Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund - August 2013

FYI

#####

Kansas City fund aims to bridge digital divide

August 14

BY DIANE STAFFORD

The Kansas City Star

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/14/4409852/kansas-city-fund-aims-to-bridge.html#storylink=cpy

Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund, unveiled at a Wednesday luncheon, has been created with $1 million in corporate and foundation gifts. The fund will allow area nonprofit organizations to apply for grants to provide computer access or teach residents about using computers and the Internet.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/14/4409852/kansas-city-fund-aims-to-bridge.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/14/4409852/kansas-city-fund-aims-to-bridge.html

Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund

Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

• The challenge: Recent data show that 25 percent of Kansas Citians don;t have broadband at home, and 17 percent don't use the Internet at all. When asked why they aren't online, non-users cite two main reasons: lack of relevance and lack of access.
• The opportunity: The Digital Inclusion Fund will support local projects that provide computer access; make it easy to get online; help make the Internet relevant, exciting, and beneficial for new users; and increase people's digital skills.

http://www.gkccf.org/grant/kansas-city-digital-inclusion-fund

• The grant application for the Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund can be found here: Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund Grant Application

Eligible projects will target one or more of the following focus areas:

• people who don't use the Internet but are interested in learning how to get online and need help 
• people who don't use the Internet and who lack a computer or perceive high costs to Internet access
• areas with high unemployment, with emphasis on Internet-related career skills and job hunting
• seniors who don't use the Internet, with emphasis on access to health information
• school children in homes without Internet access 

Eligible expenses and activities to be supported may include, but are not limited to:

• Program costs including reasonable staff time associated with the implementation of the program / project
• Training and support for volunteers who assist in program / project implementation
• Hardware, software and Internet connectivity to be used to provide digital skills training for target population members (e.g. devices + portable hotspots for mobile computer labs)*

Contact person: 

Matthew Fuller, fuller@gkccf.org or 816.627.3420