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Who
WE Are.
What began as one person's idea has become a volunteer-driven foundation working to put technology in the hands of the students and communities who need it most.
It Started in the Classroom
In the autumn of 2018, the Kertcher Foundation grew out of one person's belief that technology could change the course of a young person's life. After a career in IT and cybersecurity, and after building and exiting his own company, the founder wanted to pay forward the tools and knowledge that had shaped his path. The foundation started simply: teaching students technology in person, in the community. Classes, mentorship, and structured learning paths.
THE WORK GREW
Over time, it became clear the need ran deeper than any single classroom. The organizations serving these same students were often held back by outdated or broken technology. So the foundation extended its reach, bringing technical expertise to the nonprofits and learning communities doing the work, while never stepping away from the students at its heart.
One Mission, Many Hands
Today the foundation still teaches, and it also equips the people and organizations opening doors for the next generation. All of it runs on volunteer time and donated expertise, sourced through the networks we've spent years building.
"This was always about the next generation. A way to take what I've spent a career learning in technology and put it directly into the hands of students and the people doing the work."
BEHIND
THE WORK.
Volunteer leadership across operations, programs, and technology. Every role is donated time. Every email is a direct line.
What We Stand For.
FOUNDATION FACTS
HOW WE OPERATE
ALL VOLUNTEER
Every hour the foundation spends is donated. We have no paid staff. This means we take on what we can do well, and every contribution goes straight to the mission, not to overhead.
GIFT-IN-KIND ONLY
We don't accept monetary donations. What we do accept: software licenses, professional services, hardware, equipment, supplies, and volunteer time. Every dollar of value is delivered as something real, not a transfer.
NO MIDDLE LAYER
What gets given gets used. No administrative overhead, no fees, no fundraising spend. The path from contributor to recipient is short and direct.
DIRECT TO MISSION
We don't make grants and we don't write checks. We do the work, place the resource, and deploy the equipment directly. It makes our model more honest and our impact more concrete.
Join the Movement
Be part of the work. Whether you want to volunteer, partner, or support a student, there's a place for you here.