ConnectAll Digital Inclusion Center

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Executive Summary

ConnectAll Digital Inclusion Center is a nonprofit in Kentucky that closes the digital divide for people who are left out of the modern economy because they cannot afford a computer, a reliable internet connection or the skills to use either. We refurbish and distribute donated computers and tablets, help households enroll in affordable broadband programs, and run digital skills classes for adults, older adults, people with disabilities and job seekers at community centers, libraries and the homes of people who cannot travel. Devices are transferred through a written agreement, never as cash. There is no charge to participants.

Households without a working computer and reliable internet are locked out of job applications, telehealth appointments, online banking, government benefit portals, school communication and the distance learning their children need. Many of these households have a smartphone but find that many tasks are difficult or impossible to complete on a small screen. Many have had a computer before but it broke and they could not afford a replacement. Many know the internet exists but feel they do not know enough to use it safely. The problem is not unwillingness: it is cost, equipment and the absence of patient human help.

With this grant we will assist about 250 households in Year 1, opening in about Month 3, placing about 350 refurbished devices, enrolling households in internet assistance programs and providing digital skills training to about 350 people. Our goal is that at least 80 percent of households we assist have a working device and a connected internet plan within 60 days, that every device we place has been wiped to our published standard and tested before transfer and that at least 75 percent of training participants report greater confidence using digital tools at 90 days. We do not promise that a household will maintain its subscription or that a device will never fail.

Our Year 1 budget: about $547,000, growing to about $912,500 by Year 5. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small surplus each year. We have 7 paid staff in Year 1 and 13 by Year 5. Government digital equity and library contracts and corporate and foundation partners add steady support, so grants fall from about 76% of our income in Year 1 to about 60% in Year 5.

We are asking the Digital Equity Community Fund for $85,000 for one Digital Literacy Instructor, refurbished device procurement and distribution paid to vendors and internet vouchers and enrollment assistance paid to ISPs. Government contracts, other grants and corporate and foundation partners cover the rest, so this grant is one part of a shared funding plan.

I am Keisha Tatum, the Executive Director, a former public library IT manager and digital literacy trainer who built and ran a county digital inclusion program for five years before founding this organization. The numbers in this proposal are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end, not promises.

Company Description

ConnectAll Digital Inclusion Center is a nonprofit organization in Kentucky. We are a 501(c)(3) public charity (or a program of one, through a fiscal sponsor), governed by a volunteer board of directors. We will provide our IRS determination letter, board list and most recent financial statements with this proposal.

Our mission. To make sure every person in our community can afford a device, get online and use digital tools with confidence.

What we believe. A working computer and a reliable internet connection are as essential as electricity and running water in the modern economy. The gap is not about intelligence or effort: it is about money, equipment and the absence of patient, trusted help. The best digital inclusion programs meet people where they are, speak to their actual lives and goals and never make them feel ashamed for not knowing. We serve adults of every age, language, background and ability, and we adapt our approach to each person.

How we started. ConnectAll Digital Inclusion Center began when our founder, then managing IT at a public library, watched families turn away from the one computer station with a long wait, watched older adults struggle with a tablet they had been given with no training and watched job seekers lose opportunities because their home internet kept cutting out. She started a Saturday morning computer lab at the library, trained volunteers and placed twelve donated laptops with families in six months. Demand outgrew the library's capacity. A local foundation and the county library system asked whether she could build it into a standalone program. This proposal asks for support to do that.

