Charter Communications said it has awarded $1 million in Spectrum Digital Education grants to 49 nonprofit organizations in 16 states and Washington, D.C., part of its five-year, $7 million commitment to support digital literacy within its 41-state service territory. Recipients will use the funds to create broadband technology programs and training in financially underserved rural and urban areas within Charter's footprint.

"As one of the nation's largest internet service providers, Charter is committed to supporting programs that promote digital literacy in the communities we serve," Charter VP of Community Impact Rahman Khan said in a press release. "The organizations supported by this year's grants are doing important work, such as developing technology programs to help families achieve financial stability and economic self-sufficiency, and teaching senior citizens how to use broadband to better connect with family. Through our partnerships with these nonprofits, we are giving people tools and resources to help them succeed and live fuller lives in today’s digital society."

Charter launched the Spectrum Digital Education grant program in 2017 to support nonprofit groups that educate community members on the benefits of broadband. According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, when asked the main reason why they are not online, more than 60% of offline households said “don’t need or not interested,” compared to less than 19% that said they were concerned about the cost. To date, Charter has awarded $7 million in Spectrum Digital Education grants and in-kind contributions to nonprofit organizations reaching nearly 70,000 people in 20 states and Washington, D.C.

This year's non-profit grant recipients are:

California

Building Skills Partnership, Los Angeles

Community Tech Network, San Francisco

East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, West Covina

Great Harvest Community Center, San Bernardino

Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services, Watsonville

Loaves Fishes & Computers, Inc., Salinas

Plaza Comunitaria Sinaloa, Mission Hill

Resource for Education Advocacy Communication and Housing, Santa Fe Springs

Florida

Seniors In Service of Tampa Bay, Inc., Tampa

Georgia

Georgia Extension 4-H Foundation, Inc., Athens

Hawaii

Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, Hilo

Hawaii State Rural Health Association, Hilo

Kentucky

Louisville Metro Housing Authority Development Corp.

Louisville Urban League

Massachusetts

Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc., Worcester

MAB Community Services, Inc., Brookline

Missouri

Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas, Kansas City

St. Louis Arc, Inc., St. Louis

The LaunchCode Foundation, St. Louis

Urban League of Greater Kansas City

Montana

Code Girls United, Kalispell

New York

First Corinthian Baptist Community Development Corporation, New York

Hispanic Federation, Inc., New York

Interfaith Works of Central New York, Inc., Syracuse

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp., New York

The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc., Buffalo

The YWCA of Brooklyn, Inc., Brooklyn

Westcott Community Center, Inc., Syracuse

North Carolina

Adult Center for Enrichment, Inc., Greensboro

E2D, Inc., Davidson

HUBZone Technology Initiative, Inc., Henderson

INTech Camp for Girls, Charlotte

Kramden Institute, Inc., Durham

Ohio

Ashbury Community Services, Inc., Cleveland

Central Community House of Columbus, Inc., Columbus

Collinwood and Nottingham Village Development Corporation, Cleveland

Homeless Hands of Zanesville

Goodwill Industries of Central Ohio, Inc., Columbus

Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, Cincinnati

South Carolina

Communities In Schools of South Carolina, N. Charleston

Palmetto Care Connections, Bamberg

Tennessee

Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee, Knoxville

Virginia

LGBT Technology Institute, Staunton

Washington, D.C

EveryoneOn

LULAC National Educational Service Centers, Inc.

OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

Wisconsin

Digital Bridge, Inc., Milwaukee

YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Wyoming

Wyoming State Museum Volunteers, Inc., Cheyenne

Other Charter philanthropic programs include Spectrum Scholars, a scholarship for under-represented college juniors in financial need; Spectrum Employee Community Grants, which supports Charter employees’ local volunteer activities; and the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund, which supports small and minority-owned businesses whose goods and services help meet core needs in financially underserved communities within the company’s footprint.

Charter Communications said it has committed $1 million to the 2021 Spectrum Digital Education grant program, supporting nonprofit organizations that educate community members on the benefits of broadband. Organizations can apply for the grants from June 1 through June 25, at 5 p.m. EDT. Grants will be announced in August and awarded this fall.

“The past year has further highlighted the need for high-speed broadband connectivity throughout our country, and Charter is even more committed to doing its part to connect the unserved and underserved,” said Charter vice president of community impact Rahman Khan in a press release. “Since we launched Spectrum Digital Education in 2017, we’ve provided resources as well as promote adoption and education in digital literacy for those in need throughout the communities we serve, and we look forward to continuing to meet those needs this year.”

Through February of this year, Spectrum Digital Education has awarded grants to nonprofit organizations that help communities expand their broadband and technical training, including teaching seniors digital skills, setting up technology labs, providing online classes for families that need homework and job support, and purchasing laptops for underserved groups. Charter estimates that the program has helped nearly 70,000 individuals across 19 states and Washington, D.C. To be eligible for a Spectrum Digital Education grant, organizations must serve communities located within Charter’s 41-state service area and have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. More information on how to apply is available here. 

Charter launched the Spectrum Digital Education program in 2017 and so far has committed $7 million to support  broadband education, technology and training. Last year the company increased the program to $1 million, in response to higher demand for digital education support due to the pandemic.

Charter Communications said Monday that it has begun to accept applications for its 2020 Spectrum Digital Education grant program, part of a $6 million, four-year cash and in-kind commitment to educate consumers on the benefits of broadband and how to use it in their everyday lives.

Applications are available here and will be accepted until June 26, at 5 p.m. EST. Grants will be announced in August and awarded in September.

Charter said it opened the application portal two months earlier than planned to meet the needs of nonprofit organizations focused on providing broadband training and education in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a broadband provider, Charter’s connectivity services provide a vital link within the communities we serve, more so than ever in this challenging time,” said Charter vice president of community impact Rahman Khan in a press release. “We have heard from many organizations struggling to keep up with the demand in their communities for broadband education, training and technology. We are proud to support these nonprofits through Spectrum Digital Education grants and to help meet their evolving needs by accelerating the application process.”

Charter launched the Spectrum Digital Education program in 2017. Prior awards have allowed local beneficiaries to set up technology labs, provide online education to senior centers, and distribute laptops, impacting 28,845 individuals across 17 states and Washington, D.C., through 2019. To be eligible for a Spectrum Digital Education grant, organizations must serve communities located within Charter’s 41-state service area and have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. More information on how to apply is available here.

In addition to Spectrum Digital Education, Charter’s Community Impact team has developed several programs to improve local communities. In 2015, it launched Spectrum Housing Assist, with the goal of improving 50,000 homes and to date has reached more than 41,000 homes. In 2019, the Spectrum Employee Community Grants program was created to support employees’ volunteer work at local social and human services nonprofits. Last year, the company donated to 140 organizations across 24 states for this program. In February, Charter announced the launch of the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund which will invest $10 million in capital by the end of 2021, making loans up to $1 million to community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in the company’s footprint. Most recently, Charter launched Spectrum Scholars, a two-year educational program for eligible rising juniors in financial need, which will award a total of $400,000 in scholarships.