Go ahead and build that mapping app for your NGO, Google will underwrite it…

Today, we’re excited to launch Google.org Geo Challenge Grants, a small grants program to provide nonprofits with the impetus and resources they need to take advantage of powerful and exciting online mapping tools.

Maps are a powerful way for organizations to display and share data, promote ideas and issues, and plan and organize activities. Online mapping tools can help the world visualize and understand information, problems, and solutions - whether in your town or village, or across the globe. They provide an easy-to-use interface with lots of detailed satellite imagery and other background data to put it all in context. We want to help organizations use these kinds of tools to advance their work in the areas of global development, climate change and global public health. Together with the Google Earth Outreach team, we piloted the program with a small number of organizations, asking ‘what kind of online mapping work could you do with a small grant?’ Every organization suggested a project that shares unique and useful information and tells a powerful story.

About the Author: Jonathan Gosier (Founder) is an American-born software developer, writer and social entrepreneur. He currently lives in Kampala, Uganda where he is working on two fronts: to encourage western businesses and investors to engage African entrepreneurs and to encourage the adoption of computers, programming and use of the internet in the developing regions of Africa. He is a huge advocate for promoting the ways in which a semantic web will benefit emerging economies in the world.

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