Digital Inclusion Fund awards $75K for devices to KC nonprofits working to get residents online 

A relaunched Kansas City-area fund is expected to help residents struggling because of a lack of simple tech resources: devices that might often be taken for granted among their neighbors for whom the internet — and the opportunities that come with it — is already easily accessible.

Eleven nonprofits in the region recently were awarded a total of $75,000 to purchase devices for their students, social service clients, older adults, patients, residents, parishioners, members, and parents thanks to the KC Digital Inclusion Fund Devices Grants program.

Aaron Deacon, KC Digital Drive, sits on stage during a 2022 event celebrating 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 the technology that can make a significant difference in their clients’ lives, said Aaron Deacon, managing director at KC Digital Drive and a member of the Fund’s Advisory Council.

“The large number of applicants with the requested amount far exceeding the available funding shows a widespread and deeply affecting need,” he said. “We started with the Devices 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,” Deacon added. 

ICYMI: Digital Inclusion Fund relaunches with initial grants focused on devices

In the Kansas City metro 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, as compared to 5 percent of other individuals.

Not having a home computer is a critical barrier to pursuing education, developing workforce skills, and accessing healthcare, 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.

Grantee Rosalyn Sykes, Black Family Technology Awareness Association (BFTAA), teaches a class on digital literacy where participants get a laptop device when they successfully complete 15 hours of training; photo courtesy of KC Digital Drive

The 2023 Devices Grantees demonstrated a clear need for technological support and a strong plan for integrating these devices into their programs to maximize impact to an outside review panel made up of entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and corporate professionals, according to the Fund.

Awardees included:

• Black Family Technology Awareness Association 
• City in Motion Dance Theater
• Footprints
• Hispanic Economic Development Corporation 
• Hope Family Care Center 
• Journey to New Life 
• Latinx Education Collaborative 
• Partnership for Regional Educational Preparation-KC (PREPKC) 
• Phoenix Family 
• Urban Technology Empowered Communities (Urban TEC) 
• Welcome Wellness Health Education Resource Center

Applications were reviewed by an outside panel of respected nonprofit and corporate professionals familiar with the challenges of the digital divide.

“It’s apparent that the digital gap is still quite wide for many of our communities, and I am motivated by the like-minded organizations and leaders who continue to collaborate and work together to lessen that divide,” said Kaylee Peile, director of development at Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology. “Being a part of the review and selection process was greatly impactful to me, as I always seek to better understand the needs of our region.”

By the numbers:

• 43 organizations applied for funding 
• $592,482 total funds requested 
• 1,318 devices requested in total 
• $75,000 in total funding to 11 grantee organizations

KC Digital Drive leads the Fund, administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation with an Advisory Council, and helped to raise the initial funding of $175,000 provided by Health Forward Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation, and GFiber (Google Fiber).

Two additional grant cycles will be funded later this year, including I.T. support and new digital skills courses.