The Digital Equity Initiative funds projects or programs that address barriers to accessing and using technology.
Donor Name: Arlington County
State: Virginia
County: Arlington County (VA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/15/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Grants will be a cornerstone of the Digital Equity Initiative to promote community-driven solutions through partners who can effectively deliver on the ground support to Arlington residents and businesses.
Research from the Broadband Study and recent training experiences affirmed a wide range of needs in substance and delivery for additional digital literacy and skills training opportunities. In addition, it suggested the need for more on-the-ground support to promote digital inclusion opportunities in the County. To expand digital inclusion activities, the Initiative will make up to $500,000 of one-time funding available in FY2026, focusing on two core areas:
- Digital navigation (anticipated up to $300,000, one-year): Funds towards train-the-trainer workshops, help desk support, and communication collateral to support outreach. Prospective digital navigation programs should ensure that residents, businesses, staff, and service providers are aware of the available resources, feel secure asking for and receiving assistance, and have opportunities for personalized tech support and skill-building training. This is occurring on some level in the County, but digital navigation as a service could be formalized and better embedded in the community
- Digital skills programs (anticipated up to $200,000, one-year): Funds towards digital literacy and skilling programs to enhance education, lifelong learning, and employment and workforce development among residents, students, and/or businesses. Topics could vary from basic computing and internet safety to more advanced topics or technical training. Grants are anticipated to be smaller on average than for digital navigation.
Grant Period
Up to one year after execution of the grant agreement.
Targeted Populations
Targeted populations include older adults, incarcerated individuals, veterans, persons living with a disability, people of color, English language learners or those with language barriers, and low-income households. These populations were flagged as a high need in the Broadband Study as having historically experienced lower rates of computer and internet use. Projects are encouraged to target one or more targeted populations.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible organizations must serve (or wish to serve) Arlington residents and be a nonprofit organization or a Virginia public institute of higher education. Organizations may be based outside of Arlington County provided that the proposed project benefits Arlington County residents.
For more information, visit Arlington County.
