The Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) offers the Digital Equity Initiative Partnership Grant to support collaborative projects that address digital equity needs across Essex County, Massachusetts. The grant prioritizes projects in four key areas—devices, access, digital literacy, and collaboration—encouraging proposals that integrate systems-based approaches. Applicants must partner with at least one other organization to ensure a collaborative project design. Grants are available for up to $50,000 for one-year projects, with applications due by December 2, 2024, and awards announced in mid-January 2025.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or those with a fiscal sponsor. ECCF encourages applications from organizations with a commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity. Projects should demonstrate significant potential impact for the funding dollar, a capacity for continued relevance beyond the grant period, and a well-defined target audience with measurable outcomes. ECCF generally does not fund requests from individuals, governmental agencies, political purposes, debt reduction, public-sector responsibilities, academic research, or travel outside the region. Organizations based outside Essex County are eligible only if they have a physical presence in the Merrimack Valley.

Applications must be submitted through ECCF’s online Application Portal, with first-time users required to create an account. During the review period in December, the ECCF Digital Equity Initiative Partnership Grants Committee may conduct site visits to gather additional information. Quarterly check-in meetings are scheduled to support project development, and interim and final reports must be submitted through the portal. Additionally, funded applicants and their partners must join ECCF’s digital equity coalition if they are not already members.

For questions, applicants may contact Kate Machet, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Government Relations, at k.machet@eccf.org.