IT for Change
IT for Change is a Bengaluru-based non-profit that combines research, policy advocacy, and field projects on digital rights, AI governance, gender equality in the digital economy, and inclusive education technology for Global South stakeholders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersBengaluru, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IT for Change does
IT for Change is a non-profit civil society organization headquartered in Bengaluru, India, established around 1999–2000, that works at the intersection of digital technologies and social justice. Its portfolio spans four focus areas — Development and Democracy, Internet Governance, Education, and Gender — operationalized through research publications, policy briefs and advocacy statements, field projects, courses and curriculum, networks, and events. Its core offerings include extensive research outputs on AI governance, data justice, and the platform economy; open educational resource platforms KOER and TROER; field programs such as the Subject Teacher Forum across Karnataka, Telangana, and Assam, the Teachers Communities of Learning, and the Little KITEs impact study covering 2,174 Kerala high schools; the community-led spatial data system Spoorthi; and field centres Prakriye (Community Informatics and Development) and the Centre for Education and Technology. Newer strategic programs — FemFirst Lab, FemFirst Research Observatory, and the ReGenAI initiative — extend the organization's footprint into feminist AI incubation and research across South and Southeast Asia.
Underlying technical assets are built on free and open-source software (FOSS) and open educational resources (OER). KOER and TROER are open repositories supporting teacher professional communities of practice; Spoorthi is a community-owned spatial data platform piloted in a low-income Bengaluru neighbourhood with 24 youth data stewards covering 700 households; and field programmes deploy tools such as Language Lab, PhET, GeoGebra, and TuxMath under a Universal Design for Learning framework. The organization operates no commercial products or services.
The revenue model is exclusively grant-based. Funding flows from project grants awarded by international development organizations, foundations (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation), UN agencies (UN Women, UNESCO, UNDEF, UNICEF), and government aid agencies (IDRC Canada). Customer-facing engagement is structured around partnerships with government education departments (Karnataka, Telangana, Assam, Kerala), civil society coalitions (Global Digital Justice Forum, Just Net Coalition, DAWN, FIAN International, Privacy International, Human Rights Watch), and academic institutions (Harvard Berkman Klein Center, University of Western Australia, Azim Premji University, Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities). All publications are released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 as public goods.
IT for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IT for Change
- Legal name
- IT for Change
- Website
- https://itforchange.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- IT for Change is a Bengaluru-based non-profit that combines research, policy advocacy, and field projects on digital rights, AI governance, gender equality in the digital economy, and inclusive education technology for Global South stakeholders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IT for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Rights Research and Advocacy
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships (EDADALAJ), Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD), Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ)
Keywords
Where IT for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bengaluru
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
IT for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Project-based grant funding from development organizations and foundations: IT for Change operates as a non-profit civil society organization funded through project grants from international development organizations, foundations (e.g., Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation), UN agencies (UN Women, UNESCO, UNDEF, UNICEF), and government aid agencies (IDRC Canada). Revenue is tied to discrete research, advocacy, and field project deliverables.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels10 records
IT for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IT for Change conducts applied research, policy advocacy, and field-based demonstration projects at the intersection of digital technologies and social justice. It runs programs across four focus areas (Development & Democracy, Internet Governance, Education, and Gender) producing publications, policy briefs, advocacy outputs, capacity-building courses, and grassroots technology demonstrations for governments, UN agencies, civil society, and marginalized communities.
Product overview
IT for Change operates as a research and advocacy organization focused on digital technologies and social justice, rather than a commercial product company. Their portfolio consists of research publications and policy frameworks, educational programs and courses, field projects in education technology and community informatics, and advocacy campaigns on AI governance, gender equality, and digital rights. Key offerings include research publications (policy briefs, research papers, advocacy statements), educational programs (FemFirst Lab incubator, Subject Teacher Forum, Teachers Communities of Learning), open educational resource platforms (KOER, TROER), spatial data systems (Spoorthi), and field centres (Prakriye for community informatics, Centre for Education and Technology). Their work spans AI governance, gender and platform economy, digital public infrastructure, and inclusive education technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FemFirst Lab: Incubation program for feminist AI prototypes addressing gender equality challenges in South and Southeast Asia
- FemFirst Research Observatory
- ReGenAI
- Spoorthi
- Namma Maathu, Namma Jaaga
Products and services
- FemFirst Lab A program focused on feminist technology and gender-equitable digital futures, delivering research, advocacy, and field engagement targeted at civil society, researchers, and policy actors working on gender and technology.
