14 DAY TRIAL // Online mapping tools and resources can come in handy for a number of organizations and groups. Non-profits can often illustrate a cause they're working on much better with the help of a map to showcase relevant data.
Most non-profits though don't have the skilled people or resources need to access tools like Google Maps, Earth and the various related APIs Google is offering, even if they have the important data readily available.
This is the problem Google is hoping to tackle with the new Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants program which will provide several non-profit organizations with funding necessary to make their plans come true.
"Many nonprofits... have a great idea for a map they want to create, but don’t have people on their team with enough technical skills to create it," Tanya Keen, from the Google Earth Outreach Team, wrote on the Google.org blog.
"Today, we’re excited to announce the Google Earth Outreach Developer Grants program, supporting selected projects from eligible nonprofit organizations that are using Google’s mapping technologies in novel, innovative ways to make the world a better place," she said.
The Google Earth Outreach program has helped plenty of organizations so far, which have been able to reach more people and make the cause they are fighting for a lot clearer with the mapping tools Google provides.
The Google Earth Outreach Developers Grants wants to expand the reach of the initial program to help smaller non-profits which can't afford to hire dedicated developers for the job.
"Through this program, non-profit organizations from all over the world will have an opportunity to receive up to $20,000 that will help turn their mapping ideas to support their causes into a reality," she explained.
Those interested have to fill out an application and detail how they plan to use the tools to showcase their story. They can use the funds to pay a developer they already know or Google can point them in the right direction. There is more info on the program's page.