Center for Digital Equity
The Center for Digital Equity is a Charlotte-based non-profit that delivers free, one-on-one Digital Navigator services, digital skilling (ConnectTech), and device/connectivity support to underserved community members across North Carolina, coordinated through a 100+ partner ecosystem and the do.OS strategic framework.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersCharlotte, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Center for Digital Equity does
The Center for Digital Equity (CDE) is a 501(c)-style non-profit organization founded in 2011 and based at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina, with a team of approximately 13 staff. Its mission is to close the digital divide in Charlotte and the surrounding region by expanding access to devices, affordable connectivity, digital skills, and one-on-one technology support so community members can participate in work, healthcare, learning, and daily life. Services are delivered at no cost to end users through the Digital Navigator Program — trained staff who provide one-on-one help with job applications, health portals, bill pay, device setup, and online safety — in person at community resource centers, libraries, and partner campuses, online via help-request forms, and by phone. The organization serves a horizontal set of personas including general underserved community members, older adults (Ageless Access), immigrant families (Spanish-language programs via YMCA), workforce development participants, and small businesses.
CDE's underlying platform architecture centers on the do.OS (Digital Opportunity Operating System), a proprietary strategic framework that organizes work into four connected layers — connectivity, trusted support (Digital Navigators), systems coordination, and continuous learning. do.OS is paired with a shared digital ecosystem dashboard co-developed with PwC that standardizes metrics on connectivity, skills, and device access across the partner base, and with research collaborations with Dr. Roberto Gallardo (Purdue) and Dr. Bibi Reisdorf (UNC Charlotte) to build resident- and organization-facing survey instruments. CDE also operates ConnectTech (a short digital skilling program launched in January 2026 that issues recognized credentials and a laptop upon completion), the Navigator Network, the Mecklenburg Hub, and the Digital Equity Champions Grant program.
CDE is a grant-funded non-profit rather than a revenue-generating company. Funding sources include an undisclosed John S. and James L. Knight Foundation grant (the named flagship funder), a $1,000,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (June 2024), a $67,500 AT&T community investment (February 2026) for Western NC digital literacy in partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council, a Charter Communications partnership (September 2024), and AmeriCorps federal service funding (6,500 service hours in H1 FY26). Distribution is community-led and channel-partner driven: CDE works through a 100+ partner ecosystem that includes Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Novant Health, Atrium Health, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, AARP NC, Urban League of Central Carolinas, Latin American Coalition, Camino, Caterpillar Ministries, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Cabarrus County Library, Communities In Schools, Mecklenburg County, and the City of Charlotte, among others. A future employer-facing offering, the DN Access Pass, is planned as a Year 1 FY27-FY29 priority to introduce a sustainable earned-revenue stream beyond grants.
Center for Digital Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Center for Digital Equity
- Legal name
- The Center for Digital Equity
- Website
- https://thecenterfordigitalequity.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Center for Digital Equity is a Charlotte-based non-profit that delivers free, one-on-one Digital Navigator services, digital skilling (ConnectTech), and device/connectivity support to underserved community members across North Carolina, coordinated through a 100+ partner ecosystem and the do.OS strategic framework.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Center for Digital Equity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Equity Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assistive Technology & Accessible Digital Skills (EDAAAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Data & Information Literacy (Search, Evaluation, Misinformation) (EDAAAIAI), Digital Transactions & Online Services (eGov, Banking, Telehealth) (EDAAAIAE), Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE), Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)
Keywords
Where Center for Digital Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charlotte
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Center for Digital Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants: CDE is supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation focused on empowering organizations to deliver digital inclusion resources in the Charlotte community and beyond. Foundation grants form a core part of CDE's funding mix.
- Corporate Community Investments: Targeted corporate community investments, such as AT&T's $67,500 community investment to support digital literacy training for residents in Western North Carolina (in partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council) — part of AT&T's $5 billion commitment to connect 25 million people to high-speed internet by 2030.
- Government and Federal Service Funding (AmeriCorps): Federal/national service funding through AmeriCorps — CDE hosted 6,500 AmeriCorps service hours in the first half of FY26 alone, with AmeriCorps members expanding digital opportunity through one-on-one support, service, and community connection.
- Diversified Grants and Contracts: CDE is pursuing a more diversified funding mix alongside targeted improvements to internal controls and ongoing stewardship of grants and contracts — implying multiple grant/contract streams beyond Knight Foundation.
