When applying for an AT&T Foundation grant, you need to meet strict eligibility requirements, including having 501(c)(3) status and demonstrating your project’s alignment with their focus on education and community strengthening. The application is by invitation only, requiring you to clearly show how your proposal creates measurable impact and opportunities for underserved populations. Collaboration with partners and a thorough plan for evaluating outcomes are essential to move forward. What specific strategies will you prepare to guarantee your project fits these criteria?
Key Takeaways
- The AT&T Foundation accepts grant applications by invitation only, requiring alignment with their education and community priorities.
- Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities or government instrumentalities, not private foundations.
- Applications must detail precise fund usage, measurable community impact, and a clear evaluation plan for outcomes.
- Funding requests are submitted through the AT&T Giving platform, with direct communication for updates or changes.
- Employee engagement and matching gifts are encouraged, with grants ranging from $250 to $575,000 for impactful projects.
Mission and Philanthropic Focus of the AT&T Foundation
Although the AT&T Foundation accepts funding applications by invitation only, it actively directs its philanthropic efforts to advance education and strengthen communities where AT&T operates.
Its foundation mission centers on improving digital literacy and connectivity to promote college and career readiness. By focusing on strategic philanthropic initiatives, the foundation partners with organizations like Junior Achievement Worldwide and local schools to maximize impact.
Committed to bridging the digital divide, it aims to help 25 million people access affordable internet by 2030. These efforts guarantee the foundation’s investments create meaningful opportunities that address critical community needs.
Eligibility and Application Criteria for Grants
You’ve seen how the AT&T Foundation targets education, community development, and digital inclusion to drive meaningful change.
Now let’s investigate what you’ll need to qualify. Your organization must hold 501(c)(3) public charity status, though private foundations may be considered under special circumstances.
You’ll submit applications by invitation only, ensuring alignment with AT&T’s priorities. Funding won’t support major operating expenses for United Way-supported organizations, capital funds, endowments, or political activities.
Your application guidelines require demonstrating how you’ll use funds precisely as described. You must notify AT&T immediately if circumstances change and funds can’t serve their intended purpose, ensuring transparent, collaborative partnerships that maximize community impact.
Invitation-Only Funding Request Process
Because AT&T Foundation funding requests are exclusively by invitation, you must first establish a connection or be identified as a potential partner aligned with their philanthropic priorities before applying.
The invitation-only process guarantees funding transparency and application security, focusing on organizations that demonstrate strong community impact and educational advancement.
Key steps include:
- Receiving a direct invitation to apply
- Aligning your project with AT&T’s philanthropic goals
- Submitting your application securely through the AT&T Giving platform
- Maintaining open communication for any required updates or redirections
This approach fosters strategic, collaborative partnerships that maximize community benefit.
Priority Areas: Education and Digital Inclusion
When you focus on education and digital inclusion, you’re tackling two of the most critical barriers facing underserved communities today.
The AT&T Foundation prioritizes digital equity by providing free computers and high-speed internet through its Connected Learning program. This strategic effort aims to support digital literacy and affordable internet access for millions by 2030.
With a commitment to grant accessibility, the foundation directs substantial funding to organizations like Junior Achievement and City Year, boosting career readiness and educational opportunities.
In 2024, AT&T contributed $75.1 million to advance these initiatives, reinforcing its leadership in bridging the digital divide.
Community Impact and Project Evaluation Requirements
To secure funding from the AT&T Foundation, your project must clearly demonstrate measurable community impact that aligns with the foundation’s goals of advancing education, digital inclusion, and community strengthening.
Make sure your proposal includes a strong community assessment and a clear plan for impact measurement.
- Show how your project will create opportunities for underserved populations
- Detail your approach to community engagement and collaboration
- Outline specific evaluation methods for tracking progress and outcomes
- Highlight partnerships that amplify your project’s reach and effectiveness
Employee Engagement and Matching Gift Programs
Supporting community impact extends beyond grantmaking—AT&T actively engages its employees through the AT&T Believes® program, which encourages year-round volunteering and charitable giving.
