2020 Technology Professional of the Year: Tim Sarrantonio

Tim Sarrantonio
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Neon One

Tim Sarrantonio is a nonprofit technology expert that truly walks the walk. With over 10 years of experience working at a leading software provider and well over 10 years of experience working with several organizations, he is working to shape the future of the industry from the inside out.

Over the past decade, Tim has designed and enhanced donor databases of all sizes. He has become a prolific industry thought leader, writing on several topics as they relate to the nonprofit industry — from finance to artificial intelligence. He’s procured grants, drafted communications plans and offered tailored recommendations for growth. While doing this, he’s also helped raise over $3 million for various causes.

Tim is passionate about creating a just, equitable and caring world, and channels that passion into his work every single day at Neon One and beyond. As the director of strategic partnerships at Neon One, he works to build broader coalitions of support across the nonprofit sphere, impacting the world’s philanthropic ecosystem. Tim’s most recent focus has been around the concept of a “generosity ecosystem.” This ambitious goal will create an infrastructure that supports the individual components and actions of everything that we do, working toward a greater common goal of fostering more social good.

To support this generosity ecosystem, Tim created a #GenerosityExchange social media challenge in February 2020. For the challenge, he connected with friends, family and employees, and asked them about a nonprofit they are passionate about. After learning about their missions, he made donations and shared the causes on his personal social media page. Many other Neon One staff members participated in this challenge and invited their friends to do so. Actions like these are pivotal to developing a greater culture of giving in our communities and beyond.

Tim’s nonprofit technology knowledge and skill are only enhanced by his 100 hours of Raiser’s Edge training and in-depth understanding of the Neon One nonprofit technology ecosystem. His nonprofit technology expertise expands across a variety of systems, including CRM, peer-to-peer fundraising software, case and client management systems, nonprofit ticketing and more.

This in-depth knowledge is truly highlighted in the variety of blogs and articles that he publishes every month on NonProfit PRO, Neon One, LinkedIn and a variety of other industry outlets. Tim is constantly surrounded by nonprofit books stacked up on his desk, on the floor and in his bag to support his continued research and expansion of knowledge surrounding nonprofit technology.

Tim takes his own personal time to educate nonprofit leaders and staff on the role technology can play in furthering their mission. He has presented at conferences, given countless webinars, hosted podcasts and created videos to bring what he’s learned to the masses. His TEDx talk on how software can be used to enhance giving was given to a full house.

Outside of work, Tim volunteers his time as a board member, outreach coordinator and grant writer. He has worked with a variety of nonprofits, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chicago and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is also an active member of the Fundraising Effectiveness Project steering committee.