Michelson Spark Grants
The 2023 Michelson Spark Grants Digital Equity funding cycle is open through March 13, 2023. Copies of the letter of interest and full application are available. LOIs that pass initial grant committee review will be asked to submit a full application.
Spark Grants is an innovative, just-in-time grantmaking process.
Our vision is to introduce a process that can fill urgent needs for education organizations that are well-aligned with our focus areas. We seek to fund highly impactful initiatives that would not be possible if they needed to wait through a traditional grant decision timeline.
The Spark Advantage
Timing
In the spirit of acting quickly, grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility
For this round of funding we have decided to focus our impact on organizations that are doing work in California. Organizations whose work does not impact California will be ineligible for this opportunity.
Velocity
We are committed to advancing or declining an LOI within 1 week of when our call for proposals close. Grants will be awarded within 6 weeks of the call for proposals closing.
Grant Evaluation Criteria
Baseline Grant Criteria
- Grant ask is up to $25,000.
- This Digital Equity Spark Grants funding cycle seeks to fund projects that support systems-level strategies with potential to create positive impact at scale and inform public policy.
- Given the size and scope of digital inequity and the complexity of securing adequate funding for programs and initiatives to fully address the issue we welcome proposals where Michelson Spark Grant funds are part of a larger overall project with multiple funding streams.
- For this cycle of funding we have decided to focus our impact on organizations that are doing work in California.
- We will not be funding initiatives that provide direct assistance to students during this Michelson Spark Grant round (e.g. laptops or hotspots for remote learning). While we realize there is a tremendous need in our communities for this type of direct support, we are leveraging our funding to effect broader systemic change at this time.
Digital Equity Funding Cycle Focus Areas:
- Digital Equity as a Social Determinant of Health: Efforts that address digital inequity through its impact as a social determinant of health, and that can be a promising practice to be scaled across the state. Efforts that bridge the digital divide in at least one of the following issue areas:
- Higher Education (i.e.: Research on the impact of digital inequity on college students)
- Healthcare/Public Health (i.e.: Equitable access to digital healthcare)
- Economic Opportunity (i.e.: Workforce Development; equitable access to seeking, applying, and securing jobs)
- Civic Engagement (i.e.: Access to public benefits)
- Eliminating Digital Discrimination: Projects that highlight the needs and uplift the voices of historically digitally redlined and underserved communities in California. These efforts help address the impact that inadequate broadband has in areas that may superficially appear to be served. Efforts that provide tools to combat digital discrimination and to promote equal access to broadband throughout California. These may include but are not limited to:
- Efforts that highlight disparities in broadband access
- Research that addresses mapping shortcomings at the state level
- Storytelling, surveying, testimonial-gathering
- Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement: Efforts that increase civic participation in digital equity policy-making and regulatory processes at the local, regional, or state-level (including the education of state policy-makers on key digital equity issues). This may include efforts focusing on education, capacity-building and the equitable implementation of digital equity policy.
- Digital Equity in Tribal Communities: Projects that help Tribal Communities bridge the digital divide. This may include but isn’t limited to:
- Education
- Capacity-building
- Workforce Development
What We’re Looking For
Our vision is to introduce a process that can fill urgent needs for education organizations that are well-aligned with our focus areas. We seek to fund highly impactful initiatives that would not be possible if they needed to wait through a traditional grant decision timeline.
Alignment with focus areas
Lasting organizational sustainability
Measurability of project impact
Spark Grants Evaluation Process
Grant Application is Received
After LOI is submitted the Grant Committee will do an initial assessment.
Reject or Move Forward Decision is Made
Within 6 business days you will be notified if your proposal is moving forward in the process.
Complete Full Application
Proposals that advance will be asked to complete a full application.
Applications Assessed
Full applications will be assessed and a follow up call will be scheduled with those that advance to the finalist stage.
Final Decision Made
You will be notified of the Grant Committee decision within 6 weeks of our call for proposals closing.
Grant Committee
Phil Kim
Chief Executive Officer
Mayra Lombera
Chief Operating Officer
Ryan Erickson-Kulas
Director of Programs and Operations
Miguel Leon
Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives
Cristal Mojica
Senior Program Manager, Digital Equity
Past Spark Grant Recipients
Want to Learn More?
On February 16th, members of the Grant Committee hosted an informational webinar on the funding cycle, focus areas, and Spark Grants process.