2025 20MM- Digital Equity Spark Grant Cycle
Ends on
Access to digital technology and reliable Internet dictates access to education, healthcare, jobs, and meaningfully engaging in democracies. We strive to close the digital divide in all its forms, particularly among underserved and historically marginalized communities. A goal of the Michelson 20MM Foundation is to create a future in which all individuals have the broadband access and capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy.
Michelson 20MM builds awareness of and works to close the “digital divides.” We do so through paradigm-shifting policies and convenings of cross-sectoral leaders to increase investments in innovative solutions.
This year, Michelson 20MM will continue investments through the Michelson Spark Grants program to surface and scale additional solutions to these critical issues.
The 2025 Digital Spark Grants funding cycle opens on May 27, 2025, and closes on June 10, 2025.
This Digital Equity Spark Grants funding cycle seeks to fund projects that support systems-level strategies with potential to create positive impact at scale. We’re looking for —big solutions for big problems—that inform State and local public policy.
We are interested in supporting initiatives:
- Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement to Achieve Broadband for All: Efforts that increase civic participation in digital equity policy-making and regulatory processes at the local, regional, or state-level. This includes the education of state policy-makers on key digital equity issues. Projects may feature efforts focusing on education, capacity-building, and the equitable implementation of digital equity policy. This may include policy efforts that improve internet affordability, network reliability, and access to broadband.
- Digital Equity as a Social Determinant of Health: Efforts that address digital inequity through its impact as a social determinant of health. Specifically, we are seeking projects that are scalable across the state. Efforts that bridge the digital divide in at least one of the following issue areas: a) Higher Education (i.e.: Research on the impact of digital inequity on college students) b) Economic Opportunity (i.e.: Workforce development; equitable access to seeking, applying, and securing jobs) c) Civic Engagement (i.e.: Access to public benefits) d) Housing and Renters’ Rights (i.e.: Access to fair and affordable housing, protection of renter’s rights to internet choice) e) Disaster Resilience and Recovery (i.e: Community-owned resources to aid in long-term disaster resilience through connectivity)
- Internet Access as a Civil Right: Eliminating digital discrimination efforts that help address the impact that low-quality and/or unaffordable Internet has in areas that may superficially appear to have Internet access. The projects should provide tools to combat digital discrimination and to promote equitable access to broadband throughout California. By focusing on the role of race in the historical causes of digital inequity, we seek to grow awareness and uplift the voices and needs of underserved communities that have been deliberately excluded from connectivity by systematic redlining and disinvestment. These may include, but are not limited to: a) Efforts that highlight disparities in broadband access b) Research that addresses mapping shortcomings at the state level c) Storytelling, surveying, testimonial-gathering d) Data that contributes to transparency around internet service providers (ISP) practices and services, for use in collective community advocacy efforts
Funding Cycle Details
We will be awarding grants up to $25,000 to nonprofits and educational institutions looking for support of projects that hit one of the focus areas outlined above
We will not fund initiatives that provide direct assistance to students during this round (e.g. laptops or hotspots for remote learning). While we realize there is a tremendous need for this type of direct support, we are leveraging our funding to effect broader systemic change.
For our Spark Grant cycles, we generally focus our impact on organizations doing work in California. Organizations whose work does not impact California are ineligible.
We welcome proposals where Michelson Spark Grant funds are part of a larger overall project with multiple funding streams.
If you have any questions or need assistance while completing this form please reach out to ryan@20mm.org