displaced and vulnerable youth.

Europe, Middle East, and Africa

• She Code Africa, a nonprofit closing the gender gap in Africa’s tech ecosystem by equipping girls and women with digital skills, mentorship, and career opportunities, will use AI Agents to build a robust community support system that manages queries, streamline learner engagement, and improve the overall participant experience.
• Madhi Foundation, a nonprofit reimagining public education in India by tackling the urgent challenge of foundational learning, will use AI Agents to power a multilingual Parent Helpdesk in Tamil Nadu, giving millions of parents timely guidance to support learning at home and strengthen engagement with schools.

Americas

• USAHello, a leading scientific and educational institution with a mission to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration, will use Zendesk Employee Service to transform their internal request processes and streamline collaboration efforts.
• California Academy of Sciences, a leading scientific and educational institution with a mission to regenerate the natural world through science, learning, and collaboration, will use Zendesk Employee Service to transform their internal request processes and streamline collaboration efforts.

“Being recognized with a Tech for Good Impact Award is so much more than financial support,” said Mark Ruffo, PhD, Chief Advancement Officer at California Academy of Sciences. “It represents a meaningful investment in the California Academy of Sciences’s transformative education programs for young people who have been historically excluded from STEM pathways. Zendesk’s support will help ignite curiosity, transfer knowledge, and inspire deeper connections to the natural world for learners of all ages.”

These innovative organizations work tirelessly on the frontlines, advocating for newcomers in crisis, expanding resources for underserved women, protecting our climate, and addressing pressing challenges in disaster-prone or economically disadvantaged areas. Zendesk is honored to support their missions by providing tools that enable them to grow, reach, and serve more individuals.

About Tech for Good

The Impact Awards is an initiative of the Zendesk Tech for Good program which supports increased access to tools and technology products for growing nonprofit organizations. The program currently partners with over 110 organizations and has donated over $50M in product since 2018 to nonprofits around the world. For more information about the Tech For Good Impact Awards, please visit here.