You can boost your fundraising strategies by leveraging matching donations of up to $1,000 annually, amplifying your impact. Volunteer Rewards grants, worth up to $1,000 per year, further incentivize your involvement.
These programs drive employee motivation, connecting your passions with meaningful community action. By participating, you help direct resources to over 1.5 million charities, ensuring your efforts create lasting change.
Disaster Relief and Connectivity Support Initiatives
While disasters can disrupt lives and communities, AT&T’s disaster relief and connectivity support initiatives guarantee you’re not alone in the recovery process.
These efforts embody strong disaster preparedness strategies and community resilience initiatives to help you and your community rebound quickly.
- AT&T provided nearly $3.5 million in corporate disaster relief in 2024 to support affected areas.
- The Employee Relief Fund granted $1.2 million to nearly 1,200 employees facing hardships.
- Mobile Connectivity Centers™ deploy to restore critical connectivity in underserved neighborhoods after disasters.
- Employee volunteers support FirstNet®, enhancing public safety network services for first responders.
This strategic, collaborative approach strengthens community resilience through immediate relief and long-term recovery.
Governance Structure and Oversight of Philanthropic Giving
AT&T’s philanthropic giving operates through a carefully structured governance framework designed to maximize community impact and guarantee accountability.
You’ll find that governance frameworks guide every step, ensuring your grant application aligns with strategic goals. The Board of Directors’ Governance and Policy Committee oversees philanthropic oversight, while the Corporate Contributions Council authorizes investments and facilitates approvals.
The AT&T Foundation supervises grants, and the Community Engagement Team manages employee-driven initiatives. This collaborative approach guarantees transparency, effective resource allocation, and strong community outcomes.
Your involvement benefits from clear, strategic oversight at every level.
Language Accessibility and Inclusivity in Funding Programs
- Reduces language barriers for a broader applicant base
- Improves funding accessibility across demographics
- Enhances user experience for non-English speakers
- Supports AT&T’s goal of connected, inclusive communities
Legal, Proprietary, and Compliance Information
When you apply for an AT&T Foundation grant, you agree that all application content is proprietary and protected under AT&T’s intellectual property rights.
You must follow legal compliance and proprietary restrictions throughout the process. Adhere to eligibility rules, including 501(c)(3) status and non-discrimination.
Use awarded funds only for approved purposes; any changes need AT&T’s prior approval. Avoid seeking support for capital, endowments, political activities, or excluded religious organizations.
Partnership Models and Collaboration Priorities
You’ll want to strategically select partners whose missions align with AT&T Foundation’s education and community strengthening priorities, ensuring your collaborative efforts maximize reach and impact in underserved areas.
By sharing resources and expertise with local nonprofits and educational institutions, you can amplify program effectiveness and engage broader audiences than working independently would allow.
Resource and expertise sharing through these partnerships—whether leveraging employee volunteers or combining organizational capabilities—creates the multiplier effect that strengthens your application’s competitive positioning for foundation funding.
Strategic Partner Selection
- Alignment with philanthropic goals in education and digital inclusion
- Proven ability to deliver community-centric programs like Connected Learning
- Capacity to collaborate on initiatives serving underserved populations
- Track record of leveraging joint efforts for maximized social impact
This targeted approach maximizes funding effectiveness by addressing needs where AT&T operates.
Collaborative Impact Goals
Building on the careful selection of partners who share AT&T Foundation’s commitment to education and digital inclusion, the focus now turns to how these collaborations drive measurable impact.
You’ll develop collaborative strategies that utilize connectivity and in-kind resources to maximize effectiveness. Community engagement becomes central as you work alongside nonprofits and educational institutions to address local needs.
By emphasizing partnership sustainability and shared goals, you create conditions for long-term success. The AT&T Believes® program demonstrates this approach, empowering employees to engage directly with community organizations.
Your funding decisions should reflect how well partnerships demonstrate capacity for lasting change and scalable outcomes that benefit thousands of learners through digital literacy initiatives.
