# Microsoft launches competition for innovative IT solutions for charities - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/15/microsoft-launches-competition-innovative-it-solutions-charities/ - Published: 2008-02-15T10:42:00+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake **Microsoft UK has launched its third annual DesignIT competition, inviting IT professionals to come up with ways to solve charities’ IT challenges through innovative and creative ideas.** UK IT professionals can now submit a system design that addresses a need identified by a charity of their choice. Bruce Lynn, Head of the Server Product team, Microsoft UK said: “DesignIT provides IT professionals with a personal challenge and the opportunity to make a real contribution to a UK charity. IT is one of the UK’s fastest growing industries and Microsoft believes that it has a responsibility to encourage and recognise the talent within the UK IT industry.” ## Advertisement For 2008 Microsoft DesignIT has teamed up with four leading UK charities, Global Action Plan, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Fauna and Flora International and the NSPCC. Each charity has suggested a problem that they would like to see addressed as a starting point for entrants although entries are not just restricted to these problems or these charities. IT professionals can enter system designs for any charity they choose and solve any problem they wish. The winner will be chosen by public vote and Microsoft UK will invest £15,000 towards implementing the winning design. The four runners up will each receive £1,000 worth of Microsoft software. In addition, the top five entries will receive a free ticket to IT Forum 2008 in Barcelona, Microsoft’s premier EMEA conference designed to provide IT professionals with the skills they need. www.microsoft.com/uk/designit * **[Lowering the cost of IT](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/17/lowering-cost-it/)**( 17 February 2008) * **[Blackbaud to present at Perfect Pitch – Direct marketing](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/18/blackbaud-present-perfect-pitch-direct-marketing/)**( 18 February 2008) * **[Acxiom to help profile RNLI's donors](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/02/26/acxiom-help-profile-rnli039s-donors/)**( 26 February 2008)