Grants and Grantees
Investing in Organizations Driving Community Impact
Cook County is investing in community-driven solutions to close the digital divide. We are supporting organizations and libraries that advance digital equity across the county through two key initiatives: the IMPACT Small Grants Program and the Digital Navigator Network.
- The IMPACT Small Grants Program provides funding and storytelling support to local nonprofits, local media, and libraries. These grants help expand internet access, boost digital literacy, and amplify community voices to drive lasting change.
- The Digital Navigator Network, launched in partnership with Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), reaffirms libraries as trusted hubs of digital support and positions Suburban Cook County libraries as institutional digital navigators. The program will support libraries in expanding Wi-Fi access, providing devices, and offering training, so residents can confidently connect, learn, and thrive.
Together, these programs highlight how investments can create measurable impact and empower residents with the tools, skills, and confidence to fully participate in today’s digital world.
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.
Visit City Bureau here for more information about the application process.
How Grants Are Driving Community Change
HANA Center’s Digital Skills Program Empowers Korean Immigrants in the Northwest Suburbs
HANA Center’s Tech to Connect and Thrive program empowers Korean immigrants in Cook County with hands-on digital skills training—taught entirely in Korean. From smartphone basics to job search tools, the program helps seniors stay connected, independent, and informed.
Forest Park Partnership Builds Digital Confidence Through Community, Storytelling, and Resilience
A unique partnership is helping older adults in Forest Park gain digital skills and confidence through hands-on classes, community storytelling, and access to devices. By spotlighting real-life learner journeys, the program is fostering connection, resilience, and a stronger, more digitally inclusive community.
ROC ED’s AR Project Connects Southland Residents to Local History and Digital Literacy
ROC ED is blending digital inclusion with local history through an immersive AR/VR project that brings Cook County’s Underground Railroad sites to life. Designed for underserved Southland communities, the initiative builds digital skills while celebrating Black heritage—empowering residents to learn, connect, and thrive through emerging technology.