Rural Technology Fund
Rural Technology Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides technology education equipment grants, assistive technology, and cybersecurity scholarships to rural schools, libraries, and students across all 50 US states, reaching 241,934 students cumulatively through donations and vendor partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersMayfield, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rural Technology Fund does
Rural Technology Fund (RTF) is a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Chris Sanders, a rural Kentucky native, to narrow the digital divide between rural and urban communities through technology education. The organization provides technology education equipment grants (3D printers such as Creality Hi Combo, Bambu X1 Carbon, FlashForge, MakerBot Sketch Sprint; robotics kits including LEGO SPIKE, TETRIX, Sphero and Dash robots; circuit learning tools such as Snap Circuits and LittleBits), assistive technology grants for students with disabilities (including Code Jumper for visually impaired students and, more recently, Meta Wayfarer smart glasses), and scholarships for rural students pursuing computer-related majors — notably a Cyber Security Scholarship delivered in partnership with the SANS Institute that awards cash plus SANS training courses and GIAC certifications.
RTF does not develop proprietary technology products. Instead, it functions as a grant-making and program-delivery intermediary, sourcing equipment, training, and certification access from a network of technology vendor partners (SANS Institute, VEX Robotics, Sphero, MakerBot, Makey Makey, Code.org, American Printing House for the Blind) and advocacy partners (Rural Schools Collaborative, Teachers in Space). The Infinite Sky STEM joint program with Teachers in Space enables rural students to build CubeSat Emulators for high-altitude balloon missions, and the RTF Robotics sponsorship supports teams competing in FIRST Lego League. Additional revenue comes from branded merchandise (Spreadshirt storefront) and the children's book 'Thinking Outside the Coop' by Betsy Von Hagen.
RTF's business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Revenue streams include individual donations (PayPal, credit card, Patreon at $2/month minimum, mail), the annual Golden Ticket fundraiser (a $20-per-entry raffle with a 2025 goal of $75,000), corporate sponsorships and matching programs including Amazon Smile, and merchandise sales. The organization is staffed by 1-10 employees and operates primarily remotely from a mailing address in Gainesville, Georgia. Since founding, RTF claims to have impacted 241,934 students across all 50 US states, with 28,482 students reached in 2025 and 411 receiving assistive technology.
Rural Technology Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rural Technology Fund
- Legal name
- Rural Technology Fund
- Website
- https://ruraltechfund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rural Technology Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides technology education equipment grants, assistive technology, and cybersecurity scholarships to rural schools, libraries, and students across all 50 US states, reaching 241,934 students cumulatively through donations and vendor partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rural Technology Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Education Grants
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AT Funding, Procurement & Compliance Support (IEP/504 Documentation) (EDAKAIAJ), Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education (BPADAKAH)
Keywords
Where Rural Technology Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mayfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rural Technology Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting rural technology education. Options include PayPal, credit card, Patreon ($2/month minimum), and check by mail.
- Golden Ticket Fundraiser: Annual fundraising campaign where donors contribute $20 per entry (to RTF or local food bank) for chances to win prizes including training courses, books, LEGO sets, drones, and chocolate. Goal of $75,000 in 2025.
- Corporate Partnerships: Support from technology companies including product donations, sponsorships, and matching programs through Amazon Smile.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise through Spreadshirt storefront and children's book 'Thinking Outside the Coop' on Amazon with portion of proceeds supporting RTF.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Grant and Scholarship Programs (Free) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rural Technology Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Rural Technology Fund (RTF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds teacher and student-led technology education projects in rural and high-poverty public schools and libraries. It provides technology equipment grants (3D printers, robotics kits, circuit tools), assistive technology devices for students with disabilities, and scholarships (including a Cyber Security Scholarship with SANS Institute training and GIAC certifications) to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban communities.
Product overview
Rural Technology Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 26-4120844) focused on reducing the digital divide between rural and urban communities. The organization operates as a grant and scholarship provider rather than a traditional software product company. Its core offerings include RTF Grants providing technology education equipment (3D printers, robotics kits, circuit learning tools) to rural schools and libraries; Assistive Technology Grants providing devices like Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses for students with disabilities; the Cyber Security Scholarship program in partnership with SANS Institute offering $1,000 plus SANS training and GIAC certifications; and the Infinite Sky STEM program enabling students to build CubeSat emulators for high-altitude balloon launches. Additional programs include RTF Robotics team sponsorships, maker space equipment grants, and the children's book 'Thinking Outside the Coop' for STEM education. The organization partners with technology providers including MakerBot, VEX Robotics, Sphero, and SANS Institute to deliver these educational resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RTF Technology Education Grants Grant program providing technology education equipment including 3D printers, robotics kits, circuit learning tools, and STEM resources to rural public schools and libraries for computer science, programming, robotics, engineering, and design education.
- Assistive Technology Grants Grant program providing assistive technology devices and equipment such as Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses and Code Jumper to increase equitable access to technology education for students with disabilities in rural communities.
- Cyber Security Scholarship Scholarship program for rural students pursuing computer technology-related fields with a security focus, providing a $1,000 award plus two SANS training courses and corresponding GIAC certification exams through partnership with SANS Institute.
- Infinite Sky STEM Program Hands-on STEM program enabling rural students to build and launch CubeSat emulators aboard high-altitude balloons in partnership with Teachers in Space, providing exposure to commercial space industry careers.
