Miami Connected Digital Equity Grant Program

Thank you for your interest in the Miami Connected Digital Equity Grant Program! Applications can be submitted starting Wednesday, April 20th and are due by Wednesday, May 18th.

Miami Connected is a collective impact initiative working to bridge the digital divide and make Miami-Dade the most technologically inclusive county in the nation. This initiative counts on numerous cross-sector partnerships to create lasting impact and is co-led by The Miami Foundation and Achieve Miami.

Bridging the digital divide requires ensuring that all Miami-Dade residents have access to the resources, opportunities, and skills needed to thrive in our increasingly digital world. Through this Digital Equity Grant, Miami Connected will invest in partners who will deliver impactful programming aimed at building community members’ digital literacy skills as well facilitating access to existing opportunities related to internet service, technological devices, and digital literacy.

This grant opportunity has been guided by community feedback and been made possible by Miami Connected’s generous funders.

Please carefully review the program guidelines to learn more about how we invest in nonprofit partners who share our values and passion for furthering digital equity for all of Miami-Dade. 

The upcoming program guidelines and FAQ share everything you need to know about the program. Also available in Español and Kreyòl Ayisyen.

Watch the recording of the Digital Equity Grant informational webinar for an overview of the program and guidelines.

Starting Wednesday, April 20, 2022, organizations will be able to start and submit applications through the Submittable platform.

Sign up for office hours with the Miami Connected team to discuss specific questions on your Digital Equity Grant application.

WHAT WE FUND

We will invest across the two categories below, with organizations being able to apply for either or both:

• Digital Literacy | Improve community members’ ability to fully participate in educational, economic, and social opportunities by helping them strengthen the skills needed to leverage technology in their daily lives.

• Digital Navigation | Improve residents’ ability to access resources and opportunities related to internet access, technological devices, and digital literacy by providing individualized guidance and support.

Additionally, all partners funded through this grant program are expected to participate in the following:

• Digital Equity Impact Collective | Enhance collaboration and sharing of resources between all partners in this community of practice and elevate community priorities to inform long-term strategies being developed by county and municipal governments.

What we prioritize

Our priorities align with our values that we hope to model together with our nonprofit partners. Our priorities also guide proposal review, so we encourage you to review this section as you consider a proposal. 

• Advance equity of marginalized individuals and communities: We exclusively support work with communities facing marginalization to tackle disparities around race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and other lines of difference.  
• Focus on progress: We support work guided by clear goals for the growth of individuals and communities. All partners will have strong potential to create timely, impactful opportunities for individuals and communities to advance and thrive. 
• Build solutions: We prioritize work that pursues long-lasting change for individuals and communities. Organizations should identify how they will address the underlying barrier(s) or challenge(s) so that individuals can pursue their greatest potential. Strong approaches will strive to improve individuals’ current lives while also preparing them for the long-term.  
• Collaborate with community: We prioritize organizations with leadership that represents the communities they serve, as well as organizations that intentionally gather community feedback to guide their work. We believe authentic community relationships and resident leadership are essential for effective work. 
• Sustainability: We support high-quality, viable work while also investing in what each organization needs to be strong and healthy. We will look for proposals that reflect how the organization will use awarded funds to power progress while strengthening capacity and expertise.

Eligibility & Use of Funds

Eligibility Requirements: Eligible applicants are nonprofits with an active 501(c)(3) status as a public charity or projects with an established fiscal sponsor that has this status. Government entities and tax-exempt organizations are also eligible. The proposed work must primarily serve Miami-Dade County residents. If you have a current grant through any Foundation program, you must be in compliance with that grant to apply. 

Grant Size: The maximum grant award is $75,000 for organizations that apply for both funding categories. All awards will be for general operating support to be used at the organization’s discretion to support the proposed program goals.

How to apply

Submit Full Proposal: Starting Wednesday, April 20, 2022, organizations will be able to submit full proposals, and completed proposals are due by Wednesday, May 18, 2022.  Organizations will provide basic information, responses to the narrative questions outlined in the guidelines and will have optional opportunities to share supplemental information.  

Review and Application Process: Applications will be evaluated according to review criteria that align with the Miami Connected Digital Equity Grant program priorities. We will consider applications based on their individual strength and in the context of other submissions. Community members review full proposals with support from internal staff to ensure rich perspectives from people with personal and professional experiences related to each funding category. Please see the program guidelines for more details.  

Connect with us

Questions? Please contact Xavier Richardson, Miami Connected Fellow – Senior Associate, at xrichardson@miamifoundation.org.

Timeline: