Best Technology Grants in Wisconsin

Wisconsin internet providers and partners improving broadband infrastructure in unserved communities can access funding through the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to deploy advanced telecommunications capability. Projects must present a clear, achievable plan to expand broadband service, supporting technology access and digital connectivity for residents lacking adequate service.

Nonprofit and charitable organizations with 501(c)(3) or 170(c)(1) status serving Wisconsin communities can seek support for technology access and digital literacy programs that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. With a mission to build vibrant communities, Huntington National Bank provides program-specific funding for digital inclusion, community services, affordable housing, and economic and community development within its regional footprint.

Wisconsin municipalities near or above 6,000 residents seeking support to pursue federal technology access and digital literacy grants can participate in this free navigation program. National League of Cities helps eligible cities in several Great Lakes and Southern states, including Wisconsin, with one-on-one guidance, data collection, and cohort-based learning to compete for ARPA and IIJA funding.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) ministries using media, technology, or holistic programs can seek project-specific funding that advances Christian outreach and leadership development, including work touching Wisconsin. Grants from Festus and Helen Stacy Foundation help organizations engaged in evangelism, leadership training, and technology-based Christian media, with priorities in South Florida, national initiatives, and emerging nations.

Wisconsin schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the Belmont Community School District can access funding through the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin to enhance educational technology and related programming. Grants support tech improvements, field trips, and other enrichment beyond the regular school budget, and may benefit initiatives expanding technology access and digital literacy in Lafayette County.

Eligible incorporated entities, tribal organizations, governments, cooperatives, and other legal entities in rural Wisconsin can seek Community Connect Grants to build broadband infrastructure and community internet access, with awards from US $100,000 - US $5,000,000. Grants from USDA Rural Development help expand technology access, digital literacy, and essential online services in unserved rural areas.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored projects can receive support for technology education, digital access, and related community programs, including work in Wisconsin. Affirm Cares provides funding for initiatives in technology education and training, financial literacy and inclusion, and vibrant communities such as housing insecurity, homelessness, civic engagement, and small business development.

Wisconsin 501(c)(3) organizations planning educational or arts projects that benefit the Oakfield area and incorporate technology or digital learning may be eligible for this grant. Fond du Lac Area Foundation supports innovative, short-term initiatives that enhance educational opportunities, recognize student and teacher achievement, and promote life-long learning through up-to-date teaching technologies.

Wisconsin undergraduate students in NOAA-related STEM and technology fields can access funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which offers up to US $40,000 plus a paid summer internship. Eligible U.S. citizens at accredited U.S. colleges gain hands-on experience in oceanic, atmospheric, environmental science, and related technology and research careers.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations focused on STEM education, digital literacy, and workforce skills may be eligible for sponsorship and grant support that advances technology access and training, including in Wisconsin. Focused on STEM and digital literacy, C Spire Wireless Foundation invites organizations in its service region to propose community-benefiting projects and events.

Focused on technology access and STEM education, C Spire Wireless Foundation invites Wisconsin 501(c)(3) organizations to apply for support of digital literacy, technology, and workforce development projects. Nonprofits working on STEM education, professional skills, or broadband-related initiatives may be eligible, with preference given to organizations based in the foundation’s core region.

State-level PTA organizations working on education and technology access in Wisconsin can seek capacity-building support to grow membership, leadership, and organizational effectiveness. National Congress of Parents & Teachers offers up to US $10,000 for up to 10 state PTAs nationwide, with staff support and cohort learning opportunities during the FY2025–2026 funding cycle.

PTAs and PTSAs at elementary schools in Wisconsin can apply for National Congress of Parents & Teachers’ PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go! grants; awards US $1,500 for in-person family programs on digital safety and screen readiness. Eligible units must be in good standing and interested in technology access and digital well-being programming.

Hawaii high school graduates pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in medicine, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at accredited U.S. colleges can receive scholarship support for their studies; awards come from the Otto & Aegun Hensens Educational Fund of Hawai'i Community Foundation. Wisconsin students who meet these Hawaii-based criteria may be eligible if they graduated from a Hawaii high school.

