Michelson 20MM Foundation

09/22/2026

What does it take for coalitions to move from policy wins to meaningful implementation?

Join us on October 20th for “Funding Strong Coalitions: Turning Policy Into Impact,” which will explore how funders can support coalitions as they navigate the complexity of putting policy into practice.

During the webinar, we’ll discuss:
-How to sustain and scale coalition work at the state and national levels
-How to build understanding and confidence among foundation leaders and trustees about the value of supporting coalitions
-Examples from national coalitions working to turn policy into practice

Whether you’ve joined us before or are new to the series, you'll leave with actionable steps to help strengthen collaborative advocacy efforts in your work.

Register: https://20mm.org/event/turning-policy-into-impact/

09/16/2026

🌟 Join us in welcoming the 2026 Michelson 20MM Student Engagement Program interns!

Britney Do, Genesi Griggs, and Alisha Nagpal are bringing their experiences and ideas to our work across Student Basic Needs, Smart Justice, and Open Educational Resources.

Over the coming months, each student will work with a Michelson 20MM program lead to develop a project addressing an issue they care about, all while building their advocacy and policy skills and connecting with leaders in the field.

As our founder and co-chair Dr. Gary K. Michelson shared, “Too often, decisions in education are made for students rather than with them or by them. By centering student voices and lived experience through our internship program, philanthropy can help ensure that the solutions we invest in reflect what students truly need to thrive.”

Learn more about Britney, Genesi, and Alisha and what they hope to accomplish: https://20mm.org/news/2026-michelson-20mm-student-interns/

09/14/2026

⏳Tomorrow is the last day to apply for a Michelson Digital Equity Spark Grant!

Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to projects that address digital discrimination, broadband as a public utility, and the impact of digital inequity on economic mobility.

Applications close September 15th at 11:59 pm PDT.

Learn more and apply:

Spark Grants PlatformThe Spark Grants platform is an innovative just-in-time grantmaking process that enables organizations aligned with our focus areas to receive funding within weeks. This rapid funding approach supports initiatives that would be impossible under traditional grant decision timelin...

09/08/2026

Access to digital technology and reliable internet dictates access to education, healthcare, jobs, and meaningful engagement in democracy. Through the Digital Equity Spark Grants funding cycle, we aim to surface and scale solutions to close the digital divide.

If your organization's work addresses digital discrimination, broadband as a public utility, and the impact of digital inequity on economic mobility, we encourage you to apply by September 15th.

Learn more: https://20mm.org/spark-grants/

08/31/2026

📣 The 2026 Digital Equity Michelson Spark Grants funding cycle is now OPEN! We will award grants of up to $25,000 in support of initiatives that address our focus areas:

-Digital Discrimination – Internet Access as a Civil Right
-Broadband as a Utility – Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement
-Digital Equity and Economic Mobility

Learn more and apply by September 15th: https://20mm.org/spark-grants/

08/21/2026

📹 Missed yesterday's Digital Equity Spark Grants webinar? The full recording is available now!

During the webinar, Cristal Mojica and Ryan Erickson-Kulas provided a detailed overview of the Spark Grants program, shared insights into our focus areas, and highlighted past grantees.

Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6iWg91PyPY&list=PLDE5rhcpiAt-E8JuvUGTbpU6n0v1Of8Y4&index=7

08/20/2026

ICYMI: The recording of "Funding Strong Coalitions: Cross-Sector Coalitions That Deliver" is available now!

Thank you to our panel of experts—Ria Sengupta Bhatt, Mike Dennis, Ray Green, Monica Martinez, Maya Paley, and Laurel Tamariz— for sharing their insights and what they've learned from leading and supporting cross-sector coalitions.

We hope you'll join us for the next webinar in the series. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

🎥 Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvymfxXMmgY&list=PLaQBn0sXHb_Q

08/18/2026

Interested in funding for digital equity work in California?

This Thursday, August 20th, join members of the grant committee to explore the upcoming Digital Equity Spark Grants funding cycle, opening August 31st.

For this funding cycle, we will focus on organizations that are doing work in California. We're interested in supporting initiatives that address:

-Digital Discrimination – Internet Access as a Civil Right
-Broadband as a Utility – Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement
-Digital Equity and Economic Mobility

Register for the webinar: https://20mm.org/event/2026-digital-equity-spark-grants-informational-webinar/

08/17/2026

No single organization can solve today's biggest challenges alone.

Cross-sector coalitions bring together organizations with different expertise, perspectives, and resources to advance lasting systems change, but building these partnerships requires intentional strategy.

Tomorrow, join us for “Funding Strong Coalitions: Cross-Sector Coalitions That Deliver” to explore how funders can support cross-sector collaborations that deliver meaningful impact.

There's still time to register! https://20mm.org/event/cross-sector-coalitions-that-deliver/

08/11/2026

Are you working on big solutions for big problems in digital equity? The 2026 Michelson funding cycle opens August 31st, and we’re looking to support systems-level strategies that drive lasting change in California.

Join our informational webinar on August 20th to learn how your organization can receive funding for supporting initiatives that address our focus areas:

-Digital Discrimination – Internet Access as a Civil Right
-Broadband as a Utility – Policy Advocacy and Civic Engagement
-Digital Equity and Economic Mobility

Register for the webinar: https://20mm.org/event/2026-digital-equity-spark-grants-informational-webinar/