The Digital Inclusion Fund is back.

After years of work to get families and individuals connected to the digital world, persistent gaps still separate many Kansas City-area families and individuals from essential connections they need to thrive.

That’s why, June 3, the first round of a renewed funding campaign will be taking applications from public charities, including schools and churches, to draw from a $250,000 fund to support their work in digital equity.

See how to apply:

Go to KC Digital Inclusion Fund, kcdif.org

“We are mission-driven to advance capacity and resources to the region’s digital inclusion ecosystem,” said Aaron Deacon, general manager of KC Digital Drive, which is heading the fund.

A collection of funders have made a multi-year commitment to support the grants that Deacon said will serve “as a conduit for digital equity and as a force-multiplier for direct service organizations who help the people they serve participate in digital life.”

In three rounds of grants, the Digital Inclusion Fund will support a series of needs across the area, starting with grants for computer devices June 3, followed by information technology (I.T.) support Aug. 1, and then grants for digital literacy classes Oct. 1. Applications will be made online at kcdif.org.

All three phases of digital support are essential to help close the gaps.

“This is all about digital infrastructure in communities,” said Adriana Pecina, an impact strategist at the Health Forward Foundation who is also a member of the fund’s Advisory Council.

“I’m most excited to see how this will impact grass-roots community organizations,” Pecina said, “and help them to demonstrate the social impact of digital inclusion, and prove and improve year over year.”

Joining Deacon and Pecina on the advisory council are Dred Scott, President, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City; CiCi Rojas, President, Tico Productions; and Rachel Merlo, Head of Government and Community Affairs (Central + OC, CA), GFiber.

The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is administering the fund.

KC Digital Drive will support applicants with office hours and one-on-one assistance during each grant cycle, followed by tech support and evaluation and reporting assistance to all grantees.

KC Digital Drive, spurred by its findings in a recent digital landscape analysis, relaunched the fund that originated in 2013 and distributed just under $1 million to 33 grantees over five cycles.

The renewed fund will pursue a systemic strategy to fill specific program gaps, demonstrate the community commitment and attract new local money to strengthen Kansas City’s competitiveness for state and federal dollars.