Deadline: 04-Jun-21
The Kansas Health Foundation is inviting proposals for its grant program that focuses on engaging collaborative partners to advance equitable digital access and literacy among families of color, low-wage worker households and others experiencing greater systemic barriers that contribute to the wealth gap.
To this end the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF) will engage four organizations to co-create and implement a shared agenda to advocate for greater digital access, literacy and broadband adoption to support long term goals of improving equitable educational and economic outcomes.
These organizations will facilitate the development of a bold new strategic planning process to create a framework for advocating for policies, programs and services that promote digital inclusion.
These frameworks will focus on developing plans that work toward convenient access to a stable, robust internet connection and appropriate devices, and connecting residents to resources for digital literacy skills.
Funding Information
- KHF anticipates funding four organizations who will each receive up to $250,000 (up to $83,333 per grant year).
What will the work look like?
They are asking the four organizations funded through this initiative to engage in a strategic planning process and policy and advocacy efforts to:
- Develop a framework unique to their local context to advocate for policies, programs and services that promote digital inclusion, provide increased access to a stable, robust internet connection and appropriate devices, and identify/connect communities experiencing the greatest inequities to resources to learn digital literacy skills;
- Educate community members about the disparities in home service usage and build local capacity necessary for more widespread broadband adoption and digital education;
- Create a business case for greater adoption to encourage Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to explore how to extend services to communities with lower home adoption rates;
- Ensure that “Smart City” or other city-wide technology initiatives build equity into the planning process to avoid worsening the digital divide.
- Closely track sources of federal funding being made available to ensure consumers facing the greatest barriers benefit. Managing and coordinating resources as they become available will be an ongoing part of the strategic planning process
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofits who identify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code can apply.
- Verified government entities and religious organizations are also eligible to apply.
- This opportunity is for eligible organizations whose leadership is ready to think in bold new ways, using a two-generation, equity-focused approach to advance policies that create digital equity and opportunity for low-wage worker households and Black, Indigenous and other Kansans of color.
- KHF is interested in reaching organizations who have authentic connections to these households/families experiencing digital inequities and who are ready to create and implement a digital equity plan in conjunction with a network of stakeholders. These stakeholders could include regional and economic development and planning organizations, community-based organizations, tech companies, broadband coalitions and local or state agencies.
For more information, visit https://kansashealth.org/grant-opportunities/khf-digital-equity-and-inclusion/