- FemFirst Research Observatory
- ReGenAI Initiative
- Subject Teacher Forum
- KOER Platform
- TROER Platform
- Spoorthi Platform
- Prakriye Field Centre
- Centre for Education and Technology
- Research Publications and Policy Briefs
Quantifiable outcome
- Subject Teacher Forum programs built professional learning communities of teachers across Karnataka, Telangana, and Assam
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use IT for Change
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
IT for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
IT for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- FIAN InternationalcoreFIAN International co-organized a briefing for the OHCHR Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights on implications of digitalization on these rights, with IT for Change providing primary inputs on digital development rights, algorithmic order injustices, and worker rights.
- UNESCO — Global CSOs and Academic Network on AI Ethics and PolicycoreIT for Change co-convened a civil society roundtable with UNESCO's Global CSOs and Academic Network on AI Ethics and Policy on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit, focusing on public domain challenges within AI innovation, cultural rights, and development policy.
- Centre for Science Technology and Education PolicycoreA multidisciplinary research think tank serving as an implementing partner for the Spoorthi community-led spatial data project.
- Association for Voluntary Action and Service (AVAS)coreA community organization working with urban poor communities in Bengaluru, serving as an implementing partner for the Spoorthi spatial data project.
- DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era)coreDAWN co-convened a series of four global consultations on gender equality in the platform economy with IT for Change and FES, culminating in a synthesis report launched at UN CSW 2025.
- Privacy International and Human Rights WatchmajorIT for Change joined with Privacy International and Human Rights Watch in endorsing the call for ILO to adopt a binding Convention on decent work in the platform economy, and in joint civil society statements on ILO's Brown Report.
- Global Digital Justice Forum (GDJF)coreIT for Change is a member of the GDJF, a dynamic coalition of civil society stakeholders including sustainable development organizations, digital rights networks, feminist groups, corporate watchdogs, and trade unions, working toward digital justice globally.
- Just Net CoalitioncoreIT for Change is part of the Just Net Coalition, contributing to draft input text on human rights obligations of digital TNCs for an international legally binding instrument.
- Azim Premji UniversitymajorIT for Change collaborated with Azim Premji University and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung to organize a course 'Re-conceptualising Women's Rights and Gender Equality in a Platformising Society' in August 2018.
- Manipal Centre for Philosophy and Humanities, University of ManipalmajorCo-organized a short course on 'Social Justice in an Internet-mediated World' examining technology's role in oppression and emancipation, globalization, and democracy in India.
- Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE)majorIT for Change conducted a study of the Little KITEs program implemented by KITE across 2,174 high schools in Kerala, producing an impact study titled 'Soaring High' later used by UNICEF for a global report.
- UNICEF IndiamajorUNICEF produced a report titled 'Empowering adolescents with future-ready skills' based on IT for Change's Little KITEs impact study, released by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Kerala in July 2024.
- University of Western AustraliacoreIT for Change and the University of Western Australia co-conduct a two-year research study 'Effective Ethical Frameworks for the State as an Enabler of Innovation' examining the ethical frameworks underpinning Digital Public Infrastructure development and deployment.
- Third World NetworkmajorPartner in the 'Centering Equity and Justice in Global Data Governance' initiative alongside Global Policy Forum and Center for Global Digital Justice, developing a pro-South vision of data justice principles.
- ITU (International Telecommunication Union)majorIT for Change made a submission to the ITU's call for inputs on the WSIS+20 review, contributing Global South perspectives on the WSIS+20 review process and its outcomes.
- Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, Harvard UniversitymajorIT for Change acted as project consultant for GPAI's 'Towards Substantive Equality in AI' project led by Paola Ricaurte Quijano (Tecnológico de Monterrey and Berkman Klein Center, Harvard) and Benjamin Prud'homme (Mila), contributing to a research framework and gender-transformative AI policy recommendations.
- Fair, Green and Global AlliancemajorSupported the residential institute 'Frontiers and Frames for a New Digitality' organized by the School of Digital Justice, part of the Fair, Green and Global Alliance.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IT for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Wide Web Foundation: Founded by Tim Berners-Lee, focused on digital equality, rights, and governance with significant global reach. A broader-incumbent peer operating in the same digital rights/governance space with deeper resources and convening power.
- Mozilla Foundation: Foundation arm of Mozilla engaged in internet health, AI/ML trustworthiness, and digital inclusion advocacy. Operates with a much broader portfolio and significantly larger budget but addresses overlapping themes around trustworthy AI and public-interest technology.
Direct peers
- CREA: India-based feminist human rights organization working on gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy. Comparable as a Global South feminist civil society peer with overlapping gender-and-rights focus, particularly relevant given ITfC's gender-and-tech work.
- DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era): Feminist research and advocacy network linking Global South scholars and activists on political economy, sustainable development, and gender justice. Direct co-convening partner with ITfC on platform-economy gender consultations, indicating strong thematic alignment.
- Article 19: Global free-expression organization working on digital rights, platform regulation, and internet freedom. Comparable as a policy-and-advocacy peer engaging with UN bodies on digital governance; co-activist space rather than direct service overlap.
- Privacy International: UK-based charity investigating and challenging government surveillance and data exploitation. Listed as a direct ITfC partner on ILO platform-economy work and broader digital rights coalitions, with a closely aligned advocacy posture.
- Centre for Internet and Society (CIS): India-based non-profit conducting research, advocacy, and education on internet, digital rights, and emerging technologies. Most direct domestic peer given shared focus on digital rights, AI governance, and policy engagement with Indian and global institutions.
- Access Now: International civil society organization defending and extending the digital rights of users at risk. Comparable in advocacy posture, engagement with UN/IGF/WGF processes, and gender-and-tech programming — ITfC partners with similar organizations on these issues.
- Tactical Technology Collective: Berlin-based civil society organization engaging individuals and communities to explore and mitigate the impacts of technology on society. Comparable focus on critical examination of digital governance, capacity building, and civil society empowerment.
- Association for Progressive Communications (APC): Global civil society network of organizations focused on digital rights, gender equality in technology, and internet governance from a development perspective. Directly comparable as ITfC is a member and partner; operates similar research-and-advocacy model with international reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IT for Change social profiles
Digital presenceIT for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IT for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
IT for Change subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
IT for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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IT for Change M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about IT for Change
What does IT for Change do?
IT for Change conducts applied research, policy advocacy, and field-based demonstration projects at the intersection of digital technologies and social justice. It runs programs across four focus areas (Development & Democracy, Internet Governance, Education, and Gender) producing publications, policy briefs, advocacy outputs, capacity-building courses, and grassroots technology demonstrations for governments, UN agencies, civil society, and marginalized communities.
Is IT for Change a public or private company?
IT for Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was IT for Change founded?
IT for Change was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is IT for Change based?
IT for Change is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, in the Asia region.
How does IT for Change make money?
One revenue line is on record: project-based grant funding from development organizations and foundations.
Who are IT for Change's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Wide Web Foundation and Mozilla Foundation. Direct peers are CREA, DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era), Article 19, Privacy International, Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), Access Now, Tactical Technology Collective and Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
Does IT for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for IT for Change.
What industry is IT for Change in?
IT for Change's product category is Digital Rights Research and Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAL, Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance, with a secondary code of EDADALAJ, STEM, Digital Skills & Innovation Partnerships. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.