The City of Seattle released a new report reviewing the impact of several years of Technology Matching Fund grants, based on four years of narrative reports from community partners. Findings suggest that Technology Matching Fund programs are making a real difference in closing the digital divide for Seattle residents. The report emphasizes the need for the core elements of Seattle’s Digital Equity strategy—internet access, digital devices, and digital skills—for communities to fully participate in culture and civic life, advance their careers and education, and access essential services.
Seattle is a highly connected city overall—as of 2018, 95% of Seattle households had a way to access the internet in their home. However, digital access is not equitably distributed. In 2020, 21% of households with incomes under $25,000 lived without internet access at home.
Seattle’s Technology Matching Fund (TMF) program started in 1997 and has awarded over $5 million to support community efforts to close the digital divide. Technology Matching Funds are awarded to support programs that will help close the digital divide for these communities. Programs focus on connecting people with internet access, providing devices like laptops, teaching technology skills, or a mix of these activities.
Each year, community-based organizations receiving TMF grants submit reports detailing their program’s achievements. These reports are reviewed in detail each year, and quantitative data is available on the Internet for All dashboards. However, there had never been a systematic review of the detailed qualitative data submitted by community partners. These narrative reports provide rich detail on the human impact of TMF-funded programs.
In this report, Seattle’s Innovation and Performance Team analyzed four years of quantitative and qualitative data to identify themes and program achievements across TMF partners. Overall, common outcomes reported by funded organizations included:
- Increased internet access
- Increased access to digital devices
- Increased access to digital literacy training
- Increased confidence in digital navigation
- Increased access to economic opportunities
- Increased access to educational opportunities
- Increased access to social service benefits and essential services
- Increased overall well-being and quality of life
Many organizations that received TMF grants also experienced an increase in their overall capacity to provide services, thanks to building new partnerships, creating new classes or resources using the funding, purchasing new or better equipment, and more actions taken using TMF funding.
While these positive outcomes were seen across organizations, there were differences in how digital equity services impacted different communities. For example, programs serving immigrant and refugee communities frequently reported the importance of improved digital skills to help school-aged children and family members with online platforms. A common outcome for TMF programs serving older adults, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, was decreased social isolation and improved connection with friends and family.
The report also identified common challenges TMF partners face and strategies and best practices to address those challenges. For example, some providers shared difficulties with teaching classes with a large skill level gap between students. One solution was to match students with higher skill levels with more inexperienced students during activities. This practice allowed more savvy students to solidify their knowledge through teaching while giving newer students extra support.
Many organizations shared their challenges with transitioning to online or hybrid programs during COVID-19. Teaching tech skills in a virtual environment is difficult, and this was even more difficult when students lacked quality internet connections or devices at home. Partners stressed the importance of connecting students with affordable internet programs at the beginning of class and setting aside funding to ensure each student has the technology devices they need to participate. These and other lessons learned from program partners will be shared with the 18 organizations receiving TMF grants in 2023, as well as other organizations working in the Digital Equity space.
In addition to analyzing the successes and challenges of past TMF programs, the report also identified ways TMF programs can better understand and document long-term outcomes in the future. Seattle Information Technology staff will work with Innovation and Performance staff during the next grant cycle to expand the program’s ability to track long-term outcomes and reduce administrative burden for community partners applying for and receiving the grants.
Read the Technology Matching Fund 2018-2021 Qualitative Review, and visit the Technology Matching Fund website to learn more about the program. Applications are being accepted now through November 9 for the 2024 round of Digital Equity grants.
The City of Seattle’s Information Technology Department (Seattle IT) oversees the City’s Digital Equity Program. To learn more about Digital Equity Programs, including the Technology Matching Fund Grant program, reduced-cost internet opportunities, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and other programs, visit seattle.gov/tech. Seattle IT is a trusted partner that provides secure, reliable, and compliant technologies, enabling the City to deliver equitable and responsive services to the public.