San Francisco, CA. — October 21, 2025 — TechSoup announces the hiring of Erin McHugh Saif to lead a new strategic initiative launching this fall in partnership with Ballmer Group Philanthropy. McHugh Saif will serve as the first Chief Executive Officer of the new organization, which is committed to a mission of empowering Place-Based Partnerships (PBPs) nationwide to leverage data, AI, and technology to effectively improve outcomes for children and families. McHugh Saif joins this venture with significant experience adapting cutting-edge technology for the social sector, recently serving as Microsoft Tech for Social Impact’s Chief Product Officer.
The goal of the initiative will be to connect, advise, and support PBPs across the United States in adapting new technology and accessing innovation. PBPs are networks of organizations and individuals in specific geographies that work through collective impact to address cradle-to-career and economic challenges and improve community outcomes. Helping PBPs to cultivate technology talent and access technology infrastructure and data management solutions is critical to their success. These partnerships rely on shared data to set goals, deliver outcomes, share success through impact reporting, and drive continuous improvement.
Under McHugh Saif’s leadership, the new initiative will work closely with leading national PBP networks such as Purpose Built Communities, Partners for Rural Impact, William Julius Wilson Institute, StriveTogether, and My Brother's Keeper Alliance to support local members by building efficient and effective data and technology infrastructure that results in sustained, repeatable community impact. McHugh Saif has been tapped to operationalize a new strategic vision for how technology and data can accelerate significant economic improvements in communities across the country.
"I’m excited to lead this new venture and partner with data leaders at this pivotal moment. Together we can harness data, AI, tools, and systems needed to accelerate measurable progress for children and families," said McHugh Saif. "I believe in the power of communities coming together to build their futures, and this new initiative will bring leaders the data, innovation, and technology they need to improve education standards, create jobs, and transform lives in their communities."
"McHugh Saif brings the technological expertise and social sector experience needed to meet the needs of the field, bringing innovation and entrepreneurial spirit to the challenge of economic mobility for kids and families in the US," said Kevin Bromer, Executive Director, Data and Technology, Ballmer Group Philanthropy. "We are excited for her leadership in launching this initiative over the next year."
"We believe lasting change is driven by those closest to the problems they are working to solve," said Marnie Webb, CEO, TechSoup. "We are proud to collaborate on an initiative that champions place-based leaders by equipping them with the tools they need to make a tangible difference for children and families and we are particularly excited for McHugh Saif's leadership in bringing this vision to life."