DIGITAL EQUITY RESOURCES

Mission Capital has been working since the pandemic began, to leverage our intermediary role to amplify the issue of digital equity and connect the social sector to resources and insights on this key issue facing our community. On this page you will find resources and insights shared in our collaborative convenings on digital equity, as well as a brief history about how Mission Capital got involved.

MISSION CAPITAL’S ROLE

In the Special Projects work that Mission Capital does, we specifically work to amplify important topics that our actors in our sector need to be aware of, and we connect folks to key resources and to each other. We have been leaning into this form of connection, leveraging our platform of key relationships and audiences, in the last few years as we’ve responded to the input given to us in the Central Texas Nonprofit Covid Needs Pulse Surveys.  

For those of you who might get really geeky about social networks and theory of change, we are leaning into expansionist and brokerage roles and strategy. In this role, we connect folks to each other and to key resources and topics so that we, as a collective nonprofit sector and Greater Austin community, are more connected and thus, more resilient. Our goal is to create conditions where leaders, organizations, and networks more likely to produce new innovations and ideas for solving our communities' key challenges. We want to open as many doors as possible and build as much connectivity as possible. 

IDENTIFYING EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATING COMMUNITY   

The COVID crisis invited our organization to dive deeply into this role, to deepen in it, and to iterate on how best to live into it to have system-level impact. One example of how we have leaned in is through our digital equity work. Right as the realities of COVID began to disrupt locally, with lock-downs and organizations going remote, Mission Capital began hearing from our members about their needs. We started receiving more and more emails and phone calls from organizations needing resources or connections. At the same time, we were hearing from other intermediaries and systems players, a need for more data on what nonprofit needs were.  

A group of funders, government agencies, and other intermediaries gathered in mid-March to hear from one another about what each was hearing from their grantees and partners. It was decided that a larger, sector-wide survey would be needed to better understand these needs. Mission Capital backboned this work, what we called the Pulse Surveys. Through the first Pulse Survey, we identified key needs, and in the second survey, we leaned into our connector role, promising to connect folks on the key topics folks wanted more resources or connections for. The surveys surfaced 7 areas where nonprofits needed the most help. Our team hosted a collaboration session to identify themes and priorities in a transparent and collaborative way. The areas are: Technology & Digital Access, Health & Well Being, Basic Needs (e.g. housing, food), Supplies & Personal Protection Equipment, Program Mergers, Mental Health, and Shared Services or Mergers/Acquisitions. The topic with the highest result was technology and digital access. Our team immediately went to work to brainstorm ways we could support that. 

LEVERAGING OUR NETWORK TO ACTIVATE RESOURCES

During this time, we heard more and more about the data and insights needs at a high-level view. In collaboration with the Community Advancement Network (CAN) and United Way for Greater Austin, we hosted an interactive discussion of data insights related to community needs in COVID-19. Participants answered needs questions about data and equity. Smaller groups formed topic-specific breakouts with data presentations around four categories: food access, children/youth, health, and housing. You can learn more about the jam here.

We continued to hear about the digital divide and the challenges nonprofits were experiencing, both inside their organizations and within their communities of people served. Simultaneously, because of the Pulse Surveys, folks from the City of Austin’s Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Office reached out to us about the results and possible collaborations. Together, we pulled together a number of other key players in the technology space, particularly through the Digital Empowerment Community of Austin (DECA). In the summer of 2020, we hosted a large, virtual event to better understand the needs of nonprofits around technology. After the convening on 6/23, we then pivoted to creating partnerships with external organizations working in the 7 areas. The first of these events was our Digital Equity and Nonprofit Needs event, co-presented with the DECA. The interactive virtual event offered both synchronous and asynchronous ways for participants to engage, including two panel discussions, multiple breakouts, networking, and a virtual gallery of resources and data on digital equity. The event provided the opportunity to share resources, build connections and collaboration opportunities, and gather insights into the needs of nonprofits as they navigate technology and digital equity during COVID-19. We had over 309 registrants sign up and 176 as a top number of participants. Multiple follow-up collaborations and actions steps started forming – some just one week after the event. Learn more about the event here.  

