For years, digital inclusion programs have relied on federal and philanthropic funding — but too often in short, unpredictable bursts that leave vital work vulnerable when grants disappear. If we want to ensure people have the devices, connectivity, and digital skills they need over the long term, we must look beyond temporary funding cycles and build sustainable financing models.

That is why we’re delighted to share that Mission Telecom Giving has awarded funding to Connect Humanity to support the exploration and development of models that can sustainably fund digital adoption work.

What this support makes possible

Mission Telecom’s backing will fund the development of a practical Alternative Funding Guide — a resource designed to help community leaders and practitioners identify and pursue partnerships that can sustain digital adoption programs.

This work will take place within the Alternative Funding Working Group that Connect Humanity’s Samantha Schartman created to convene leaders across digital inclusion, healthcare, education, and other social sectors to explore sustainable approaches to financing digital equity.

Over the next six months we will:

• Conduct a landscape analysis to document existing partnership and funding models that could support digital adoption.
• Engage experts from adjacent sectors to surface opportunities where digital inclusion generates measurable value (e.g. cost savings, improved outcomes, system efficiencies).
• Produce a guide that demystifies partnership opportunities, including case studies and data that strengthen the case for sustainable investment.
• Provide recommendations for further tools and research, laying the groundwork for pilots and long-term adoption of alternative funding models.

Why this matters now

As Samantha wrote in a recent Broadband Breakfast article co-published with the NDIA’s Angela Siefer, federal programs once expected to drive long-term progress on digital adoption — such as the Digital Equity Act and the Affordable Connectivity Program — are disappearing.

Without new approaches, the sector risks losing momentum just as the need for digital fluency is growing, especially in the context of AI and other emerging technologies.

By quantifying and developing funding models that capture and reinvest the economic value created by digital adoption, we can design systems that are more resilient and financially sustainable. 

The ultimate goal is to bring together stakeholders — from healthcare providers to employers to government agencies — into co-funding structures that recognize digital equity as an engine of economic and social benefit.

Get involved

Know about a case study we should highlight? Interested in contributing your expertise or exploring how these ideas could work in your community? Please get in touch. Together, we can chart a path to sustainable digital opportunity.