Digital Harbor Foundation
Digital Harbor Foundation is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating youth STEM programs, educator training, broadband access, and fiscal sponsorship for social impact projects across Maryland and select national initiatives, funded by philanthropic grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Digital Harbor Foundation does
Digital Harbor Foundation is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 45-2536579) that operates a portfolio of seven interconnected programs aimed at closing the digital divide and expanding access to technology education in underserved communities. Founded in 2013 when it converted a closed South Baltimore recreation center into the Digital Harbor Foundation Tech Center, the organization has since grown to include the Tech Center (youth programming, camps, field trips for grades 3-12), the Center of Excellence (educator professional development in equity-focused STEM), Tech Extension (translating academic research into K-12 and community practice), Project Waves (residential and public broadband internet for unserved households), Harbor Navigators (digital literacy and benefits access support), the Impact Studio (fiscal sponsorship and accelerator services for social impact projects), and the Product Studio (cohort-based tech innovation initiatives including the 2022 Social Safety Net Product Studio with Schmidt Futures, Ballmer Group, Gates, and Schusterman).
The organization serves youth, K-12 educators, social impact nonprofits, and broadband-deficient households, primarily in Baltimore and across Maryland with selected national initiatives. Youth programs operate on a 'Pay What You Can' model and are free at point of use, with lunch included. Revenue is entirely philanthropic, drawn from a mix of large national foundations (Gates, Ballmer, Schmidt Futures, Schusterman, Annie E. Casey, Knight), federal agencies (National Science Foundation, AmeriCorps), state and local government (State of Maryland, TEDCO, Connect Maryland, Baltimore City Schools), and corporate donors (Apple, Microsoft, Google, Comcast, TCS). The disclosed funding pipeline includes a $1.5M NSF grant in 2020, a $450K grant in 2019, and approximately $50.6M in cumulative core funding committed since 2016, supporting a multi-million-dollar annual operating budget across 11-50 staff. The organization has no parent company, no equity investors, and is governed by an independent board.
Digital Harbor Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Digital Harbor Foundation
- Legal name
- Digital Harbor Foundation
- Website
- https://digitalharbor.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Digital Harbor Foundation is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating youth STEM programs, educator training, broadband access, and fiscal sponsorship for social impact projects across Maryland and select national initiatives, funded by philanthropic grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Digital Harbor Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit STEM Education and Digital Equity Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE)
Keywords
Where Digital Harbor Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Digital Harbor Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropic Support: The organization is a registered 501c(3) public charity nonprofit organization (EIN 45-2536579) that relies on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Contributions are tax-deductible.
- Program Fees (Pay What You Can): Youth programs use a 'Pay What You Can' model with no set enrollment fee, supported by community generosity to ensure equitable access
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free programs with voluntary contributions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Digital Harbor Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Digital Harbor Foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit that runs multi-division programs focused on digital equity and STEM education, including youth tech camps and workforce development (Tech Lab), educator professional development (Center of Excellence), research-to-practice implementation support (Tech Extension), community-based internet connectivity and digital navigation (Project Waves, Harbor Navigators), and fiscal sponsorship/accelerator services for social impact projects (Impact Studio, Product Studio). Programs are delivered directly at its Baltimore Tech Center and through partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations.
Product overview
Digital Harbor Foundation is a nonprofit organization operating a multi-division portfolio focused on digital equity and STEM education. The core offerings include: Tech Center (youth tech programming and workforce development), Center of Excellence (educator professional development), Tech Extension (connecting research to practice), Project Waves (internet connectivity solutions), Harbor Navigators (digital skills assistance), Impact Studio (fiscal sponsorship for social impact projects), and Product Studio (innovation initiatives including the Social Safety Net Product Studio and LEVI Engineering Hub). Programs serve youth, educators, community members, and organizations across Baltimore and beyond, with a 'Pay What You Can' pricing model for youth programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Tech Lab: Tech programs for youth, community training, and workforce development focused on the future of work
- Harbor Navigators
- Project Waves
- Center of Excellence
- Tech Extension
- Impact Studio
- Product Studio
- LEVI Engineering Hub
Products and services
- Tech Center (The Tech Lab) Provides youth tech programming, community training, and workforce development focused on the future of work. Serves youth, families, and community members with hands-on technology education including camps, field trips, and maker programs.
