Computing for Community: Real-World Tech Experience for CCSE Students

Computing students need real-world experience to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. At the same time, nonprofit organizations often have important technology needs but lack the staff, expertise, and resources to address them.

Computing for Community connects these two needs. Nonprofit organizations bring real technology challenges to CCSE, and those needs are developed into capstone projects for student teams. Projects may involve adopting AI tools, strengthening cybersecurity, analyzing complex data, building websites, improving digital workflows, or exploring other technology solutions.
Students gain hands-on experience working with real clients, solving open-ended problems, building portfolio-ready work, and strengthening skills in teamwork, project management, communication, and client engagement. Nonprofit partners gain access to student talent and technology solutions that can help them serve their communities more effectively.

Your support will help turn more nonprofit technology needs into viable capstone projects by providing students with the software, cloud services, specialized technology, and other project resources they need to complete this work. By removing financial and technical barriers, we can create more opportunities for students while enabling more nonprofit organizations to participate.
CCSE has already demonstrated strong demand for this model. Since Spring 2024, nonprofit participation has grown from 0 nonprofit capstone projects to 14 in Fall 2026, involving 74 students. With your support, we can build on that momentum and help more students gain the experience employers value while using their skills to strengthen the community.

Students need experience. Nonprofits need technology help. Your gift connects the two.