One thing we heard loudly at the event was a need for more funding related to digital equity. Together, DECA and Mission Capital, along with additional partners with HACA, UWATX, and the Telecommunications Commission, hosted a fall event geared toward bringing greater awareness around digital equity and funding. The Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance spoke and shared key resources, and we had many local speakers, as well, share their stories and needs. Learn more about the event here. We followed this by hosting two “strategy” deep dive discussions locally with anyone interested in connecting more deeply.  

Following these activities, we received a grant from Truist to deepen our convening work around digital equity and workforce. We partnered with Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ), to host two convenings in 2021. The first was on smart cities, digital equity, and workforce gaps. We had speakers from across the state share their perspectives and raise awareness. We then co-hosted an event, along with international partners Initiate, Stanford Angels and Entrepreneurs of Texas, and the Paris Peace Forum, focused on digital rights, technology, and data.  

In the fall of 2021 we supported a national celebration, Digital Inclusion Week by partnering with Kami Griffiths of Community Tech Network to host a panel discussion of how Nonprofits Tackle the Digital Divide, featuring insights and stories from Paola Silvestre, United Way for Greater Austin, Griselda Valerio, Austin Community College, Matt Stawicki , American Youthworks, Paty Sesma, AUTM, and Suzanne Anderson, AGE of Central Texas. This reflection and discussion of what’s needed next served to amplify the challenges the sector continues to experience. We also partnered with the City of Austin’s Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs Office and Community Technology & Telecommunications Commission to co-host a digital equity townhall, attended by nonprofit leaders, community members, and government elected and appointed officials. 

COMMITTING TO COMMUNAL CHANGE 

As we reflect on our next step and what’s needed from our organization, we recognize that conversation is a start, but it is not an endpoint. Always, the movement of resources, whether monetary, best practices, or connections, remain our priority. As we consider what advocacy, collective action, or continued insights are needed, we invite you to join us in this conversation or explore the resources we’ve gathered in this work already.   

RESOURCES

NDIA

CONNECTIVITY 

PUBLIC INTERNET SPACES DURING COVID-19 

  • Southeast Georgetown Community Council has a pilot program, Facilities 4 Families that connects distance-learners with locations that are now empty due to COVID-19 so that they have a good internet connection, quiet space and learning coaches.  Contact janna.wehring@segcc.org for details.  

  • Austin Free-Net has maintained Public Access Computer Lab services at the DeWitty Training and resource Center throughout pandemic. We are operating at 25% capacity, gloving, masking and temperature checking. We can serve up to 5 clients per hour. For appointments: 512-974-1463 or workforce@austinfree.net.  

  • SEGCC has a pilot program that connects distance-learners with internet ready locations, now empty due to COVID-19. Contact janna.wehring@segcc.org for details 

TECH ACCESS

DIGITAL LITERACY

COLLABORATIVES 

ADVOCACY & MODELS  

FUNDING 

  • Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) 

    • The Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) is excited to begin its 20th year of funding projects that improve community participation in digital society. Since 2001, more than $10.5 million in cumulative funds has been invested in community programs through GTOPs. These projects have ranged from after school creative media programs, to IT workforce training, and connecting those experiencing homelessness to social services. 

    • Potential applicants should be aware that a few changes have been made to GTOPs this year. The maximum award amount for GTOPs Core has been increased to $35,000. GTOPs Collaborative is being replaced with GTOPs Mini, a new funding pathway that will provide awards of $5,000-$10,000. More information will be shared about Mini later in the year. GTOPs Capacity will continue to receive applications on a rolling basis for 2 cohorts of grantees receiving $150-$2,500 each. 

    • The calendar for GTOPs Core applications has also changed to better accommodate applicant and grant reviewer schedules. Letters of Interest can be submitted from November 1st through January 8th and applications from January 18th to February 12th. 

    • All this information and more can be found on the new GTOPs website. There’s even guidance on how to become a grant reviewer and help to assess GTOPs applications for funding. Those interested in applying, should also attend the GTOPs 2021 Launch event on November 12th from 3 PM - 4 PM. The Office for Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs’ Community Technology team looks forward to another successful year of promoting digital equity in innovative ways.

DIGITAL RIGHTS AND DATA

Mission Capital has collected these resources as general information only. Entries on these pages do not indicate an endorsement or a relationship between Mission Capital and the service provider. Entries listed may not be up to date. Please contact service providers directly to learn more.