U.S.-based disability-led organizations and charitable projects working at the intersection of disability rights, justice, and technology can apply for Borealis Philanthropy’s DIF x Tech Fund, awarding US $25,000 - US $70,000. Wisconsin groups under $1 million in annual budget may be eligible for work like tech-focused activism, design, and equitable digital access.

Local churches seeking technology, stewardship, or leadership development support in Wisconsin can apply for ministry project funding up to US $500. Grants from the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church help churches upgrade AV technology, strengthen stewardship practices, or train and equip church leaders through up to two applications per year, capped at US $1,000 total.

Nonprofit organizations advancing cybersecurity or AI workforce development and digital literacy can apply for support, including those serving Wisconsin within eligible countries. Kyndryl Charitable Foundation provides technology-focused nonprofits with funding and partnership to expand future-forward education, climate action, and inclusive economy initiatives, prioritizing community-led groups that measure impact and serve underrepresented learners and job seekers.

Researchers and practitioners examining technology’s social impacts who can reside in the U.S., including Wisconsin, can apply for the Just Tech Fellowship to support full-time work on tech, power, and social justice. Social Science Research Council awards approximately US $200,000 over two years, plus additional support, for projects envisioning more just and equitable technological futures.

Educators and students in the Hamilton School District can receive up to US $1,500 to support innovative classroom, arts, and technology projects, as well as educator enrichment. Grants from Hamilton Education Foundation help Wisconsin schools fund technology equipment, digital learning initiatives, and other educational enhancements that are not covered by regular school budgets.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities with small to mid-sized budgets using AI to enhance community services, arts, or local information can apply for the People-First AI Fund, including organizations in Wisconsin. This OpenAI Foundation program supports community-rooted nonprofits and select regranting organizations exploring practical, people-centered AI for access, opportunity, and voice.

Promega Corporate Giving is dedicated to advancing science and improving life globally. With over 45 years of experience, Promega supports initiatives in science, education, and creativity, focusing on innovative solutions and community wellness. They fund organizations in the U.S. and Canada that prioritize experimental initiatives while steering clear of political, religious, and fraternal causes. Their commitment lies in fostering long-term contributions from scientists to meet future global needs.

Future of Work Accelerator

A program of HP Inc. and the HP Foundation

In an increasingly digital world, people without access to technology and the skills to use it are often locked out of economic opportunity. The Accelerator helps scale the impact of organizations that are working to change this.  

Since 2022, the Accelerator has served 35 nonprofit organizations across 13 countries, helping them reach an additional 11.3 million people. 

As a joint program of HP and the HP Foundation, the Accelerator offers selected organizations USD$100,000 in funding, HP technology & solutions (~USD$100,000 value), and a six-month, virtual program designed to strengthen capacity and scale impact.  Exciting changes are ahead for the 5th year of the Accelerator. 

Arnold Ventures

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through evidence-based policy solutions that maximize opportunity and minimize injustice. We focus on improving systems where outcomes are falling short, incentives are misaligned, and the time is right for change.

To advance this mission, we invest in rigorous research to better understand the root causes of problems and strengthen the evidence base on what works to solve them. Using this evidence, we advocate for policy reforms at all levels of government and help build durable, bipartisan coalitions for lasting change.

Causal Research on the Impacts of Cell Phone Policies in K-12 Schools

The Opportunity

Smartphones are nearly universal among children and adolescents in the United States: 95% of teens reported having access to a smartphone, giving them regular exposure to social media, gaming, and video streaming platforms. While smartphones can support learning and social connection, emerging evidence suggests that using phones during school may also interfere with important educational goals, including student engagement, attendance, and academic performance.

In response, more than 30 states have passed laws restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools in recent years. These policies vary widely, ranging from “bell-to-bell” policies to classroom-level bans on phones only during instructional time. Despite the rapid adoption of these policies, rigorous evidence on academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts remains limited. In the absence of strong research, federal and state policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, lack the information needed to make informed decisions that effectively support student success. Building a robust evidence base is critical for shaping policies and practices that improve learning and well-being in both the short- and long-term.

This RFP seeks to address these gaps by supporting rigorous, causal research on the academic, behavioral, and mental health impacts of cell phone policies in K-12 schools in the United States. We seek studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, as well as school and district leaders, who are deciding whether and how to implement or refine such policies. This RFP will support both Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and Quasi-Experimental Designs (QEDs) that can credibly estimate causal effects. While we are open to a range of research questions, we highlight 2 areas of particular interest below.

