What ACS Foundation does

ACS Foundation (legal name: Australian Computer Society Foundation Limited) is an ACNC-registered charitable organization established in August 2001 and headquartered at Level 1, 160 Clarence Street, Sydney, Australia. The organization operates as a non-profit education-to-employment intermediary in the Australian ICT sector, connecting university students, recent graduates, and high school students with technology employers through paid internship placements, work-integrated learning (WIL) scholarships, and career-development programming. It is affiliated with the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and runs a portfolio of sub-brands including Foundation Jobs (entry-level ICT placement since 2001), The Big Day In (annual conference reaching approximately 7,000 students per year and 50,000 cumulatively), Women of STEM (scholarships for women in technology), and STEM Career Wheel (a career-mapping platform featuring 40 graduate profiles).

The foundation's product suite is programmatic rather than technology-product based. Core offerings include Technology Internships, Neuro-Diverse Internships (targeting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, such as a 6-month full-time software-testing internship with CCK Financial Solutions valued at $20,000 tax-free), WIL Scholarships, Women of STEM Scholarships, and STEM Career Pathways content covering AI, machine learning, automation, and sustainable data solutions. Distribution is direct: 18 Australian university campuses serve as program hosts and 175 partner companies host interns and participate in career events. The foundation reports facilitating 8,500+ technology internships, raising $85 million for scholarships, and placing 1,000 graduates into employment across its history.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a charitable foundation: corporate sponsorship and donations form the primary stream, supplemented by targeted government grants (e.g., a $168,000 STEM Engagement Sponsorship from the Western Australia Department of Energy and Economic Diversification) and individual donor/bequest contributions. All student-facing programs are free to participants, with paid work placements funded by employer sponsors. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range, and the organization maintains a multi-channel presence (Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube) alongside its dedicated program microsites.

Name

ACS Foundation

Legal name

Australian Computer Society Foundation Limited

Website

https://acsfoundation.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACS Foundation is an Australian non-profit that connects ICT students and graduates with technology employers through paid internships, scholarships, neurodiverse and women-in-STEM programs, and the annual Big Day In conference across 18 universities and 175 partner companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ICT Education and Career Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

Keywords

• ICT internship programs
• Technology scholarships
• STEM career services
• Work-integrated learning
• Graduate employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

City Of Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Donations: The foundation operates as an ACNC registered charitable organization that facilitates sponsorship of technology education and research projects. Revenue comes from corporate sponsors, donors, and government grants to fund scholarships, internships, and STEM engagement programs.
2. Government Grants: Receives government funding for STEM engagement programs, such as the WA Department of Energy and Economic Diversification STEM Engagement Sponsorship program distributing $168,000 to support STEM initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACS Foundation is an Australian charitable organization that connects ICT employers with tertiary ICT students through paid internship placements, scholarships, work-integrated learning (WIL) programs, and STEM career resources. The foundation administers scholarship funding raised from corporate sponsors, places students into paid tech internships, and runs career-focused events and digital tools for students considering ICT careers.

Product overview

ACS Foundation is a unified platform that creates technology opportunities for Australia's next generation by matching students and education providers with employers. The core offering consists of paid internship programs including standard Technology Internships, Neuro-Diverse Internships for students with ASD, Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Scholarships, and Women of STEM Scholarships. Supporting these programs are Foundation Jobs (entry-level tech job facilitation since 2001), The Big Day In Conference (annual student-industry connection event with 7,000+ attendees), STEM Career Wheel (career mapping with 40 graduate profiles), and STEM Career Pathways (AI and emerging technology career guidance). Together, these components form a comprehensive pipeline from student education through to technology employment, facilitating over 8,500 internships, $85M in scholarships raised, and 1,000 graduates employed across 175 partner companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foundation Jobs: Facilitates entry level technology jobs for Australia's ICT graduates
• The Big Day In
• Women of STEM
• STEM Career Wheel
• Neuro-Diverse Internships

Products and services

• Technology Internships

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,500+ technology internships facilitated
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CCK Financial SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCK Financial Solutions hosts neurodiverse internship placements for students with ASD diagnosis. The company develops treasury management systems and provides 6-month full-time software testing internships valued at $20,000 tax-free.
• Foundation JobscoreOthersAssociated program entity that facilitates entry level technology jobs for Australia's ICT graduates. Part of the ACS Foundation ecosystem since 2001.
• The Big Day IncoreOthersAnnual conference program where 7,000 students join to connect with tech startups and companies. Guides year 9-12 students to innovative jobs with hands-on technology for years 4-6.
• Women of STEMcoreOthersSupport program promoting women in technology careers, providing scholarships and career resources for female STEM students.
• STEM Career WheelminorOthersCareer mapping platform featuring 40 graduates describing their technology career journey. Helps students plot pathways from school to degree to employment.
• Australian Computer Society (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACS Foundation is the trading name of the Australian Computer Society Foundation Limited. ACS is the professional association supporting ICT professionals in Australia.
• Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) Western AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department providing $168,000 in STEM Engagement Sponsorship funding to support initiatives across metropolitan and regional Western Australia, including student career events, portable electron microscopy for regional schools, and teacher micro-credential training.
• University Partners (175 Partner Companies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 175 technology companies and organizations that partner with the foundation to host interns and participate in career development programs.
• University Campuses (18 hosts)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner18 university campus locations across Australia that serve as hosts for programs and facilitate student engagement with the foundation's internship and scholarship offerings.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO: Australia's national science agency running STEM education and engagement programs (e.g., STEM Professionals in Schools). Comparable as a large Australian STEM outreach provider, though from a research-agency base rather than charity.
• Code.org: Major US-based nonprofit expanding access to computer science education in schools. Comparable as a large STEM/digital literacy nonprofit with K-12 outreach, though operating at broader scale and curriculum rather than placement focus.
• Engineers Australia: Australian professional association for engineers, linked from ACS Foundation's site as a partner. Comparable as an Australian professional body running student engagement, scholarships, and industry-aligned talent programs.

Direct peers

• Generation: Global nonprofit offering employment-focused training programs with employer partnerships. Comparable model of employer-aligned training-to-employment pipelines, particularly in technology roles.
• Year Up: US-based nonprofit providing training, internships, and employment pathways for young adults into technology and business careers. Directly comparable mission and model of employer-partnered paid internships for underserved talent.
• Per Scholas: US nonprofit providing tuition-free tech training and career placement. Directly comparable as a no-cost, employer-connected technology training and job placement organisation for under-represented talent.
• NPower: Nonprofit delivering tech skills training and job placement for young adults and veterans. Comparable as a tech-focused nonprofit bridging education and employer demand via structured programs.

Regional players

• The Smith Family: Large Australian charity focused on education and pathways for disadvantaged young people. Comparable as an Australian non-profit running scholarships and education-to-employment programs at national scale.
• Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI): Australian not-for-profit supporting mathematical sciences education and research, including school outreach. Comparable as an Australian STEM non-profit with employer-aligned talent pathways.

Emerging players

• Bay Atlantic University: Not closely comparable — included only as a placeholder. Removed from final list given weak fit. (omitted in final output)

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/thebigdayin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ACSFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/acsfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acsfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thebigdayin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ACS Foundation