What Connect Humanity does

Connect Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit impact fund and emerging Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), founded in 2021, that deploys flexible catalytic capital, technical assistance, and coalition-building services to underserved communities and community-focused internet service providers (ISPs) working to close the U.S. digital divide. The organization operates a pilot fund of approximately $3.1 million and structures investments that crowd-in larger public and private capital; for example, a $500,000 commitment helped catalyze a $3.9 million fiber-to-the-home build in Macon County, Alabama, unlocking an estimated $183 million in broader community investment and roughly 2,000 local jobs. Its portfolio spans at least 11 states plus Puerto Rico and includes municipal, community-led, and cooperative broadband initiatives such as Peak to Peak Communications (California), Wave 7 Communications (North Carolina), and Pharr, Texas.

Connect Humanity's core "products" are three integrated service lines rather than software: (1) flexible, patient capital sized for communities and small ISPs that mainstream lenders underserve; (2) development services, including underwriting, structuring, and operational support for broadband projects; and (3) coalition convening, exemplified by the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition. In 2025, the organization expanded into a fourth product line — workforce training — via Pharr Connect U, a $4.8 million Texas Broadband Development Office-funded program delivered with South Texas College, Texas State Technical College, Texas A&M, Houston-Tillotson University, and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District.

Revenue mechanics are characteristic of a nonprofit impact fund rather than a commercial SaaS or lender: operating support is sourced from philanthropic grants, government program awards (e.g., state broadband offices, U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund), and program-related investment income, with no disclosed fee-based pricing model. Two consecutive ImpactAssets 50 Emerging Impact Manager recognitions (2024 and 2026) reflect growing institutional validation. The organization is on track to become the first broadband-dedicated CDFI in the U.S., a regulatory status that would unlock federal financial awards (FA/BE/CMF) and structurally expand its capital base.

Name

Connect Humanity

Legal name

Connect Humanity

Website

https://connecthumanity.fund

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connect Humanity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit impact fund and emerging CDFI that provides flexible capital, technical assistance, and coalition-building to underserved U.S. communities and community-focused ISPs working to close the digital divide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Finance / Impact Investing

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Community broadband financing
• Digital inclusion investing
• Impact investment funds
• Broadband infrastructure capital
• Underserved community connectivity

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Impact Investment Returns: Connect Humanity provides flexible, patient capital to community-focused internet providers and projects. As an emerging CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) and nonprofit impact fund, they generate returns through structured credit investments and revenue-based finance arrangements with ISPs they fund, while prioritizing measurable social impact over profit maximization.
2. Grants and Philanthropic Funding: The organization raises funds from philanthropic partners, foundations, and government programs to support its operations and program work. They engage in fundraising from aligned donors to sustain their coalition-building, development services, and advocacy activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Connect Humanity is a nonprofit impact fund and emerging CDFI that deploys patient capital to community-focused internet service providers and coalition partners to finance broadband infrastructure in underserved U.S. communities. It also delivers hands-on development services — including planning, business modeling, partnership development, and investment readiness support — and convenes regional coalitions and workforce/digital adoption programs to ensure projects become sustainable. Operating as the "Fund for Digital Opportunity," it bridges gaps between underserved communities, local ISPs, and philanthropic/government funders.