What we offer:
- Refurbished devices. We collect donated laptops and tablets from businesses, schools and individuals, check each one, wipe it to our published standard, replace parts where needed, load it with free or low-cost software and transfer it to a household through a written agreement. We also operate a device loan program for households that need temporary access while they wait for a device or service.
- Internet access help. We help every household we serve apply for every affordable internet program it may qualify for, including federal and state assistance programs, provider-sponsored low-income plans and library hotspot loans. Where a program pays the ISP directly, we coordinate that payment. We never give cash.
- Digital literacy training. We run classes at four community sites, in people's homes for those who cannot travel and online. Topics include the basics of using a computer, staying safe online, using email, making video calls, using telehealth portals, filling out job applications and government benefits forms, managing a bank account online and using productivity tools for work or school. We adapt every class to the level and goals of the people in it.
- One-on-one coaching. For learners who are not ready for a group class, a Navigator or Instructor meets one-on-one at a time and place that works for the learner.
- Accessibility. We stock screen readers, large-print keyboards, adjustable mice and other assistive technology for people with visual or motor impairments, and our instructors are trained in basic digital accessibility.
- Referrals. Every household is screened for every other program it may benefit from, including housing, food, employment, health care and benefits help.
- School family support. Instructors hold evening and weekend sessions for parents and guardians who want to help their children with online schoolwork.

Who we serve. Any adult in our service area who cannot afford a working device or reliable internet, or who wants to build digital skills, regardless of age, background or ability. Some government programs have their own eligibility rules, which we confirm for each program. We do not charge participants for any device, training or service.

What we do not do. We are not an internet service provider. We do not sell devices or services. We do not give cash to a household. We do not promise that a specific government program will be available when a household applies, or that a device will never need repair. We do not give legal, financial or immigration advice, and we refer those questions to legal aid and benefits counselors.

How we are run. A seven-member volunteer board of directors oversees the organization and approves the budget each year. The board includes a public library director, a community college technology instructor, a workforce development specialist, a representative from a local employer, an attorney and a certified public accountant. The Executive Director manages the organization, the Program Director runs the program and an outside accountant reviews our books every year.

Where things stand today. We have letters of support from two public library branches, a community action agency, a workforce development board, a senior center and three corporate device donors. We have a letter of intent for a classroom and workshop space in a community center. Before we begin, we will confirm Kentucky's rules for device resale, data wiping and e-waste disposal, have an attorney review our device donation and transfer agreements, and confirm any requirements of our funders.

Problem & Opportunity

Millions of adults still lack reliable access to a working computer or the internet. The gap is not random: it tracks closely with income, age, race and geography. In our service area, many households with incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level do not have a working computer at home, and many of those that have a laptop have one that is old, slow or broken. Millions of households are subscribed to the internet only through a smartphone, which makes many tasks difficult or impossible.

The consequences run through every part of life. A job application that cannot be submitted because the library is closed. A telehealth appointment that cannot be completed because the video connection keeps dropping. A child whose teacher posts assignments on a portal the family cannot access from home. A Social Security or Medicaid form that must be submitted online but requires a scanner. A bank that no longer has a branch within walking distance. An older adult who cannot video call a grandchild. These are not edge cases: they are daily experiences for millions of people who are increasingly invisible in a system that assumes they are already connected.

The root causes are well understood and persistent. A laptop costs money that a family on a fixed income does not have. A broadband subscription costs money every month. When a device breaks, there is no money to fix it and nowhere to bring it. Government assistance programs exist, but they require an application, and the application requires internet access. Digital skills training exists, but it is often scheduled at times that working adults and caregivers cannot attend, delivered in ways that assume prior knowledge, or offered once and never again.

Community barriers compound the problem. Many adults are embarrassed to ask for help and avoid classes where they fear being judged. Many have tried to learn before and been overwhelmed. Many do not trust that a technology they are offered will work, last or be safe to use. Building trust requires consistency, patience, a person they know and the right setting.

We want to be clear about what we know and do not know. Technology access alone does not guarantee that a household will use the internet for the things that most improve their lives. Skills, trust, relevant content and ongoing support all matter. We will measure what we can, such as device placement, enrollment, training completion and self-reported confidence, and share results honestly. We will use the most recent American Community Survey, FCC and state data in our final application and will not overstate the gap.

