The Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program

City Bureau and Cook County’s Digital Equity Initiative are partnering to support organizations working to improve access to the internet, technology, and digital literacy resources.

In 2024, City Bureau and Cook County’s Digital Equity Initiative launched the IMPACT Small Grants Program to provide funding and storytelling support to local nonprofits, media organizations, and libraries. These grants help expand internet access, improve digital literacy, and boost the engagement efforts of community-based organizations to make digital skills accessible to everyone in Cook County.

City Bureau’s work is about addressing the barriers to a more just and equitable information ecosystem. When people can’t access a computer, don’t feel comfortable navigating the internet, or lack broadband access—that’s a major roadblock to being informed in an increasingly online world. We can’t have information equity without digital equity.

14 organizations across Suburban Cook County are currently using IMPACT funding to address the digital divide and engage their communities so more people can access the information, devices, and resources they need to live well, be informed, and connect with one other.

Interested in joining the IMPACT cohort? Applications for the second round of funding are open now!

City Bureau and Cook County are now accepting applications for the second-ever round of the Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program.

To be eligible for funding, applicants should:

Primarily serve communities in Suburban Cook County through their project.
Be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, or fiscally sponsored by one.
Submit a project that aims to 1) address at least one of the cornerstones outlined in Cook County’s Digital Equity Action Plan and 2) show that you've thought about how you will engage community members and their narratives to increase awareness about digital equity.

Submit your application here by 5PM Central Time on January 14, 2026.

Read below for more information about the application process.

Overview of funding opportunity

The Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program was created to advance the Cook County Digital Equity Action Plan’s strategic direction for a more connected county. Consider how your project aligns with the cornerstones and recommended solutions outlined in the Plan, and described below, when completing your application.

Cornerstones for advancing digital equity

Access: Ensure that all residents can afford high-quality internet and devices, and can access tools and support to use them.

Confidence: Ensure that residents have the skills and comfort to navigate and use the internet to meet their needs and improve quality of life.

Safety: Ensure residents feel safe and secure in digital environments and can protect themselves online.

Infrastructure: Ensure that Cook County has sufficient physical infrastructure (conduit, cables, towers, and data centers) to support healthy, robust internet service for all.

IMPACT solutions recommended by the Plan

Innovative—Replication of a successful model or new model that meets the needs of County residents and builds equity.

Measurable—Defined metrics to track, qualify, quantify, and “storify” progress based on agreed-upon impact goals.

Purposeful—Activities are intentional, useful, relevant, and specific, with a vision of the change we want to see.

Actionable—Mindset, attitude, or strategy focused on taking practical steps to change course or improve circumstances.

Collaborative—Joining forces and working collectively toward shared goals or objectives.

Timely—Activities meet current, demonstrated needs and create strategic pathways for bigger goals.

IMPACT program objectives

The Cook County Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program will help to:

→ Provide resources and add capacity to existing Suburban Cook County organizations (excluding Chicago) that implement digital equity activities.

→ Encourage pilot programming that aligns with one or more IMPACT solution recommendations. (e.g., partnering with a local laundromat to provide free Wi-Fi for customers, hosting digital skills game nights that build comfort and confidence with technology, creating a digital equity asset map for your community, or starting a training series at your local library, school, or church about financial literacy and online safety. These are just a few examples to help inspire.)

→ Build partnerships with local media, journalists, and storytellers to capture, create, and share content to strengthen and expand digital inclusion access and equity information.

→ Grow the digital equity ecosystem in Cook County, by establishing a community of practice that fosters collaboration, shares best practices, and drives collective impact. By building a supportive network, we can enhance the effectiveness of individual projects and contribute to broader digital equity objectives across the region.

Grant levels

Round 2 of the Cook County Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program has THREE grant levels:

BOOST for new smaller-scale projects ($7,500) - 5 grants total

EMPOWERMENT for existing larger-scale projects ($15,000) - 9 grants total

HORIZON for a scalable broadband infrastructure project ($30,000) - 1 grant total

Application process

Complete the application online at this link. The application has 15 questions about your organization and proposed project, and includes an optional video submission.

Applicants will be notified in late January if their application has been selected. Applicants who are selected for funding will be required to submit a detailed budget after award selections. This step underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of grant funds.

The submitted budget should clearly outline projected expenses and demonstrate alignment with the project’s goals and objectives, ensuring that resources are effectively utilized to advance your project and Cook County’s digital equity initiatives.

What to expect during the grant period

Funded organizations will receive storytelling support and opportunities to connect with members across the IMPACT cohort virtually and in-person during the grant period. Grantees are expected to commit time to participating in cohort-wide events if selected.

Timeline

12/12/2025 — application opens

1/7/2026 — virtual information session

1/14/2026 — applications due

1/28/2026 — selected applicants are notified

2/2/2026 — Awardees announced publicly

Have questions about the application?

Please submit all questions to grants@citybureau.org. For transparency and fairness, this page will be updated with responses to all questions we receive every Friday, with the last update being on January 9, 2026.

Digital access for all is necessary for informed, connected communities.

Through our partnership with Cook County’s Digital Equity Initiative, we’ve seen how integral improving access to the internet, technology, and digital literacy is for strong civic information networks.

More ways to get involved

Attend Public Newsroom 163: Inside Digital Equity

In an increasingly digital world, technology is always shaping our ability to inform ourselves and one another, and to take action.

In this Public Newsroom: Inside Digital Equity, you’ll learn from three organizations utilizing storytelling, community engagement, and collaboration to advance digital equity in Chicago’s suburbs. Through choose-your-own adventure exercises, we’ll brainstorm how addressing gaps in digital access and inclusion can further civic participation.