- Future Employer Service (DN Access Pass): Planned FY27-FY29 Year 1 priority to validate the DN Access Pass as a scalable employer offering through pilots, demonstrated value, and a sustainable revenue model — a future earned-revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | All Digital Navigator services, ConnectTech classes, office hours, Learning Labs, and partner training are free to community members (no pricing model, grant-funded). |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Center for Digital Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Center for Digital Equity delivers free, one-on-one digital navigation, digital skilling, and device/connectivity access support to community members through trained Digital Navigators. Programs are delivered via partner-hosted sites (ConnectTech, Ageless Access, partner network) and a regional hub-and-spoke model spanning Charlotte and surrounding North Carolina counties, with research-driven impact measurement supported by the proprietary do.OS framework.
Product overview
Center for Digital Equity (CDE) is a nonprofit organization, not a single unified software product; its offering is a platform of coordinated programs and frameworks that together advance digital equity. At the core is the CDE Digital Navigator Help service, which pairs community members with trained navigators for one-on-one device, connectivity, and skills support, delivered through the Navigator Network of partner organizations. Layered on top are targeted programs: ConnectTech for digital skilling (first classes January 2026), Ageless Access for older adults, the Digital Equity Champions Grant for community organizations, and regional hubs such as the Mecklenburg Hub. CDE's strategic work is guided by the do.OS (Digital Opportunity Operating System) framework, which maps roles and outcomes across funders, implementers, and policymakers to align the broader digital equity field.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ConnectTech: Short, high-impact digital skilling program developed for Innovator and Champion partners; supports community members in building digital confidence, earning recognized credentials, and receiving a laptop upon completion.
- do.OS (Digital Opportunity Operating System)
- Ageless Access
Products and services
- Digital Navigator Help
Quantifiable outcome
- 46,000+ hours of digital skilling delivered (lifetime)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Center for Digital Equity
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Center for Digital Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Center for Digital Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
32 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Queens University of CharlotteflagshipThe Center for Digital Equity is a collaboration of public, private, and resident partners housed at Queens University of Charlotte — a private, co-ed, master's-level university. Queens serves as CDE's institutional home and base.
- Land of Sky Regional CouncilcoreCo-implementation partner on AT&T's $67,500 community investment for digital literacy training in Western NC, with CDE training Digital Navigators to serve more than 100 community members over eight months.
- Goodwill Industries of the Southern PiedmontflagshipCDE launched new Digital Navigator partnerships with Goodwill Gastonia and Goodwill Charlotte, embedding Digital Navigator services within trusted community spaces. Goodwill is also a first-cohort ConnectTech partner. Host of Learning Labs at Goodwill Opportunity Campus.
- Cabarrus County Library SystemcoreCDE launched a partnership with the Cabarrus County Library System to embed Digital Navigator services within trusted community spaces. Cabarrus County Library in Concord hosts CDE Office Hours.
- E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide)coreLong-term device supply partnership giving community partners consistent access to free and low-cost devices. Helps CDE respond quickly to community needs with trusted, affordable options.
- Human-I-TcoreLong-term device supply partnership expanding the range of devices available to residents. Also the source of the free Human-I-T AI Skills course CDE now recommends as a strong pathway for building foundational AI literacy and workforce-relevant skills.
- PCs for PeoplecoreLong-term device supply partnership expanding the range of devices available to residents and helping partners respond quickly to community needs with trusted, affordable options.
- PwCcoreWorking alongside CDE as data experts to strengthen how ecosystem data is collected, stored, and visualized through the shared digital dashboard, including improvements to content and underlying systems.
- Dr. Roberto Gallardo (Purdue University)coreResearch collaborator developing organization-facing and resident-facing survey tools as part of CDE's sustainability framework to better define and measure long-term ecosystem impact across the Mecklenburg Hub.
- Dr. Bibi Reisdorf (UNC Charlotte)coreResearch collaborator developing organization-facing and resident-facing survey tools with CDE to define and measure long-term ecosystem impact across the Mecklenburg Hub.
- Caterpillar MinistriescoreFirst cohort ConnectTech partner — community organization delivering CDE's digital skilling program to its constituents across the four-county region.
- StriveCLTcoreFirst cohort ConnectTech partner delivering CDE's digital skilling program.
- Latin American CoalitioncoreFirst cohort ConnectTech partner delivering CDE's digital skilling program to Charlotte's Latino community.
- CaminocoreFirst cohort ConnectTech partner delivering CDE's digital skilling program.
- Novant HealthcoreCDE and Novant Health partnered to expand access to healthcare careers through technology and mentorship (student interns with Novant medical providers). Novant's logo is featured as a homepage partner.
- Atrium HealthcoreHealthcare ecosystem partner; Atrium Health's logo is featured as a CDE homepage partner.
- YMCA of Greater CharlottecorePartnered with CDE to offer Spanish-language digital skills training for immigrant families in Charlotte. YMCA's logo is featured as a homepage partner.
- AARP North CarolinaminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as an ecosystem ally serving older adults in NC (relevant to CDE's Ageless Access program).
- Urban League of Central CarolinasminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as part of CDE's broader community ecosystem.