- Center of Excellence Builds educator capacity to provide innovative, equity-based STEM learning opportunities through professional development workshops, community workshops, a learning hub, and learning communities.
- Tech Extension Bridges the gap between academic research on STEM education and communities of practice, working with organizations and institutions to implement STEM programming including NSF-funded Nurturant STEM and Rec-to-Tech U programs.
- Project Waves Provides equitable internet connectivity solutions including home internet service, multi-dwelling unit internet service, and public WiFi across Baltimore neighborhoods to bridge the digital divide.
- Harbor Navigators
- Impact Studio Provides accelerator services and fiduciary services to high-impact social impact projects working to remove barriers for individuals to achieve their full potential, through fiscal sponsorship.
- Product Studio Cohort-model approach to spur development of technology, design, and data innovations bringing together talented technologists, entrepreneurs, policy experts, and government innovators to create solutions to pressing problems.
- Mini Maker Camp Summer camp for 3rd-5th graders featuring hands-on tech exploration where participants design and build a collaborative cardboard city while exploring engineering, art, coding, robotics, and circuits. Free to attend.
- VR Game Design Studio (Space for All Camp) VR game design camp for 8th-12th graders where participants create characters, objects, and virtual environments using Unity, Blender, and Meta VR. Assets become part of a reusable game world for future participants.
- Social Safety Net Product Studio A $13 million initiative launched in 2022 to accelerate innovation and open access to safety net benefits for low-income families, in collaboration with Schmidt Futures, Ballmer Group, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Served over 5,000 participants in Baltimore and across Maryland
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Digital Harbor Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Digital Harbor Foundation technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Digital Harbor Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Schmidt FuturescoreCollaborator on Social Safety Net Product Studio, a $13 million initiative to accelerate innovation and open access to over $100 million in safety net benefits for low-income families across the country.
- Ballmer GroupcoreCollaborator on Social Safety Net Product Studio focused on benefits access innovation for low-income families.
- Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationcoreCollaborator on Social Safety Net Product Studio focused on benefits access innovation for low-income families.
- Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family PhilanthropiescoreCollaborator on Social Safety Net Product Studio focused on benefits access innovation for low-income families.
- Boston UniversitycoreIn partnership with Boston University, co-creating STEM experiences for patients and their families in pediatric hospital units through NSF Nurturant STEM program.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)coreIn partnership with UMBC, co-creating STEM experiences in Rec Centers in Pittsburgh and Baltimore through NSF Rec-to-Tech U program. Also partner in VR Game Design Studio sponsored by National Science Foundation.
- National Science Foundation (NSF)coreSponsor of VR Game Design Studio camp in partnership with UMBC and Digital Harbor Foundation. Also funder of Rec-to-Tech U and Nurturant STEM programs.
- Kennedy Krieger InstitutesminorCommunity partner for the VR Game Design Studio camp program.
- Department of Public WorksminorCommunity partner for the VR Game Design Studio camp program.
- GWWOminorCommunity partner for the VR Game Design Studio camp program.
- Lemelson MITcoreLive Online Workshops with MIT through Center of Excellence, including STEM Equity Series, Entrepreneurship in the Classroom, and TechStyles in the Classroom workshops.
- Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE)corePartner for Computer Science for Middle School programs, supporting CS Explorations 1: CS Fundamentals curriculum for Maryland educators.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Digital Harbor Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Code.org: Largest national nonprofit focused on expanding access to computer science education in K-12 schools. Comparable to Digital Harbor Foundation's Center of Excellence and Tech Lab divisions in mission (equity-focused CS/STEM education) but operates at vastly larger scale and serves districts nationwide rather than concentrating in one metro.
- Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and career pathways for adults from underserved communities. Comparable to Digital Harbor Foundation's workforce development and Tech Lab programming but focused on adult learners and operating across multiple US cities with a larger budget and employer partnership network.
- Year Up: Major workforce development nonprofit connecting young adults from underserved communities to tech careers through training and corporate partnerships. Comparable to Digital Harbor's youth-to-tech-career pipeline mission and workforce development division, but serves young adults nationally with substantially larger scale and corporate funder base.
- NPower: National nonprofit providing technology training and job placement for veterans and young adults from underserved communities. Comparable to Digital Harbor's youth tech programming and workforce development focus, operating across multiple US/Canadian cities with established corporate technology employer partnerships.
- International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): Member organization supporting educators in using technology effectively for teaching, including equity-focused STEM/CS resources. Comparable to Digital Harbor Foundation's Center of Excellence educator professional development programming and STEM Equity pedagogy, with national membership reach and policy influence.
Direct peers
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA): National nonprofit advancing digital equity through a network of local organizations providing internet access, devices, and digital skills training. Directly comparable to Digital Harbor Foundation's Project Waves (broadband), Harbor Navigators (digital skills), and digital inclusion mission, serving overlapping beneficiary populations.
- Connected Nation: Nonprofit focused on expanding broadband access and digital equity across the United States through state-level programs and community partnerships. Directly comparable to Digital Harbor Foundation's Project Waves broadband initiative and broader digital inclusion agenda, particularly in serving underserved rural and urban communities.
- EveryoneOn: National nonprofit connecting low-income families to affordable internet, devices, and digital skills training. Directly comparable to Project Waves and Harbor Navigators in mission and service model, with overlapping funder base including major US foundations focused on digital equity.
Emerging players
- Code for America: Nonprofit using technology to improve government services and benefits access, particularly for low-income families. Directly comparable to Digital Harbor Foundation's Social Safety Net Product Studio initiative—both focus on technology-driven access to public benefits—and shares the civic tech for social good positioning.
- Bits of Good (formerly GT WebDev): Georgia Tech student-run nonprofit building technology for social impact organizations. Partial overlap with Digital Harbor Foundation's Product Studio and Impact Studio model—uses technology talent to build solutions for nonprofits—though smaller and university-affiliated versus DHF's established ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Digital Harbor Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceDigital Harbor Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Digital Harbor Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Digital Harbor Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Digital Harbor Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors4 records
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Digital Harbor Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Digital Harbor Foundation
What does Digital Harbor Foundation do?
Digital Harbor Foundation is a 501c(3) nonprofit that runs multi-division programs focused on digital equity and STEM education, including youth tech camps and workforce development (Tech Lab), educator professional development (Center of Excellence), research-to-practice implementation support (Tech Extension), community-based internet connectivity and digital navigation (Project Waves, Harbor Navigators), and fiscal sponsorship/accelerator services for social impact projects (Impact Studio, Product Studio). Programs are delivered directly at its Baltimore Tech Center and through partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations.
Is Digital Harbor Foundation a public or private company?
Digital Harbor Foundation is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Digital Harbor Foundation founded?
Digital Harbor Foundation was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Digital Harbor Foundation based?
Digital Harbor Foundation is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Digital Harbor Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropic Support is the primary driver. The others are program Fees (Pay What You Can).
Who are Digital Harbor Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Code.org, Per Scholas, Year Up, NPower and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Direct peers are National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), Connected Nation and EveryoneOn. Emerging players are Code for America and Bits of Good (formerly GT WebDev).
Does Digital Harbor Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Digital Harbor Foundation.
What industry is Digital Harbor Foundation in?
Digital Harbor Foundation's product category is Nonprofit STEM Education and Digital Equity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good). Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8200.