Verizon’s Digital Ready program gives business owners the opportunity to access free courses and educational materials, as well as apply for grant funding. To be eligible for a $10,000 small-business grant, entrepreneurs must register through the Verizon website and complete at least two of the following: courses, live coaching or community events.
Once these tasks are completed, you can submit a grant application. Applications for the latest round of financing closes end of June.
Verizon provide grants to eligible recipients. Their funding priorities are aligned around Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection and Human Prosperity. New applications are by invitation only.
Contact your local community relations manager.
For non-profit organizations seeking funding from Verizon, grant applications are by invitation only. You can contact your local community relations manager to see whether you are eligible to apply or learn other ways to get involved in your community.
Verizon and the Verizon Foundation are inclusive.
Neither Verizon or the Verizon Foundation discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, religion, national or ethnic origin or physical disability. As a company with a highly diverse workforce serving an equally diverse set of customers, Verizon through its Foundation, supports a wide range of programs through direct and matching grants that benefit diverse communities, including without limitation minorities, veterans, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender and others. Verizon and the Verizon Foundation each expect its grant recipients to comply with all applicable laws, including those governing tax-exempt status and non-discrimination laws. To apply for a grant contact the Community Relations Manager for your area as indicated above.
All organizations must:
-Not duplicate or significantly overlap the work of public agencies on the federal, state or local level.
-Keep books available for regular independent outside audit and make the results available to all potential contributors.
-Comply with applicable laws regarding registration and reporting.
-Observe the highest standards of business conduct in its relationships with the public.
Eligible organizations
501(c)(3) Public Charities:
To be considered for an invitation, an organization must be: Classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and further classified as a public charity under section 509(a)(1)-509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as follows:
Section 509(a)(1)
Organizations described in section 170(b)(1)(A) clauses (i) – (vi):
170(b)(1)(A)(i) – Church, provided that the grant will benefit a large portion of a community without regard to religious affiliation and does not duplicate the work of other agencies in the community.
170(b)(1)(A)(ii) – School.
170(b)(1)(A)(iii) – Hospital or medical research organization.
170(b)(1)(A)(iv) – Organization which operates for benefit of college or university and is owned or operated by a governmental unit.
170(b)(1)(A)(v) – Governmental unit.
170(b)(1)(A)(vi) – Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public.
Section 509(a)(2)
Organizations that normally receive no more than one-third of its support from gross investment income and unrelated business income and at the same time more than one-third of its support from contributions, fees, and gross receipts related to exempt purposes.
Section 509(a)(3)
Type I, II, or III functionally integrated – Organizations operated solely for the benefit of and in conjunction with organizations described in the previous seven items. 509(a)(3) organizations that are not designated as an approved type are not eligible.
K-12 Schools:
To be considered for an invitation, a school must be classified as not-for profit elementary or secondary school (public or private) and registered with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Guidelines
If you are eligible to apply, your grant application to either Verizon or the Verizon Foundation for consideration should abide by the following guidelines:
At least 85% of the total grant funds should be composed of direct costs (costs that are directly attributable to the project.) Accordingly, indirect (or “overhead”) costs should be no more than 15% of the total grant funds. Grants with indirect costs greater than 15% will require a business justification to be considered for funding.
Grants with IT-infrastructure related costs (such as computer hardware, software, data or networks) that total more than 20 percent of the grant’s total direct costs should provide an explanation detailing the use of the IT assets and whether cellular connectivity is involved.
For education grants, Verizon and Verizon Foundation funding is intended to support projects that promote digital skills development for students and teachers in grades K-12. This includes, for example, summer or afterschool programs in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), teacher professional development, and research on technology-infused pedagogy. Schools and districts that apply for grants from Verizon and are eligible for the Education Rate (E-Rate) program may not use grant funding to purchase technology hardware (computers, netbooks, laptops, routers), devices (tablets, phones), data or Internet service and access, unless approved by Verizon compliance.
Exemptions
Verizon and the Verizon Foundation may refuse funding for any of the following:
Individuals
Private charity or foundation
Organizations not exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and not eligible for tax-deductible support
Religious organizations, unless the particular program will benefit a large portion of a community without regard to religious affiliation
Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
Organizations whose primary purpose is to influence legislation
Endowments or capital campaigns
Sports events that lack a charitable purpose
Performing arts tours
Trade association memberships
Organizations that have received a grant from Verizon or the Verizon Foundation within the past three consecutive years – organizations may reapply after a one-year hiatus
Organizations where the founder of the charitable organization is an employee or retired employee of Verizon
Organizations where a member of a Verizon employee’s or retired employee’s family* or someone who shares a close personal relationship** with an employee or retired employee will receive any direct or indirect financial benefit as a result of the Verizon Foundation grant
Organizations where a member of a Verizon employee’s or retired employee’s family* or someone who shares a close personal relationship** with an employee or retired employee is a founder or employee
Neither Verizon nor the Verizon Foundation provides cash grants intended to pay for Verizon products or services.