Digital Equity Fund
The Digital Equity Fund is an initiative to support the creation of community-led digital inclusion plans and provide funding for communities to bring those plans to life. The Digital Equity Fund was allotted $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for this grant cycle. Applications closed on June 2, 2023.
Why Digital Equity?
Increasingly, work, education, health care, and socializing with friends and family require access to digital spaces and the skills to find information and navigate online spaces. Yet many Baltimore residents lack the essential tools they need to fully engage in our modern, digital world: More than 1 in 4 Baltimore households lack a digital device, and more than 40 percent lack internet access. Centuries of disinvestment also means our most vulnerable residents often feel the most impact of the digital divide.
To help address these gaps, the Digital Equity Fund will provide three types of grants to Baltimore-based nonprofit organizations working in close partnership with communities:
Education and Outreach grants ($5,000 - $10,000) will fund community-based activities to raise awareness of the digital divide, support programming to address the digital divide, and build capacity.
Planning grants (up to $50,000) will support community-building efforts to develop neighborhood digital inclusion plans and will also receive funding at two tiers, depending on the scope of the planning grant.
Implementation grants (up to $75,000) will support communities in putting digital inclusion plans into action.
Who is Eligible for Funding?
Eligible organizations are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that are based in Baltimore City and serve Baltimore residents. Organizations may submit a grant proposal for each grant type. Applicants should plan to address the needs of groups most likely to be left behind in the digital age, including people with disabilities, older adults, immigrants and non-English speakers, iIndividuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group, returning citizens, LGBTQIA+ youth, people experiencing homelessness, and families with children under age 5.
Learn more!
Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions for additional information about this grant opportunity. For questions not covered in the RFA or FAQ, contact us at submissions@baltimorecivicfund.org.
The Baltimore City Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE) and the Civic Fund held five information sessions for interested applicants. Please see information below.
Education and Outreach Session 1: Wednesday, April 26th at 6:00PM EDT | PowerPoint | Recording
Planning and Mobilization Session 1: Tuesday, May 2nd at 12:00PM EDT | PowerPoint | Recording (Q&A Session Only)
Implementation Session: Thursday, May 4th at 12:00PM EDT | PowerPoint | Recording
Education and Outreach Session 2: Wednesday, May 10th at 8:30AM EDT | PowerPoint | Recording
Planning and Mobilization Session 2: Monday, May 15th at 6:00PM EDT | PowerPoint | Recording
