ClosingTheDivide (CTD) is a student-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide through a variety of initiatives. Their initiatives range from donating computers to underprivileged families, to providing coding classes to thousands of students, to diverting e-waste from landfills. 

They implement these initiatives through two avenues: e-waste collection and digital literacy promotion. Through their e-waste program, they recycle or refurbish used devices to help the environment and create a new supply of devices to donate. They also provide free coding classes taught by high school students to use skills and inspire passion in local youth to follow a career path in the emerging STEM field.

Community Computer Connection, an official Microsoft Registered Refurbisher, has provided access to technology to the underserved communities of Colorado since 2000. Over the many years, Community Computer Connection has refurbished and distributed thousands of computers to schools and nonprofit organizations. Over 30% of our computer systems go to youth and families in Colorado.

Community Computer Connection receives donations of used computer equipment from local corporations, organizations, and individuals. Our team fully refurbishes and distributes them to charities, schools and low income families for an administrative fee. The computers we refurbish come complete with licensed Windows operating systems and additional software. The computers are used to establish or upgrade community technology centers, improve administrative operations, and support “Learn and Earn” programs that award students a computer for completing technical training.

Education and training is a vital part of our program. We have established partnerships with local colleges in the Front Range area which incorporate work study students to assist us in the refurbishment process. Students who participate with our program are able to earn money to towards their school expenses as well as gain hands on work experience that contributes to their professional skills.

CompuCorps is a high-tech charity that seeks to benefit Canadian society by providing at risk groups (Aboriginal, youth,  seniors and those living with disability) career and life skills training focused on access to technology (computers) and the internet. The organization runs three programs including; TechYouth, TechReuse and TechMentor. It was funded in 2000, has engaged over 250 IT volunteers, and it has contributed to over 100 charity projects supported by a dedicated team of members and volunteers. CompuCorps is also a registered Microsoft partner and refurbisher.

COMPUTER REACH is a nonprofit social enterprise that trains volunteers to refurbish used computers and digital equipment in an environmentally responsible manner. We work with funding partners to provide refurbished equipment to qualified humanitarian organizations around the world to meet their technology needs so they can better serve their communities. We support the equipment we place and specify environmentally responsible recycling.  

Computers 4 Kids’ mission is to greatly improve the educational outcome of low income students in our community by providing free and low-cost computers to those who meet our program qualifications. Their goals include providing students with the valuable tools, resources, and supplies they need in order to continue to be productive and successful in school by placing a computer in the home of every kindergarten through 12th grade student in the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento. They also provide computers to the Los Rios Community College District.  Through the federal work study program at the local community college, students studying computer hardware can get hands-on training and experience refurbishing and repairing computers on-site. They have provided training to over 60 Computer Technicians. 

C2K believes all children and their families, regardless of their economic status, need to be computer literate and have equal access to technology and the crucial educational, occupational, and financial resources that technology can provide to improve their educational options and their futures.

Economic barriers to technology hinder the growth and development of low-income families and perpetuate poverty. C2K responds to this digital disparity and the real-world demand for computer literacy through its Technology Assistance Program that recycles and refurbishes used computers and delivers them to families in need. C2SDK also provides each recipient with education, training and technical support necessary to achieve success.

C2K Services California, Arizona, and Nevada and ships systems nationwide.

Based in northern Illinois, ConnectWaukegan is an initiative of the Waukegan Community Broadband Taskforce, a public private collective impact effort focusing on underserved communities in Lake County. Through digital inclusion work, ConnectWaukegan is committed to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of information and communication technologies.

 By utilizing the Digital Navigator just in time model, the ConnectWaukegan team helps community members register for the Affordable Connectivity Program, apply the benefit to an internet service provider, access technology support, and assess technology and digital skill building needs.  ConnectWauekgan is currently exploring the feasibility of a fixed wireless solution (read their proof of concept here) and the Community Connection Center model as a means of providing resources to community members.

Connected Insights is a non-profit for scientific and educational research. Their mission is to increase the impact, responsiveness, and adaptability of social programs. 

They conduct social science research and evaluation of economic development and digital inclusion efforts made by nonprofit organizations, government programs and community leaders. 

Connected Insights was founded to: 

1. Increase affordable access to research and evaluation services.
2. Improve organizations ability to communicate their impact.
3. Spearhead a coalitional effort to share program metrics across the social sector in order to better demonstrate shared impacts, drive social innovation and advocate for resources and support.

Connected Nation is a nonprofit working to develop and provide tools, resources, and methods to help local communities, states, and federal agencies create and implement solutions to their broadband and digital technology gaps.

They believe that everyone is part of our connected nation and should have opportunities to improve their lives, families and communities regardless of who they are, where they live, or how they begin. They have a state map with information about current and past digital projects at: https://connectednation.org/state-by-state/

They work with all providers of broadband service. Their neutral approach to developing plans for broadband expansion makes it possible to build effective public-private partnerships within communities at the local, state and federal level.