Despite the current technological revolution, a divide continues to exist between those people and communities who can make effective use of communications tools and those who cannot. The term most often employed for this gap is the digital divide.

Nonprofits are in an important position to help shift and shape the dialogue around the digital divide and create solutions for narrowing the technology and communications gap. Nonprofits often serve those communities most affected by the divide, but many find that the challenges facing their constituents are often the same that face the organizations themselves. This means issues of access to communications tools, training on communications tools and lack of relevant content plague today's nonprofit. Communications tools, especially as various communication forms converge, have a great potential to help nonprofits in bridging the social divides in this country. Nonprofits who are the "front-line" for this assistance are often not able to harness the power of these communications tools. The resources listed below provide further information on the digital divide and offer opportunities to contribute to the ever-expanding dialog around the issue.

High Tech at the Grassroots
Neil Carson of Responsive Philanthropy: The NCRP Quarterly, outlines the benefits and challenges grassroots organizations face as they struggle to incorporate technology into their programs and activities.

Last updated: 30 October 2001 mff