Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any hidden fees associated with the services?

No, there are no hidden fees. Hackers for Change is run as a volunteer organization, and does not ask clients about financial compensation. We offset the costs of our operations through a mix of donations and grants.
Does my organization qualify for the services?

Any registered Canadian charity, not-for-profit or social enterprise qualifies for our services, with priority given to organizations that deal with large amounts of Canadian data who don't have the financial means to secure their digital environments.
What does the duration or timeline of the services look like?

There are a number of factors that go into the timeline of an assessment. Factors such as the size of the application, number of dynamic pages, and user permissions are taken into consideration. For most charities, our engagement timeline is around three weeks, with an additional week for reporting and review.
Is it possible to schedule a call without signing up for services?

Absolutely. If you would like to schedule a call with us to find out more about our services before filling out any application details, you can reach out to us through our Contact page.
How safe is the process and is there any danger associated with this?

The testing process is handled by an experienced consultant that has a deep understanding of mitigating risk while performance engagements. We take every precaution to ensure that we do not affect availability for your users.
How long does it take to receive a response after applying for a volunteer consultant position?

The timeline to receive a response can vary based on the number of active applicants at any one time. However, we try to limit our response time to within one week.
Who can register as a volunteer applicant?

At this time, registration for volunteer consultant positions are limited only to Canadian residents. Announcements wil be posted if this is subject to change.
Is there a criteria for who gets accepted as a volunteer consultant?

Our organization prefers applicants who have some prior experience working with virtual machines, Linux distributions or penetration testing tools. That being said, we believe that passion is ultimately what drives learning, and we are always looking for individuals passionate about security.
How often will there be a client engagement available to work on?

Our goal is to get our volunteers involved as much as possible, however there may be downtime between engagements. We hold educational sessions so our volunteers are always developing and sharpening their skills.
What are the benefits of being a volunteer consultant?

Joining our team at Hackers for Change will equip you with hands-on experience conducting security engagements. Alongside this, you join a great community of like-minded security professionals who are eager to learn together.
What do donations to Hackers for Change go towards?

Donations are used for the continued build-out of the organization, primarily for subsidizing costs of professional software.
Will I be provided with a receipt for my donation?

Yes, a receipt for your donation will be sent to your email address.
Are my donations tax deductible?

Hackers for Change is currently not a registered charity and as a result all contributions are not tax-deductible. Currently, Hackers for Change is going through the process to become a registered charity.
I have an idea that could help you, how do I get in touch?"

The best way to get in touch with us it through our Contact page, however for individual support, contaction information for members of the team is available on the Executive Team page.