Resourcing the bridge between government investment and community engagement to achieve digital equity.
The Digital Equity and Opportunity Initiative’s mission is to leverage large-scale federal investments in broadband expansion and digital equity to close the digital divide and build lasting civic infrastructure in underserved communities through place-based coalitions and innovative digital equity projects.
Who We Are
The Digital Equity and Opportunity Initiative is a philanthropic collaborative of the Media Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, Democracy Fund, Mission Telecom, JPB Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation to leverage large-scale federal investments in broadband expansion and digital equity to close the digital divide and build lasting civic infrastructure in underserved communities.
Our Approach
We believe closing the digital divide = strengthening our democracy.
Our goal is to help resource and support coalitions with civic infrastructure that can be used for multi-issue advocacy engagement. If done right, this infrastructure will outlast this moment and will serve its community for years to come.
Our approach is to do more than just grantmaking. In addition to monetary support, DEOI provides coordination and resources to our grantees that are rooted in community autonomy and support services. DEOI’s methodology is three pronged:
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Monetary support is provided in partnership with our investing funder partners to resource capacity for grantees on-the-ground.
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Via the DEOI team, advocates, marketers, and operations associates are assigned to each grantee. DEOI organizes bi-weekly check-ins with each grantee, dedicating time and resources to help boost policy analysis, advocacy outreach, community engagement, cross-coalition information sharing, and streamlined operations.
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DEOI grantees are encouraged to work together in our monthly grantee cohort meetings where lessons learned, challenges, and success stories are shared out during pre-scheduled, facilitated Zoom calls. DEOI grantees frequently work together to leverage their collective knowledge and adapt strategies to individual constituencies.
DEOI Grantees are Moving the Needle for Digital Equity across the country.
Connecting Communities: New Mexico’s Tribal-Led Digital Equity Initiatives captures the groundbreaking efforts of the Santa Fe Indian School and tribal leaders as they work to bridge the digital divide across New Mexico’s Pueblos and Indigenous communities. Through powerful interviews and on-the-ground footage, the film explores the challenges of connectivity in rural and tribal lands, the historical importance of tribal sovereignty, and the innovative solutions that are empowering Indigenous leadership to build community-owned broadband infrastructure. This project highlights the resilience, collaboration, and impact of those working to ensure equitable access to education, opportunity, and civic engagement for generations to come.
Produced by the Digital Equity and Opportunity Initiative
Santa Fe Indian School
New Mexico
The DEOI currently supports nine grantees in seven states, and is hoping to expand our reach in 2025.
Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits & Philanthropy
Mississippi
Connecting Communities: Mississippi’s Digital Equity Initiatives captures the journey of the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy and their partners as they build digital equity coalitions across the state. Through interviews and on-the-ground footage, the film explores the challenges grantees face, the political landscape, and the transformative power of collaboration between nonprofits and philanthropy in driving civic engagement. This project aims to highlight the stories, efforts, and impact of those working tirelessly to bridge the digital divide in Mississippi.
Produced by the Digital Equity and Opportunity Initiative
How To Invest in Digital Equity
The DEOI team is still seeking investment commitments from national philanthropy for this once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the digital divide and build lasting civic infrastructure in the most vulnerable communities.
To learn more, please contact info@DigitalEquityAndOpportunityInitiative.com
The DEOI Team
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Daiquiri leads the Digital Equity and Opportunity Initiative, having been a thought partner on the project since its inception in 2022. As lead, Daiquiri engages with DEOI funders, grantees, policy makers, and advocates on a daily basis to help build a vision for what community-led digital equity looks like across the country.
Daiquiri Ryan Mercado is a Tejana and first-generation lawyer with passion, equity, and justice at the center of all of her work. With roots in Dallas, Phoenix, and Washington, DC, she’s dedicated her career to being a movement-builder, policy expert, and change-maker.
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Evelyn manages the day-to-day magic that makes DEOI possible. From operational support for grantee coalitions to coordinating site visits, Evelyn pushes DEOI to be efficient, effective, and authentically impactful every day.
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Maria manages and leads support for all nine of DEOI's grantees. In addition, Maria helps bridge knowledge between digital equity advocacy experts and DEOI's place-based coalitions.
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Nancy supports all nine DEOI grantees with marketing expertise and advocacy-focused coalition building tactics. Nancy provides hands-on support to place-based coalitions (powered by DEOI grantees) through community engagement toolkits and press opportunities, making DEOI's approach unique and comprehensive.