Resource and Expertise Sharing
When resource and expertise sharing are prioritized in partnerships, you reveal greater impact by combining AT&T Foundation’s connectivity assets with the unique capabilities of nonprofits and educational institutions.
Strategic resource allocation multiplies your reach and effectiveness:
- Digital infrastructure and technology platforms
- Expertise utilization in program design and implementation
- Employee volunteer networks and professional skills
- Device refurbishment and technology distribution channels
You’ll strengthen community outcomes by aligning AT&T’s technological strengths with partner organizations’ deep community roots.
This collaborative model guarantees efficient resource allocation while leveraging specialized expertise from each stakeholder. Together, you’re positioned to address underserved communities‘ connectivity gaps and educational needs more comprehensively than siloed efforts allow.
Recent Grants, Award Sizes, and Funding Trends
You’ll find AT&T Foundation grants vary widely, from $250 up to $575,000, reflecting a strong commitment to education, career readiness, and bridging the digital divide.
Recent funding highlights include significant multi-million dollar contributions and targeted scholarships supporting underserved communities and technology education.
Understanding these trends can help position your project to align with their strategic focus on areas where AT&T operates and create meaningful impact.
Funding Sizes Trends
Although AT&T Foundation grants range widely from as low as $250 to as much as $575,000, the award size depends largely on the project’s scope and how well it aligns with AT&T’s philanthropic focus, particularly on digital literacy and connectivity.
You’ll find that recent funding trends prioritize education and career development initiatives.
Consider these key funding factors:
- Established organizations with proven impact typically secure larger grants
- Project alignment with digital divide initiatives strengthens your application
- Grant sustainability depends on demonstrating long-term community benefit
- Funding accessibility improves when you understand AT&T’s investment priorities
Your success hinges on presenting projects that address connectivity gaps while showing measurable outcomes that resonate with AT&T’s broader philanthropic mission.
Recent Award Highlights
AT&T Foundation’s recent grant activity demonstrates a strategic commitment to closing the digital divide through targeted educational investments.
You’ll find their grant impact extends across diverse initiatives—from $45,000 scholarships for students with disabilities to $50,000 contributions toward Connected Learning Centers. Their funding strategies prioritize collaborative partnerships with organizations like The Able Trust and Boys & Girls Clubs, reaching over 87,000 people since 2021.
With $75.1 million contributed in 2024 alone, they’re advancing their mission to connect 25 million people by 2030.
You’re witnessing how invitation-only funding requests guarantee resources reach high-impact projects addressing education, digital literacy, and career pathways systematically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does At&T Donate to Nonprofits?
Yes, you can access substantial AT&T philanthropy initiatives supporting nonprofit funding opportunities. The AT&T Foundation distributes millions annually to 501(c)(3) organizations, prioritizing education, digital equity, and community development projects where AT&T operates.
How to Apply for a Foundation Grant?
You apply for a foundation grant by confirming your grant eligibility, typically 501(c)(3) status, then completing and submitting a detailed, correctly formatted proposal following the funder’s specific application process and guidelines.
How Do I Get a Grant From Bill Gates Foundation?
Focus on meeting grant eligibility by aligning your project with the Gates Foundation’s strategic priorities, then navigate their invitation-only application process with a clear, data-driven proposal and strong partnerships to maximize impact and funding chances.
What Is an At&T Foundation Account?
You’ll need an AT&T Foundation account to access funding applications and track grants. It’s your secure login gateway for submitting requests, managing proposals, and leveraging AT&T’s philanthropic initiatives to advance your organization’s community-focused goals.
Conclusion
You can pursue AT&T Foundation grants only by invitation and must show how your project advances education or digital inclusion with measurable community impact. For example, the “She’s Connected Grant” offers up to $50,000 for small businesses aligned with AT&T’s mission to connect and empower communities. Grants require collaboration, clear evaluation plans, and strict adherence to fund use. This invitation-only process guarantees targeted support to underserved populations and fosters meaningful partnerships. Significantly, AT&T contributed over $75 million in philanthropy in 2024 to drive digital equity and community progress.