Best Technology Grants in Nebraska

National Library of Medicine provides Nebraska technology access and digital literacy professionals with US $2,000 awards for virtual professional development. Individuals and NNLM Network Member institutions in Region 3 can fund online conferences, courses, or workshops in data science or health information access to better serve underrepresented communities and improve health information delivery.

Nebraska library, health, and education professionals seeking technology access and digital literacy training can receive US $2,000 for professional development that improves health information access. The National Library of Medicine’s NNLM Region 3 Professional Development Award funds conferences, classes, workshops, and related activities for individuals and member institutions focused on data science, health information delivery, and serving underrepresented communities.

Nebraska libraries, health organizations, and NNLM network members can seek funding to exhibit or present on health information technology, digital literacy, and equity-focused resources. Focused on health information access, the National Library of Medicine’s Exhibit Award supports outreach at conferences, community events, or institutional exhibits, especially for underrepresented communities, with awards of US $2,000.

Nonprofit organizations providing technology-enabled education, cybersecurity, or AI workforce programs in Nebraska and other eligible countries can seek funding to expand skills training and job placement for underrepresented learners. With a mission to power human progress, Kyndryl Charitable Foundation supports future-forward education, climate action, and an inclusive economy through long-term, data-informed partnerships.

Local churches can apply for CFA Ministry Grants to support stewardship, technology, or leadership development projects, including AV upgrades for worship and digital ministry. Grants from the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church help congregations, including those serving Nebraska online or remotely, access up to US $500 per project, with up to two applications per year.

U.S.-based nonprofits, fiscally sponsored projects, and certain charitable LLC/for-profit initiatives working at the intersection of disability rights, justice, and technology can receive US $25,000 - US $70,000 for movement-building projects. Borealis Philanthropy provides support for efforts like disabled-led tech education, advocacy, equitable digital infrastructure, and design collaborations, including work benefiting communities in Nebraska.

Hawaii high school graduates pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate STEM degrees at accredited U.S. colleges can receive scholarship support that may benefit those studying in Nebraska. Hawai'i Community Foundation provides students in medicine, science, technology, engineering, or mathematics with need-based funding, with preference for prior recipients and Aiea Korean Methodist Church members or their children.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities and governmental units can seek funding for technology access and digital literacy projects, education, food insecurity, and community development in Nebraska communities served by Sparklight. Sparklight provides support for special projects, capital campaigns, and capacity-building efforts through its Charitable Giving Fund.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations focused on STEM education, digital literacy, and workforce skills can seek funding for technology-related projects through the C Spire Wireless Foundation, which serves multiple states including Nebraska. With a mission to inspire excellence, the foundation supports programs that strengthen tech education, professional skills, and broadband access in its region.

501(c)(3) organizations focused on STEM education, digital literacy, technology skills, or workforce development can apply for sponsorship support from C Spire Wireless Foundation, including groups in Nebraska. With a mission to strengthen tech education and broadband access, the foundation provides grants and event sponsorships, favoring organizations based in its service region.

Undergraduate students in STEM and NOAA mission-related fields across the U.S., including Nebraska, can receive up to US $40,000 plus a paid summer internship through the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship. Focused on oceanic, atmospheric, environmental, and related sciences, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supports academic study, hands-on research, and career development in these areas.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups can receive funding for technology education, digital literacy, and related community programs, including work in Nebraska. Affirm Cares provides support for initiatives in technology access and training, financial literacy, housing insecurity, homelessness, civic engagement, and broader community enrichment within its three pillar areas.

Nebraska technology and broadband providers serving eligible rural areas can access funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect Grants to build and operate high-speed internet infrastructure. Awards of US $100,000 - US $5,000,000 support community-oriented connectivity, free access for critical facilities and community centers, and projects that expand digital access, markets, equity, and climate resilience.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations running Christian technology, media, or digital outreach projects, including those in Nebraska, may be eligible for support to advance evangelism, leadership, and holistic ministries. The Festus and Helen Stacy Foundation funds specific projects for ministries worldwide, with a focus on media and technology, children and youth, and serving marginalized communities.

OpenAI provides Nebraska technology access and digital literacy nonprofits with unrestricted funding to explore how AI can strengthen community services, arts and culture, or local journalism. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities with primarily U.S. operations and small to mid-sized budgets, including certain community foundations and other regranting organizations.

Nonprofit and community organizations advancing science, education, or creativity in Nebraska can access funding through Promega, which supports technology access and digital literacy initiatives across the U.S. and Canada. Programs that enhance educational and technological enrichment or arts and cultural experiences may be eligible, excluding lobbying, religious, fraternal, athletic, or individual-focused requests.

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.

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) aims to enhance broadband access and adoption on Tribal lands, supporting initiatives for remote learning, telework, and telehealth. Administered by NTIA, this program provides vital funding to eligible entities under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. This funding is crucial for fostering digital inclusion and improving connectivity in underserved Tribal communities.

The Native Entities Grant Program, initiated by NTIA under the Digital Equity Act of 2021, aims to support Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations. This program streamlines funding through a unified application for two significant initiatives: the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant. By focusing on reducing administrative burdens, it enhances access to digital resources and equity in underserved communities.

This initiative aims to enhance clinical and public health outcomes through innovative digital health interventions. It supports research on the development and effectiveness of tools designed for underserved settings, leveraging new technologies and analytics. By fostering collaborations between U.S. and low- and middle-income country researchers, the program emphasizes reciprocal innovation to tackle common health challenges, ultimately maximizing benefits for diverse populations.

The International Research Scientist Development Award (IRSDA) supports U.S. postdoctoral researchers and junior faculty to engage in mentored research and career development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This initiative promotes collaboration with local researchers, enhancing understanding of the research environment and strengthening international networks. Recipients are expected to spend significant time at LMIC sites, ultimately aiming to develop competitive NIH research proposals and become leaders in global health.

The Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative, under the Teaching with Primary Sources program, aims to empower organizations in the U.S. and its territories to create innovative projects that leverage digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress. This initiative, named after Reps. Lewis and Houghton, promotes education in civics, democracy, and history, fostering critical thinking and literacy among students. Grants will be awarded based on the proposal's alignment with these educational goals, enhancing community engagement.