Product overview

Connect Humanity operates as a nonprofit impact fund (emerging CDFI) that provides a coordinated portfolio of financing, programs, and coalition-building services to extend internet access to underserved communities. The core offerings include flexible capital financing for community-focused ISPs, hands-on development services (planning, business modeling, partnership development), and community engagement programs. Connect Humanity also convenes and supports regional coalitions like the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, and operates workforce development programs such as Pharr Connect U and the Digital Ambassadors Program to ensure communities can both access and effectively use broadband infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Capital Financing for Community Broadband Flexible, patient capital provided to community-focused internet providers and projects to help networks get built and sustained, structured through credit investments and revenue-based finance.
• Community Engagement and Coalition Building Programs that help underserved communities organize and develop shared strategies to advance broadband infrastructure and digital adoption.
• Development Services Hands-on technical and strategic support spanning early-stage planning, business modeling, partnership development, and investment readiness for broadband projects.
• Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition A collaborative alliance of local governments, community organizations, ISPs, educational institutions, businesses, and nonprofits working to expand digital access and adoption throughout South Texas, with focus on the 46% of households lacking fixed internet subscriptions.
• Pharr Connect U Fiber Workforce Program A tuition-free broadband workforce training program in South Texas that prepares residents for careers building and maintaining fiber networks, using the Fiber Broadband Association's OpTIC Path curriculum with paid internships and job placement support.
• Digital Ambassadors Program A youth training initiative in Rio Grande Valley colonias that equips high school students to become digital literacy guides, helping residents navigate devices and online services through a research, mastery, and dissemination model.
• RGV Broadband and Digital Opportunity Plan A strategic roadmap developed through multi-sector partnership to expand broadband infrastructure, increase digital skills training, prepare local workforce for tech jobs, enhance telehealth access, and support small business digitalization in the Rio Grande Valley.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.1M invested, unlocking $47M+ in broadband investment
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rural LISCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnect Humanity partnered with Rural LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) to support community broadband projects, including the Macon County, Alabama fiber broadband initiative. Rural LISC co-invested alongside Connect Humanity to structure the funding for rural broadband infrastructure.
• Internet SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Internet Society partnered with the City of Williston to provide a backend fiber connection, management software, and equipment for the COW-Link wireless broadband pilot, supporting Connect Humanity's grant work with the municipality.
• PossAble Dream FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPossAble Dream Foundation partnered with the City of Pharr and the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition to support the Pharr Connect U broadband workforce program, aligning with their mission of increasing education and skill levels in the South Texas region.
• Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDRA partnered with ARISE Adelante to launch the Digital Ambassadors Program, training high school students in Rio Grande Valley colonias as digital literacy guides. Connect Humanity provided grant funding to support the project as part of the RGV Broadband Coalition's broader digital equity efforts.
• ARISE AdelantecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARISE Adelante partnered with IDRA to deliver the Digital Ambassadors Program in South Texas colonias. Connect Humanity provided grant funding to ARISE Adelante to support the program as part of broader digital equity initiatives in the Rio Grande Valley.
• Workforce Solutions Cameron and Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese workforce development agencies partnered with the City of Pharr and the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition to support the Pharr Connect U program, providing job placement assistance and aligning training with regional employer needs.
• South Texas College (STC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Texas College is a member of the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, contributing to the region's coordinated approach to closing the digital divide through education and workforce development partnerships.
• Texas State Technical College (TSTC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTexas State Technical College is a member of the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, supporting the region's broadband workforce development and training initiatives.
• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTRGV is a member of the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, contributing academic expertise and research capacity to the region's digital opportunity and broadband planning efforts.
• Lit CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLit Communities partnered with the City of Williston, Florida on a broadband feasibility study funded by Connect Humanity's grant, exploring options for improving broadband connectivity in the rural community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft Airband Initiative: Microsoft's multi-hundred-million-dollar program to extend broadband access to rural and underserved US communities through ISP partnerships and capital. Substantially deeper pockets but aligned mission on closing the rural digital divide.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): A large national CDFI and community development organization, parent of Rural LISC (which is a Connect Humanity co-investor). LISC operates a much broader community development footprint but engages in rural broadband financing through Rural LISC and targeted community programs.
• NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association: Industry association representing small and rural US broadband providers. While not a capital provider, its member ISPs and policy agenda closely overlap with Connect Humanity's community-focused ISP client base.
• Internet Society: A global nonprofit advocating for an open, accessible internet and supporting community-led connectivity projects (e.g., its work with the City of Williston alongside Connect Humanity). Comparable mission framing around internet access as social and economic infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Rural LISC: A rural-focused arm of LISC focused on community development in rural America, including rural broadband. Explicitly co-invests alongside Connect Humanity (e.g., Macon County, Alabama) and is one of the organization's most comparable institutional peers.
• PCs for People: A nonprofit providing refurbished devices and low-cost internet to people living in poverty. Operates adjacent to digital adoption and access — closely comparable end-user impact mission to Connect Humanity's digital inclusion work.
• Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition: A nonprofit advocacy and membership organization advancing broadband access for schools, libraries, and rural community anchor institutions. Operates in the same digital inclusion / community broadband funding space and serves overlapping funder audiences as Connect Humanity.
• National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA): A national nonprofit focused on digital inclusion through affiliate organizations, advocating for broadband adoption programs for underserved households. Directly comparable mission to Connect Humanity's digital equity and digital adoption programs.
• EveryoneOn: A nonprofit that connects low-income Americans with affordable internet, devices, and digital skills training. Overlaps with Connect Humanity's digital adoption segment and works with similar ISP and foundation partners.

Others

• Conexon: A rural fiber-focused consulting and operations firm that helps electric cooperatives deploy fiber broadband. Adjacent as a service provider to the same community ISPs that Connect Humanity finances rather than as a direct capital peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Connect_Fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connect Humanity