National Digital Inclusion Alliance

Impact Report 2015-2022

Dear Friends,

I am often told to celebrate the $2.75 billion federal investment in digital equity. After all, this is digital equity’s moment. 

But…we also have so much work ahead of us making sure this investment has the returns we all want. 

Now is when we move communities from being appalled by fast food parking-lot schooling to understanding that digital equity requires long-term investments from all sectors. Now is when we, collectively, structure local and state digital equity strategies that build upon community expertise and trust while creating sustainable digital inclusion ecosystems. 

Read More from Executive Director Angela Siefer

With Digital Equity, We All Win

Mission: National Digital Inclusion Alliance advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act.

Vision: Everyone has the opportunity to use technology to live, learn, work, and thrive.

NDIA Affiliates

750+ Affiliates

in 48 States,

the District of Columbia,

Puerto Rico, and

US Virgin Islands

(As of June 2022)

Definitions

Since our start in 2015, our community craved a common language for the impactful work taking place, so we collaborated with you – our community – to build vocabulary around our movement. These terms you’ve defined with us have been used in whitepapers, research, testimony, and policy. NDIA’s definitions for “digital inclusion” and “digital equity” were even codified into law in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Digital Equity Act, passed in 2021.

Read More

NDIA: 2015 to Today

Community Spotlight

Instructor poses in a selfie with five adult students holding their certificates

Gina Birch, program coordinator at Ashbury Senior Community Computer Center in Cleveland, Ohio, celebrates with her students after the end of a computer skills class.

Digital Inclusion Week (DIW)

Since the first National Digital Inclusion Day in May 2017, Digital Inclusion Day (and then Week) has only grown more popular. Co-organized by volunteer community members from affiliate organizations, Digital Inclusion Week has always had a community-centered feel and focus. Over the years, hundreds of events have been hosted, thousands of Tweets sent, and hundreds of press articles have featured Digital Inclusion Week. Here’s a look back at Digital Inclusion Week 2021, which was the first week of October (and our first time in Times’ Square!), and how it has grown.

33,809

DIW Website Pageviews 2017-2021

53

Organizations Participated in the First-Ever Digital Inclusion Day, in 2017

335

Registered Events & Actions for DIW between 2017-2021

126

Media Mentions of “Digital Inclusion Week” in 2021

Countdown to Digital Inclusion Week - October 3-7, 2022 - Click to Get Involved!

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Tools & Reports

The Digital Inclusion Community

The Can’t-Miss Conference: Net Inclusion

NDIA hosted its first Net Inclusion conference in 2017. Since then, the conference has grown to be a unique experience, where those doing digital inclusion work everyday in their communities can find their people. Many practitioners have been isolated in their communities, and the opportunity to gather, share best practices, define the growing field, and bond has been invaluable. Due to the pandemic, Net Inclusion went virtual in 2020 and 2021, but NDIA was proud to bring back the in-person conference in Portland, Oregon in February 2022.
6 people stand in a line with the arms over each other smiling with the NDIA background

“The 2022 Net Inclusion Conference had all the feels. Seriously, it was the first large event that I’ve attended in two years. The apprehension of being in a large group in the midst of a pandemic, along with the thrill of actually meeting people in person that you’ve only seen virtually was a quandary of feelings. Thankfully, the apprehension quickly passed as NDIA made this the most welcoming and inclusive conference that I’ve attended. Organizations and individuals from diverse regions, communities, abilities, and backgrounds were well represented. The conference also had a diverse set of panels, speakers, and workshops including topics like structural racism, digital inclusion research, state and local funding, and economic development.“

- Andy Stutzman

ExCITe Center

Tweet from Stephanie Stenberg, Internet2

1,250

Livestream and Video Attendees

327

In-Person Attendees

4,062

Social Media Engagements

90

2022 Conference Speakers

Watch the 2022 Net Inclusion Conference

Community Spotlight

“Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, The STEM Alliance had a peripheral knowledge of digital inequity, like many nonprofits. When we dove into this work with full commitment in March 2020, NDIA was pivotal to our success. From one-to-one conversations to subscriber phone calls to networking to the national conference to the newsletter and listserv – every aspect of the NDIA community has helped us implement best practices and move at warp speed to take action. NDIA has amplified and accelerated our work – including influencing our ability to gain critically needed funding.”