Products & Services

ConnectAll Digital Inclusion Center will run a digital inclusion center with a Program Director, Device Operations and Repair Technicians, Digital Literacy Instructors, a Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator and an Executive Director, and will provide refurbished devices, internet enrollment help and digital skills training at no cost to participants.

How it works, step by step:
1. Intake. A household reaches us by phone, walk-in, referral from a library, clinic, school or community agency or through our website. We listen to what the household needs: a device, internet help, training or all three.
2. Device assessment. The Technician checks the household's current device situation, whether a donated device will meet the household's needs and what level of instruction will be most useful.
3. Device placement. If the household needs a device, we place a refurbished laptop or tablet that has been wiped to our published standard, tested and loaded with free or low-cost software. Placement happens through a written transfer agreement. We also have a loan pool for households that need something immediately.
4. Internet enrollment. The Navigator walks the household through every program it may qualify for and helps it apply or enroll. Where a program requires direct payment to the ISP, we coordinate that payment. We tell the household clearly what each program covers and when it might change.
5. Skills training. We offer classes at the level and on the schedule that works for each learner, from complete beginner to intermediate skills. Topics are chosen by what learners want to do, not by a fixed curriculum. We run evening and Saturday classes so working adults and parents can attend.
6. Follow-up. A check-in at 30 and 90 days to see whether the device is working, whether the internet connection is stable and what else the household needs. A repair or replacement for devices that fail within the first year.
7. Referrals. When we see a household that needs more than a device and training, we make warm connections to employment, housing, health care and benefits programs.

What the grant will pay for. Part of one Digital Literacy Instructor's salary, refurbished device procurement and distribution paid to vendors and internet vouchers and enrollment assistance paid to ISPs. The rest of the budget comes from government digital equity and library contracts, other grants and corporate and foundation partners.

Device safety. Every device is wiped to our published data-destruction standard before it leaves our shop, and we document the wipe for each unit. We follow Kentucky's rules for e-waste and resale. We tell every recipient what software is loaded and what is not, and we provide a written transfer agreement.

Why this approach is strong. A household gets a working device it owns, an internet connection it can afford and a person who will help it learn to use both, all in one place, all at no cost. We do not promise that this solves every problem, but we know that having both a device and the skills to use it is far more likely to produce lasting benefit than either one alone.

Market Analysis

Who benefits: adults in our Kentucky service area who lack a working device, reliable internet or basic digital skills, and the schools, employers, clinics and government agencies that depend on them being connected.

Our primary group is low-income adults, including older adults on fixed incomes, families with school-age children, adults with disabilities, people returning from incarceration, people who are unemployed or underemployed, agricultural workers and adults who did not grow up with technology. We will target households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level as our first priority, and we will make special efforts to reach older adults and people with disabilities who often face the steepest barriers.

We will not serve someone who needs only the highest-end devices for professional purposes, and we will tell them clearly what our devices are suited for. We refer households with legal, immigration or complex benefits questions to legal aid and benefits counselors.

Local data. We will use the most recent American Community Survey, FCC Broadband Data Collection and state digital equity plan data in our final application and will not overstate the gap. Our experience shows demand: our founder placed twelve laptops in six months with no budget and turned away more families than she served. We plan for about 250 households in Year 1 and about 400 in Year 2, with about 350 devices placed and 350 people trained in Year 1.

Our secondary groups are schools, whose families can now attend virtual meetings and access homework portals; employers, whose workers can complete online applications and training; clinics, whose patients can use telehealth; and government agencies, whose constituents can access benefits portals and submit forms online.

We do not guarantee a device or a class slot to every household, and when our supply or capacity is limited we prioritize by need. We do not accept payment for referrals.

Competitive Landscape

Other ways residents in our area currently access devices, internet and digital skills, and what makes us different.