What are the overall impacts of policies restricting cell phone use in K-12 schools?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on student-level outcomes, including academic achievement and attainment (e.g., standardized test scores, graduation rates), behaviors (e.g., engagement, attendance, disciplinary actions), and/or mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, loneliness)?

• What are the short- and long-term impacts of cell phone policies on school-level outcomes, including school safety (e.g., reported incidents), school climate (e.g., bullying, social connections), and administrative factors (e.g., costs, logistics, communications with parents)?

• Do initial impacts persist, fade, or grow as schools refine their practices over time?

What factors explain variation in the impacts of cell phone policies?

• Which students, schools, and districts are most impacted by cell phone policies?

• Which policy design features (e.g., what devices are banned, when devices are banned, how devices are stored/locked) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• Which implementation strategies (e.g., training and supports for school staff, consistent approaches for enforcement) make cell phone policies more — or less — effective?

• How do the resource and operational implications of different policy approaches (e.g., costs, staff time, infrastructure needs) influence their effectiveness? How do these factors affect the scalability and sustainability of effective approaches?

Beyond the Net Grant Program

The Internet Society Foundation’s Beyond the Net Grant Program offers funding to support Internet Society Chapters to implement innovative projects that make a local impact by providing meaningful access to an open, trusted, and globally-connected Internet, as well as strengthening the Chapters’ presence in the surrounding community. 

Program Objectives

• Strengthen the impact of the Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation’s mission and global initiatives with complementary local activities. 
• Develop new and strengthen existing relationships and partnerships at the local level.

Focus Areas

The Foundation will support Internet Society Chapters to implement initiatives within one or more of the following thematic areas:

Projects that support community-centered connectivity for unconnected and under-connected populations by providing easy, sustainable solutions, and training on productive use of the Internet.

Projects that make access affordable and resilient for unconnected and under-connected populations by improving, supporting, or advocating for the development of local Internet interconnection infrastructure (e.g., IXPs).

Projects that equip recently connected people with knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their communities online.

Projects that advocate for and educate policy makers, courts, decision makers, and commercial entities about threats to the Internet as an open and accessible platform for free expression and the exchange of ideas, safeguarding fundamental rights, ensuring the well-being of users, and fostering trust in digital technologies.

TechAccess: AI-Ready America is a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing AI readiness across the U.S. by fostering collaboration and resource sharing. It targets businesses, organizations, and individuals, ensuring widespread access to AI tools and knowledge. The program includes State Coordination Hubs to connect stakeholders, a National Lead for collaboration, and AI-Ready Catalyst Award Competitions to drive innovative solutions. This comprehensive approach seeks to prepare all sectors for an AI-driven economy, benefiting Americans through practical implementation and workforce development.

The Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship was established in 2010, in memory of Freeland resident and business owner Bernie Smillie. Bernie passed away in 2000, due to complications from a lung transplant he had received in 1994. In 2005, family and friends of Bernie established the Bernie Smillie Memorial Golf Outing. Proceeds of this outing has helped to promote organ donor support and awareness and establish this scholarship fund.

Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Michigan Resident

Evaluation Criteria

• Financial need (20)
• Work experience (20)
• Overall involvement at work, school and community activities (20)
• Career goals as demonstrated in essay (20)
• Letters of recommendation

Women of Colors Scholarship

Women of Colors (WOC) was founded in 1993 by a group of women that believed it would take a cooperative effort of women of all nationalities, ages and socioeconomic status to address issues plaguing the Saginaw Community. The founders believed that women should take a more active role in addressing issues of crime, blight and poverty. WOC began by providing support, community outreach services and facilitating discussions within the community. WOC’s mission promotes multi-cultural diversity and enhances community relations in Saginaw County by performing community service, mentoring youth, and collaborating with other organizations.

The Women of Colors Scholarship will be awarded each year to a Great Empowering Motivational Sessions (GEMS) member that is an area high school senior actively involved in efforts to empower young women and in activities that address issues affecting young women in the Saginaw Community. If no GEMS members are high school seniors, applications will be accepted from non-GEMS applicants.