- Margaret Käufer (pictured standing)

President & Chief Visionary Officer, The STEM Alliance, NDIA Affiliate

Advocacy & Policy

“Before the pandemic, I felt like Chicken Little running around trying to convince people why this matters. It’s not just about pipes and wires to people’s houses, we need to make sure that broadband is affordable, and that households have a computer to use and the skills to navigate them.”

Amy Huffman, NDIA Policy Director, Forbes, August 12, 2021

Federal Digital Equity Funding Since COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality of the digital divide hit many for the first time. While many struggled on the wrong side of the digital divide, NDIA advocated for digital inclusion. The Consolidated Appropriations Act established a temporary $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB). Digital equity was deemed as an eligible use for Capital Projects Funds, and local and state governments funded digital inclusion activities through the American Rescue Plan Act.
EBB with worldwide web
ARPA with capitol

$67 Billion for Digital Equity and Broadband Deployment!

In November 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act into law. The act authorizes $67 billion of funding for broadband infrastructure, deployment, and access, along with funding for digital inclusion activities. This is, by far, the biggest investment in digital inclusion that the US has seen and the largest downpayment on the road to digital equity. See NDIA’s policy priorities and click the icons below to get the latest news on each funding source.

Affordable Connectivity Program

Broadband Equity, Access & Deployment

$2.75 Billion Digital Equity Act

In the Media

“Calming computer jitters: Help for the elderly who aren’t tech-savvy,” Washington Post, July 2021

“Digital Divide Poses Problems,” Black News Channel, October 2021

“It Takes a Village: Solving the Broadband Adoption Problem in Rural America,” CNET, February 2022

“Digital Equity Takes Center Stage in U.S. Cities Post COVID,” Government Technology cover, March 2022

“The Looming Battle Over How to Set ‘Low Cost’ Broadband Prices,” Route Fifty, February 2022

“How is the Infrastructure rollout going — and what does it mean for tech?” Protocol, April 2022

Growth & Financials

Growth

NDIA started with just two dedicated people – Angela Siefer and Bill Callahan. Eventually, they became the core staff. And together they brought in hundreds of affiliate members of NDIA, launched the first focused report on digital redlining in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised the profile of digital inclusion work to a federal level. By 2019, they hired NDIA’s first staff members, and just a few years later, the staff grew to 18 full-time team members in 2022 to meet the country’s digital inclusion needs. With 130 years of combined experience in digital inclusion, the team brings unparalleled dedication and know-how to NDIA’s mission.
Tweet from BobbyCoulter: Yay!!!!! @netinclusion is the Marvel Avengers of the Digital Inclusion space

Financials over Time

NDIA’s annual budget has increased 867% within the past three years, demonstrating the increasing need and support for digital inclusion action across the country. With a multi-year $10 million gift from Google.org, which began in FY22, the organization is poised to launch larger initiatives and continue growing. | See NDIA’s most recent 990 here.

$365,203

FY20 income

$1,021,723

FY21 income

$3,531,768

FY22 projected income

FY22 Financials (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022)

$3,531,768 

FY22 projected income

$1,635,904

FY22 projected expenses

$1,895,865

FY22 projected net

Note on FY22 Financials: NDIA has a large net surplus at the end of FY22. This is due to Calendar Year 2022 income, which will be used for program expenses in FY23, beginning July 1, 2022.

Totals are unaudited.

%

Program Expenses

%

General & Management Expenses

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Fundraising Expenses

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Photos used in the Impact Report are courtesy of the following NDIA affiliate organizations: Human I-T, Ashbury Senior Community Computer Center, The STEM Alliance, and Digital Charlotte.