- Public libraries. Libraries offer free public computers, hotspot lending and some digital skills programming. Wait times for computers are long, hotspot supply is limited, and library staff cannot provide sustained one-on-one training. We partner with libraries and are hosted at two library branches.
- Other device refurbishers. Some nonprofits and businesses refurbish and sell or donate devices. Many focus on school-age children and not adults. Few pair devices with internet enrollment or training. We refer households to them when they are a better fit.
- Government and state programs. Digital equity programs at the state and federal level fund infrastructure, device distribution and training. They often work through intermediaries. We are designed to be an effective intermediary.
- Community colleges and continuing education. They offer digital skills courses, often with fees and on weekday schedules that working adults cannot always attend. We partner with them, refer learners to them for advanced skills and support their outreach.
- Corporate devices. Some employers donate old equipment, and we welcome those donations. We refurbish and distribute them, and we carry liability through our transfer agreement so the employer is protected.
- Doing nothing or using only a phone. This is the common alternative. We aim to show that a working device paired with training and a reliable connection is transformative.

What makes us different.
- We address device, connectivity and skills together, not as separate programs a household has to navigate separately.
- Our instructors meet learners where they are, at their level, on a schedule that works for them.
- Every device is wiped, tested and transferred with a written agreement.
- We follow up at 30 and 90 days.
- We serve adults, including older adults and people with disabilities, as a primary audience, not as an afterthought.
- Honest results. We measure and share what we find, including when a household loses its connection or a device fails.

What we do not claim. We are new as a standalone organization, though our founder has five years of program experience. The state library system and larger digital equity nonprofits have far more experience. We plan to learn from them and share results openly.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How we will reach the households, partners and supporters we need once the project is funded.

Households. We will reach households through the networks that already serve them: public libraries, community action agencies, workforce development boards, senior centers, community health centers, food pantries, churches, schools and housing programs. We will ask every person we serve to refer a neighbor. Materials will be in plain language and will be available in Spanish and any other language our community partners tell us is needed.

Device donors. We will recruit businesses, schools and individuals through a device donation drive, a corporate partnership program and a simple online intake form. We will offer donors a summary of the impact of their donation, and we will not represent a donated device as worth more than our honest assessment.

Community sites. We will partner with four to six community sites to host classes and coaching sessions in exchange for promotion of the site's own programs. We will bring the equipment and the instructor; the site provides the space.

Government and library partners. We will work with the county library system, the state library agency, the state's digital equity plan coordinator and federal digital equity programs to access funding, referrals and training resources. We will help households apply for any program they qualify for.

Funders. We will report results to funders twice a year and in a short annual report, in totals and never with a participant's name. We will invite funders to visit a training session, with participant permission.

Corporate and community donors. We will invite local businesses, banks, civic clubs, churches and foundations to sponsor a class, a device or a coaching session. Gifts are tracked separately and acknowledged with thanks.

How we talk about participants. We describe people as capable and deserving of access, not as disadvantaged or behind. We do not use stories or photographs without clear, written, informed permission.

Operations Plan

How the program will be carried out.

Timeline for Year 1:
- Months 1 to 2: Attorney review of device donation and transfer agreements, data-wiping standards, volunteer policies and privacy policies, sign the lease, hire the Program Director, the Device Technician, two Digital Literacy Instructors and the Outreach and Enrollment Navigator, set up the workshop and the secure data system.
- Month 3: Staff training in device refurbishment to our published standard, digital skills instruction, accessibility, enrollment in all available internet programs and the data system. Launch the device donation drive. Open the first training site.
- Months 4 to 8: First device placements, first training classes, first internet enrollments and first follow-up check-ins. Open a second training site.
- Months 9 to 12: Assess Year 1 results, prepare the Year 1 report and plan for Year 2. Open a third training site and launch the family school support program.

Space. A leased classroom and device workshop space with a training room, a device intake and repair area and a storage cage. Rent and utilities are about $28,000 a year in Year 1. Workshop build-out, network wiring and a secure storage cage are a one-time cost of $4,000, with a deposit and first month of rent of $4,500.

