Partnering with Corporations to Close the Digital Divide
How To Build Digital Equity Through Corporate Partnerships
Inspiredu is committed to building digital equity for underserved communities across Georgia. All families and individuals need reliable devices, high-speed internet, and digital skills for education, financial literacy, healthcare resources, and other day-to-day tasks. At Inspiredu, we work tirelessly to provide access to technology, digital literacy training, and support services to the most vulnerable communities.
Corporate Initiatives Can Help
The sheer scale of this challenge requires collaborative efforts that extend beyond our internal resources. In fact, our corporate partnerships are one of the vital components to our success. The good news is that today companies across industries continue to embrace corporate social responsibility as a core component of their overall strategy. The resulting initiatives encompass a wide range of activities that positively impact society and the environment. Companies with initiatives around digital equity and inclusion make a great fit for our mission.
Partnership in Action: Comcast
What does this type of collaboration look like in action? Through our partnership with Comcast, Inspiredu receives a substantial number of laptops and tablets each year to support low-income families and community centers in underserved neighborhoods. In addition, Comcast employees often volunteer their time at the Volunteer & Training Center to prepare these devices for distribution or provide support at our learning workshops. The company is also committed to supporting Inspiredu financially through grants and sponsorships. Last month, they contributed $10,000 to Inspiredu on the Kelly Clarkson Show when Inspiredu was featured as part of the Good Neighbor segment (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6lCYo0g9XE ).
What’s more, on May 21, 2024, Comcast hosted an Inspiredu Town Hall at their divisional headquarters at The Battery, featuring an exciting discussion about empowering small business owners through digital resources and technology. Moderated by Michelle Pluskota, Vice President, Business Services, Big South Region at Comcast, the panelist discussion featured Richard Hicks, CEO of Inspiredu, and Monica Delores Hooks, Chief Experience Officer of Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. The event also included several Comcast RISE (https://www.comcastrise.com/) grant recipients and partners.
Thank you, Comcast, for all your support!
How can you partner with Inspiredu?
When you think about corporate partnerships, two things probably come to mind: financial support and in-kind donations. At Inspiredu, we need both of these... and more. Here are three ways we collaborate with our corporate partners to make a difference:
· Volunteer staff time
Our volunteers are the true heroes of our mission to build digital equity. They are often corporate employees with the skills to help with digital literacy, serve as tech team support, and help with our community workshops as Digital Champions. Warehouse Volunteer Days are a fantastic opportunity for teambuilding with your group while gaining hands-on experience working with Inspiredu.
· Donate old technology
When donated devices come our way through corporate technology donation programs, we work to refurbish and extend their lifecycle. Recycled and repurposed computers become home learning centers with educational software, complete with training on how to use them. For those devices that can’t be repurposed, we collaborate with various organizations to recycle them in an environmentally friendly way. Either way, we help companies safely and conveniently offload their old technology.
· Financial support
Beyond time and donations, financial support is a necessity to execute our mission. Inspiredu is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our corporate sponsorship opportunities are designed to fit your organization and span a spectrum of engagement pathways, providing community exposure and building connections. We also fund our mission through individual gifts, matching donations, computer licensing opportunities, and family sponsorships.
It’s clear that collaborative efforts between Inspiredu and partner corporations will continue to help build a more inclusive digital society. By aligning missions and resources, our partnerships can drive meaningful change to some of the most vulnerable communities. Together, we can build a world where everyone can navigate digital pathways both now and in the years to come.
Interested in partnering with Inspiredu? Click below