Deadline: 11-Jun-21
The Independence Public Media Foundation is calling for proposals for Digital Equity Fund to support creative, community-centered media and media-making across Greater Philadelphia.
Through grant-making and other programs, the Foundation supports building and strengthening networks of people who are creating and sharing information, ideas, and stories for change and justice.
The pandemic has underscored the urgency of digital equity and its intersections with structural inequality. They are seeking proposals that help communities get and stay connected to the internet and access the information and resources they need to have agency and thrive.
Focus Areas
- Proposals should address one or more of these three focus areas:
- Expand broadband internet access (through policy, advocacy, mesh networks, etc.)
- Expand access to digital technology and hardware
- Increase knowledge around how to navigate digital technology and content (digital literacy, media literacy)
- They will give priority to organizations and projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, women, people who are LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and people directly impacted by mass incarceration.
- Serve communities that are directly impacted by systemic racism and other forms of oppression
- Directly address systemic inequality
- Feature collaboration between multiple partners
Funding Information
- Additionally, they will give preference to organizations with annual operating budgets under $1 million.
- They are offering project grants ranging from $20,000 – $100,000 to advance digital equity in the Greater Philadelphia region.
- They expect many of the grant awards to be one-year grants, but in some cases, they may consider two-year grants (not to exceed $200,000 total over two years). For example, they may give a two-year grant for an existing program or collaboration that needs funds to take it to the next level.
- If your project is new, they recommend applying for a one year grant.
- If your proposal is awarded a two-year grant, the full amount will be paid up front.
- The Digital Equity Fund will award grants in three different ranges, depending on the scope and needs of the work. These ranges are meant to provide helpful guidance, but they will remain flexible as they review applications:
- $20,000- $45,000: typically geared toward new or smaller-scale projects, community engagement, or experimentation.
- $45,000- $75,000: generally seeks to support larger-scale projects or collaborations that foster innovation and create stronger networks.
- $75,000-$100,000: will support established programs and projects to expand, evolve or deepen their work.
Eligibility Criteria
- This is an open call for nonprofits (or organizations or projects with a fiscal sponsor) from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in New Jersey. And, New Castle County, Delaware. They strongly encourage organizations outside of Philadelphia to apply.
- All applicants must be a 501(c)3 or an organization with a fiscal sponsor.
- They are unable to make grants to individuals.
- Previous Community Voices grantees are welcome to apply.
- Organizations are welcome to apply to both the Community Voices Fund and Digital Equity Fund with the understanding that only one grant from either fund will be awarded.
- Applying to both funds does not increase your chances of being awarded a grant.
- They will not accept more than one proposal from an organization to the Digital Equity Fund.
For more information, visit http://independencemedia.org/digital-equity-fund/