Equipment. We buy about $12,000 of equipment once at the start: refurbishment tools, diagnostic equipment and a repair workbench ($6,000), loaner laptops and tablets for the device loan program ($4,000) and office and classroom furniture ($2,000). After Year 1, we set aside about $3,000 to $4,000 a year to replace and add equipment. An opening stock of refurbished devices, parts and cables is a one-time cost of $10,000.

Staffing. In Year 1: an Executive Director, a Digital Inclusion Program Director, one Device Operations and Repair Technician, two Digital Literacy Instructors, a Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator and a part-time Program Coordinator. A second Technician joins in Year 3, a third Instructor in Year 4, a fourth Instructor and a second Outreach Navigator in Year 5.

Device standards and controls. Every donated device is logged, assessed and wiped to our published standard, which we align with NIST guidelines for media sanitization. We document the wipe and test for each unit before it leaves the workshop. Devices that cannot be restored to a safe and functional state are recycled to a certified e-waste recycler, not distributed. Each device is transferred through a written transfer agreement that confirms ownership, describes the device's condition and waives our liability for data the recipient adds after transfer. We do not take a lien or impose conditions on what the household does with the device after transfer. No cash is ever given to a household in place of a device.

Device procurement. We source refurbished devices from business and school donation drives, state surplus programs, certified refurbishers and partnerships with large employers in our area. We aim for devices no older than five years for full distributions and up to seven years for participants who need only basic tasks. Device procurement, repair and distribution cost about $70,000 a year in Year 1, or about $200 per device. The board reviews a summary of all device placements each quarter.

Internet enrollment. We help every household we work with apply for every internet assistance program it may qualify for. Where a program pays the ISP directly, we coordinate and document the payment. Where we provide a voucher or a direct subsidy, it is paid to the ISP, not given as cash to the household. Internet vouchers and enrollment assistance cost about $25,000 a year in Year 1. We tell every household clearly which programs require annual renewal and what will happen when a program ends.

Digital skills training. Classes are offered at multiple sites and online, in the evening and on Saturdays, at beginner, intermediate and task-specific levels. Instructors use plain language, go at the learner's pace, welcome questions and never make a learner feel judged. We track topic requests and adjust every semester. Training costs about $22,000 a year in Year 1, including instructor time, curriculum materials and accessible technology.

Accessibility. We stock screen readers, large-print keyboards, adjustable mice and tablet stands. Instructors are trained in basic digital accessibility. We hold sessions in accessible venues. We do not require a participant to disclose a disability to receive accessible equipment or an adapted class.

Privacy. Participant information, including address, income range and program enrollment, is kept in a locked cabinet and a secure, password-protected system and shared only with the participant's written permission or as required by government reporting. We never share a participant's information with a device donor, an employer or an ISP for marketing purposes.

Crisis and safety. If a participant is in immediate danger, staff call 911. Anyone in crisis is connected right away to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Staff follow a written safety plan for home visits and coaching sessions at community sites.

Insurance and records. We carry general liability, property, professional liability and non-owned auto liability insurance, and workers' compensation once we hire. Insurance is about $10,000 a year in Year 1. Grant money is tracked separately so we can show each funder how their money was spent, and an outside accountant reviews our books every year.

Management & Organization

The people who will carry out the project.

Keisha Tatum, Executive Director. A former public library IT manager and digital literacy trainer who built and ran a county digital inclusion program for five years, placing more than 400 devices and training more than 1,000 adults. She leads fundraising, partnerships, finance and hiring, reports to the board and is the main contact for funders. (Replace this paragraph with your own director's background.)

Digital Inclusion Program Director (full time, hired in Months 1 to 2). Runs the program day to day, manages the training sites and devices, coordinates community site partners and supervises the instructors and technician.

