A A revived Kansas City-area fund is expected to help residents struggling with a lack of simple technology resources: tools that may often be taken for granted among their neighbors for whom the Internet — and the opportunities that come with it — are already readily available.
Eleven area nonprofits were recently awarded a total of $75,000 to purchase equipment for their students, social service clients, older adults, patients, residents, parishioners, members and parents thanks to KC Digital Inclusion Fund Equipment Grant Program.
KC Digital Drive’s Aaron Deacon sits on stage at an event in 2022 to celebrate KC Digital Drive’s 10th anniversary; Photo by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News
While many community organizations work tirelessly to support the individuals and families they serve, they often lack the resources to provide technology that can make a significant difference in the lives of their clients, said Aaron Deacon, executive director of KC Digital Drive and sits on the fund’s advisory board.
“The large number of applicants with requests far in excess of available funding demonstrates a widespread and profound need,” he said. “We started the device grant when we relaunched the fund in June because they are essential to connecting people to digital opportunities.
“Without a device, you’re simply left out of the digital economy,” added Deacon.
ICYMI: The Digital Inclusion Fund is relaunched with initial grants focused on devices
In the Kansas City metropolitan area, 158,000 households (19 percent) do not have a desktop or laptop computer at home—a full 25 percent fewer than higher-income households. Seventeen percent of low-income individuals rely solely on smartphones, compared to 5 percent of other individuals.
Not having a home computer is a significant barrier to pursuing education, developing workforce skills and accessing health care, Deacon said. The KC Digital Inclusion Fund Devices Grants program aims to address this gap by providing much-needed electronic devices to those who need them most.
Black Family Technology Awareness Association (BFTAA) grantee Rosalyn Sykes teaches a digital literacy course where participants receive a laptop after completing 15 hours of training; image courtesy of KC Digital Drive
Grantees of the 2023 tools demonstrated a clear need for technical support and a strong plan to integrate these tools into their programs to maximize impact to an external focus group comprised of entrepreneurs, for-profit leaders and business professionals, according to the fund.
Aamong the guards:
Applications were reviewed by an external panel of respected NGOs and companies familiar with the challenges of the digital divide.
“It’s clear that the digital divide remains quite wide for many of our communities, and I’m encouraged by like-minded organizations and leaders who continue to collaborate and work together to close that divide,” said Kaylee Peile , director of development at the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology. “Being a part of the review and selection process had a profound effect on me, as I always strive to better understand the needs of our region.
By the numbers:
- 43 organizations applied for funding
- A total of $592,482 in funds is requested
- A total of 1,318 devices are requested
- $75,000 in total funding to 11 beneficiary organizations
KC Digital Drive leads the fund, managed by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation with an advisory board, and helped raise seed funding of $175,000 from Health Forward Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation and GFiber (Google Fiber).
Two additional funding rounds will be funded later this year, including IT support and new digital skills courses.
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