- Communities In Schools of CharlotteminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a partner in the broader Charlotte community ecosystem.
- Charlotte Mecklenburg LibraryminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a Charlotte-region library partner.
- City Startup LabsminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as part of the Charlotte entrepreneurship ecosystem.
- She Built This CityminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a partner organization.
- Catholic Charities Diocese of CharlotteminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a partner organization.
- Angels and SparrowsminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a community partner organization.
- Mecklenburg CountycoreGovernment partner — Mecklenburg County's logo is featured on the CDE homepage partner wall, and the Mecklenburg Hub is the regional model CDE is growing.
- International House CharlotteminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall — partner serving Charlotte's international and immigrant community.
- Charlotte Area FundminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a partner organization.
- AvidXchangeminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a Charlotte-based corporate partner.
- Per ScholasminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall — national workforce development organization with a Charlotte presence.
- City of CharlottecoreCity of Charlotte's logo is featured on the CDE homepage partner wall as a public-sector ecosystem partner.
- Historic West End PartnersminorLogo displayed on the CDE homepage partner wall as a Charlotte neighborhood-based community partner.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Center for Digital Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EveryoneOn: National nonprofit focused on connecting low-income families to affordable internet, devices, and digital skills training — a comparable digital-equity intermediary combining device access, connectivity, and skills delivery.
- ConnectHomeUSA: HUD-led initiative that works with public housing authorities and local partners to provide internet access, devices, and digital skills training to HUD-assisted residents — a federal-affiliated peer with overlapping digital navigator and device-access services.
- Connected Nation: National nonprofit that partners with states, communities, and ISPs to expand broadband access and digital inclusion through planning, mapping, and on-the-ground programs — comparable to CDE's place-based, partner-anchored digital equity operating model.
- Human-I-T: National nonprofit that refurbishes and distributes technology and offers digital-skills training (including an AI Skills course that CDE recommends) — a peer on the device-access and digital-skilling layer of digital equity.
- E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide): Charlotte-based nonprofit focused on eliminating the digital divide through device access and digital literacy — a direct local peer (and CDE device-supply partner) operating in the same Charlotte/Mecklenburg geography.
- PCs for People: National nonprofit that provides refurbished computers and low-cost internet to low-income individuals, and is also a CDE device-supply partner — directly comparable as a digital-equity delivery nonprofit working on the device + connectivity layer of the stack.
- Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) / Senior Planet: National nonprofit (affiliated with AARP) that delivers technology training and digital skills programs specifically for older adults — directly comparable to CDE's Ageless Access program and its older-adult persona.
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA): The leading US national membership organization for digital inclusion practitioners, advocating for digital equity programs, Digital Navigator best practices, and broadband adoption — directly comparable to CDE's mission and target audience of community-based digital-equity coalitions.
Emerging players
- Per Scholas: National workforce development nonprofit offering tuition-free tech training and employer partnerships — a comparable skills-and-workforce operator that overlaps with CDE's emerging AI-workforce-readiness ambitions and is also a CDE partner.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Large national nonprofit network with digital-skills, workforce, and digital-navigator programs delivered through local affiliates such as Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont — a CDE flagship partner and an established incumbent in the same digital-equity and workforce space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Center for Digital Equity social profiles
Digital presenceCenter for Digital Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Center for Digital Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Center for Digital Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Center for Digital Equity 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 Center for Digital Equity
What does Center for Digital Equity do?
The Center for Digital Equity delivers free, one-on-one digital navigation, digital skilling, and device/connectivity access support to community members through trained Digital Navigators. Programs are delivered via partner-hosted sites (ConnectTech, Ageless Access, partner network) and a regional hub-and-spoke model spanning Charlotte and surrounding North Carolina counties, with research-driven impact measurement supported by the proprietary do.OS framework.
Is Center for Digital Equity a public or private company?
Center for Digital Equity is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Center for Digital Equity founded?
Center for Digital Equity was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Center for Digital Equity based?
Center for Digital Equity is headquartered in Charlotte, United States, in the North America region.
How does Center for Digital Equity make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate Community Investments, government and Federal Service Funding (AmeriCorps), diversified Grants and Contracts and future Employer Service (DN Access Pass).
Who are Center for Digital Equity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EveryoneOn, ConnectHomeUSA, Connected Nation, Human-I-T, E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide), PCs for People, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) / Senior Planet and National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). Per Scholas is listed as an emerging player. Goodwill Industries International is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Center for Digital Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Center for Digital Equity.
What industry is Center for Digital Equity in?
Center for Digital Equity's product category is Digital Equity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAIAK, Assistive Technology & Accessible Digital Skills, with a secondary code of EDAAAIAI, Data & Information Literacy (Search, Evaluation, Misinformation).