Device Operations and Repair Technicians (one in Years 1 and 2, two from Year 3). Intake, assess, wipe, repair and test donated devices, manage inventory, coordinate donations and place devices with households.

Digital Literacy Instructors (two in Years 1 and 2, three in Year 3 and 4, four in Year 4, five in Year 5). Teach group classes and one-on-one coaching sessions at community sites and in participants' homes.

Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator (one in Years 1 to 4, two from Year 5). Recruits participants through community partners, walks households through internet program enrollment and follows up at 30 and 90 days.

Program Coordinator (part-time). Keeps records, manages the data system and prepares reports.

Board of directors. Seven volunteers who meet every quarter: a public library director, a community college technology instructor, a workforce development specialist, a local employer representative, an attorney and a certified public accountant. The board approves the budget and policies, reviews device placements and results each quarter and does not receive pay.

Community advisory group. Participants and community partners meet quarterly and tell us what is working and what is not. Their advice shapes our class topics, schedules and outreach.

Outside professionals. An attorney reviews our device donation and transfer agreements and privacy policies. An outside accountant reviews our books every year.

Staff screening. Every staff member and volunteer who enters a participant's home passes a criminal background check. Staff are trained in our privacy policy and data-wiping standard before they handle a device or a participant's information.

Staff pay in this plan includes payroll taxes and benefits. Salaries are Executive Director $60,000, Program Director $54,000, Device Operations and Repair Technician $48,000, Digital Literacy Instructor $50,000, Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator $44,000 and part-time Program Coordinator $26,000. Replace them with the pay you can offer where you live.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals for each year and how we will measure them.

- Year 1: Open in about Month 3, assist about 250 households, place about 350 refurbished devices, train about 350 people across four community sites and see at least 80 percent of households connected within 60 days. A balanced budget of about $547,000, with a small surplus of about $13,600. 7 paid staff.
- Year 2: Assist about 400 households, place about 385 devices and train about 560 people. Apply for government digital equity and library contracts. Begin 90-day follow-up tracking. A balanced budget of about $562,500, with a small surplus of about $13,500. 7 paid staff.
- Year 3: Add a second Technician, assist about 570 households, place about 424 devices and train about 800 people. Contracts cover more of our budget. A balanced budget of about $679,000, with a small surplus of about $14,900. 9 paid staff.
- Year 4: Add a third and fourth Instructor and a second Outreach Navigator, assist about 750 households, place about 466 devices and train about 1,050 people. A balanced budget of about $793,000, with a small surplus of about $16,600. 11 paid staff.
- Year 5: Add a fifth Instructor, assist about 950 households, place about 512 devices and train about 1,330 people, with government and library contracts covering about 26% of our budget. A balanced budget of about $912,500, with a small surplus of about $18,100. 13 paid staff.

What we measure:
- Households assisted, by income range, age group, household type and primary barrier.
- Devices placed, by type and age, and the share still in use at 90 days.
- Households enrolled in an internet plan and connected within 60 days.
- Training participants, by topic, skill level and site.
- Self-reported digital confidence, using a short survey at the start and 90 days after.
- Referrals made and completed to employment, housing, health care and benefits programs.
- Devices recycled to a certified e-waste recycler, reported in totals.
- Cost per household assisted and per device placed.
- Participant satisfaction and whether participants felt helped and respected, collected anonymously.

How we review results. The Program Director and instructors review device placements, class attendance and follow-up results every week, and the whole team reviews outcomes monthly. Each semester, staff, the community advisory group and our partners review results together and we change what is not working, including which sites we use and which topics we teach. Twice a year the board reviews results and we share them with funders and government partners as totals. Every number in this plan is a goal, and we will report what really happens, including devices that fail and households that lose their connection.

Funding Request

What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $85,000 from the Digital Equity Community Fund for one Digital Literacy Instructor, refurbished device procurement and distribution paid to vendors and internet vouchers and enrollment assistance paid to ISPs, for July 2027 through June 2028.

The request is spread across these budget lines:
- Personnel: Digital Literacy Instructor salary, $40,000 (other funds add $10,000).
- Supplies: Refurbished device procurement, repair and distribution (paid to vendors and refurbishers, never as cash to a household), $30,000 (other funds add $40,000).
- Other: Internet vouchers and low-income plan enrollment assistance (paid to ISPs), $15,000 (other funds add $10,000).

Other money in the program. Government digital equity and library contracts, other grants and corporate and foundation partners pay the other $60,000 of those lines, plus the Executive Director's salary ($60,000), the Program Director ($54,000), the Device Technician ($48,000), the second Digital Literacy Instructor ($50,000), the Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator ($44,000), the part-time Program Coordinator ($26,000), office and lab rent and utilities ($28,000), technology and secure data system ($8,000), outreach, events and community partnerships ($10,000), insurance ($10,000), staff training ($6,000), evaluation and reporting ($6,000) and administration and accounting ($14,000).

Year 1 budget: about $547,000, planned to balance with a small surplus (about $13,600 after the yearly wear on equipment). Year 1 money coming in: grants $417,000 (this request plus other grants we are applying for), government digital equity and library contracts $75,000 and corporate partners, foundations and donations $55,000. Year 1 costs: Executive Director $60,000; Digital Inclusion Program Director $54,000; Device Operations and Repair Technician $48,000; two Digital Literacy Instructors $100,000; Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator $44,000; Program Coordinator $26,000; refurbished device procurement, repair and distribution about $70,000; internet vouchers and low-income plan enrollment assistance about $25,000; digital skills instruction and curriculum materials about $22,000; office, lab rent and utilities about $28,000; technology and secure data system about $8,000; outreach, events and community partnerships about $10,000; insurance about $10,000; staff training and certifications about $6,000; evaluation and reporting about $6,000; administration and accounting about $14,000; and about $5,200 a year for the wear on equipment.

How we planned devices. Device procurement, repair and distribution cost about $70,000 in Year 1 for about 350 devices, or about $200 per device for parts, repair time and supplies. The cost per device falls as donation volume rises and the technician becomes faster. Not every household we assist needs a device: some already have one and need only internet or training help, and the per-household cost falls over time as we learn which households in each neighborhood have which need.

About government contracts. Federal Digital Equity Act programs, E-Rate, IMLS library technology grants, state digital equity plans and local government technology access programs fund digital inclusion, device distribution and training. These are competitive, awarded for set periods and have strict rules about eligibility, data collection, accessibility and reporting. We plan to apply once we have a track record. The amounts in this plan are our planning estimates, not promises, and agencies can change their budgets, rules and awards.

One-time startup costs. Startup costs of $45,500 are paid once from startup money, not from the yearly budget: $12,000 for equipment, $4,000 for leasehold improvements, $4,500 for deposits, $10,000 for opening supplies and inventory, $1,000 for licenses and permits, $7,000 for legal and professional help, $3,000 for signage, brochures and a website, $4,000 for background checks, training and first insurance.

How we got our startup number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds the startup costs ($45,500), the cash we need to cover the wait for the first payments (about $22,300) and a cash cushion of about $132,800, which is about three months of Year 1 costs. That comes to $201,000. We start with $25,000 of our own savings and $180,000 in startup support from a digital equity foundation, a corporate device donor gift and our board, $205,000 in all, which covers that amount.

The next five years. Our budget grows from about $547,000 in Year 1 to about $912,500 in Year 5. Grants are planned at $417,000, $386,500, $447,000, $499,000, $548,500 in Years 1 to 5. Government contracts grow from $75,000 to $240,000, and corporate and foundation partners grow from $55,000 to $124,000. We add a second Technician in Year 3, a third and fourth Instructor and a second Navigator in Year 4 and a fifth Instructor in Year 5. Grants fall from about 76% of our income in Year 1 to about 60% in Year 5.

Savings. We plan to keep several months of costs in savings. The lowest year-end balance in the plan is about $170,700, at the end of Year 1. Government and grant payments often arrive after we bill or after we submit documents, so we plan for about $38,290 owed to us at the end of Year 1.

After the grant. Our plan is to grow government digital equity and library contracts as agencies see our results, to invite businesses, banks and civic groups to sponsor devices and classes and to grow individual donors. Because a household with a device, a connection and the skills to use them can access telehealth, jobs, education and government services, success lowers long-term costs for the community and strengthens our case for public funding.

Risks and how we will handle them:
- Device supply dries up or device quality drops. We build relationships with multiple donation sources, purchase refurbished devices from certified vendors when donated supply is low and set quality thresholds.
- A government internet assistance program ends or changes. We track programs monthly, tell households immediately and help them apply for the next available program.
- A device fails within the first year. We provide a replacement from our loan pool and, where budget allows, a new device placement within 90 days.
- Demand exceeds our capacity. We keep a waiting list, prioritize by need and refer to other programs.
- Government contracts are delayed or not awarded. We plan with a cash cushion, stage hiring so costs follow funding and apply to other funders.
- A grant ends. We keep savings, grow contracts and donors and keep our cost per household low.

If you are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status through a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that receives grants for you and passes them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Another way is to start smaller: a volunteer device drive and a Saturday class at a library, placing 20 to 30 devices and training 50 people in the first year, tracked carefully. Strong, honest results from a small program make larger grants easier to win.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach with this proposal:

- Your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current year budget.
- A list of your board members and what each one does.
- Resumes for your Executive Director and Program Director.
- Letters of support from your library partners, a community action agency, a workforce development board, a senior center and a corporate device donor.
- Your device donation and transfer agreement template and your data-wiping standard.
- Your device intake, assessment and recycling policy.
- Your internet enrollment policy and payment controls.
- Your privacy policy and your staff home-visit safety plan.
- Your plan for measuring results, including 90-day follow-up.
- Results from your founder's prior program or pilot, shown as totals.
- Proof of general liability, property and professional liability insurance, or a quote.
If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.

The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Grant Revenue: $417,000 in Year 1, then $386,500, $447,000, $499,000, $548,500.
- Government Digital Equity and Library Contracts: $75,000 in Year 1, growing to $240,000.
- Corporate Partners, Foundations and Donations: $55,000 in Year 1, growing to $124,000.
- Households and training: about 250 households assisted and 350 people trained in Year 1, then 400, 570, 750, 950 households and 560, 800, 1,050, 1,330 people in Years 2 to 5.
- Pay: Executive Director $60,000, Program Director $54,000, Device Technician $48,000 (one in Years 1 and 2, two from Year 3), Digital Literacy Instructor $50,000 (two in Years 1 and 2, three in Years 3 and 4, four in Year 4, five in Year 5), Community Outreach and Enrollment Navigator $44,000 (one in Years 1 to 4, two from Year 5), Program Coordinator (part-time) $26,000.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: Refurbished Device Procurement, Repair and Distribution (Paid to Vendors) $70,000, Internet Vouchers and Low-Income Plan Enrollment Assistance (Paid to ISPs) $25,000, Digital Skills Instruction and Curriculum Materials $22,000, Office, Lab Rent and Utilities $28,000, Technology and Secure Data System $8,000, Outreach, Events and Community Partnerships $10,000, Insurance $10,000, Staff Training and Certifications $6,000, Evaluation and Reporting $6,000, Administration and Accounting $14,000. Growing between 4% and 10% a year.
- Equipment: $12,000 at the start, then $3,000 to $4,000 a year.
- Startup costs: $45,500, paid once from $205,000 in startup money.
- About 7% of each year's income is still owed to us at year end.
- Tax: none, as a nonprofit.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and real budget.

Startup Costs