- Thinking Outside the Coop Children's book authored and illustrated by Betsy Von Hagen that teaches technology problem-solving through a story involving electronic circuits, 3D printing, and robotics, sold on Amazon with a portion of proceeds supporting RTF.
Quantifiable outcome
- 241,934 total students impacted by end of 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rural Technology Fund
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rural Technology Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Rural Technology Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, supporting and minor.
- SANS InstitutecorePartnership provides Cyber Security Scholarship awarding $1000 plus two SANS training courses and corresponding GIAC certification exams to rural students pursuing computer technology fields with security focus. Supports career jumpstart in cybersecurity.
- MakerBotcorePartnership provides training, guidance, and product donations for three RTF grant recipients. Includes MakerBot Sketch Sprint 3D printers, filament, classroom certification, and MakerCare extended service plans.
- Teachers in SpaceflagshipJoint Infinite Sky STEM project offering rural students hands-on experience exploring commercial space industry careers through CubeSat Emulator construction and high-altitude balloon missions. Five classrooms selected for Cohort 2 in 2024-2025.
- SpherocorePartnership provides professional development licenses and support for educators receiving Sphero products. Sphero offers coding robots, design-and-build kits, and curriculum for PK-12 STEAM education.
- VEX RoboticscorePartnership provides training resources to educators receiving RTF grants. VEX Robotics offers educational robotics products and curriculum for classroom integration.
- Makey MakeysupportingPartnership provides resources to RTF grant recipients. Makey Makey is an invention kit allowing students to create interactive projects combining tactile materials with coding.
- Rural Schools CollaborativecoreCommunity partnership focused on supporting rural communities through place-based education. Connects educators to funding opportunities, communal support, project resources, and storytelling platforms. RSC has awarded over $488,000 in place-based education grants.
- Code.orgsupportingRTF is a proud partner of Code.org, supporting educators who combine robotics with Code.org curriculum in classrooms.
- American Printing House for the BlindsupportingConnection through assistive technology resource exploration. APH develops Code Jumper and other accessibility tools for visually impaired students.
- Round Top Family LibraryminorLibrary recipient implementing RTF-funded STEM/robotics programs with LEGO Spikes and community volunteer instructors.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rural Technology Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Code.org: Nonprofit expanding access to computer science education, and an explicit RTF partner. Comparable mission (broadening CS access) and partner-style delivery of curriculum and professional development to schools, including rural districts.
- Maker Ed: Nonprofit expanding maker education (3D printing, electronics, coding) in K-12 schools, including underserved communities. Strongly comparable on maker-space equipment grants and rural/underserved school focus.
- Digital Wish: Nonprofit that delivers technology tools and STEM curriculum to K-12 classrooms, including rural districts, via donations and grants. Closely comparable model: small-staff nonprofit distributing donated tech to schools.
- FIRST Robotics: Runs FIRST Lego League and other K-12 robotics competitions that RTF Robotics explicitly supports. Directly comparable on rural robotics team sponsorship, STEM competition access, and corporate partnership model.
- DonorsChoose: Crowdfunded donation platform that lets teachers post classroom project needs and donors fund them. Closest comparable to RTF in donation-driven distribution of education resources, though DonorsChoose is much larger and broader (not rural- or tech-specific).
- Rural Schools Collaborative: RTF's named place-based partner, also serving rural K-12 communities through grants and storytelling. Directly comparable mission and audience, and RSC's $488K+ in place-based grants is a useful scale benchmark.
Emerging players
- Quill.org: Nonprofit providing free online writing and (increasingly) computer science tools to underserved schools. Comparable on donation-funded delivery of digital learning tools to high-poverty and rural districts.
Broad incumbents
- Common Sense Education: Large nonprofit providing EdTech reviews, curriculum, and digital citizenship resources to K-12 schools, with explicit equity programs. Comparable on EdTech enablement and equity focus, though broader and better funded than RTF.
- 4-H Youth Development: Largest rural-youth education nonprofit in the US, with explicit STEM and computer science programming through Cooperative Extension. Overlaps with RTF on rural-youth STEM access, though 4-H is far larger and broader in scope.
- Girls Who Code: Nonprofit expanding tech access for underrepresented groups, including rural girls, via clubs and summer programs. Broader national scale than RTF but overlapping mission around rural and gender-based tech opportunity gaps.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rural Technology Fund social profiles
Digital presenceRural Technology Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rural Technology Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Rural Technology Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rural Technology Fund 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 Rural Technology Fund
What does Rural Technology Fund do?
The Rural Technology Fund (RTF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds teacher and student-led technology education projects in rural and high-poverty public schools and libraries. It provides technology equipment grants (3D printers, robotics kits, circuit tools), assistive technology devices for students with disabilities, and scholarships (including a Cyber Security Scholarship with SANS Institute training and GIAC certifications) to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban communities.
Is Rural Technology Fund a public or private company?
Rural Technology Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rural Technology Fund founded?
Rural Technology Fund was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rural Technology Fund based?
Rural Technology Fund is headquartered in Mayfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rural Technology Fund make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are golden Ticket Fundraiser, corporate Partnerships and merchandise Sales.
Who are Rural Technology Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Code.org, Maker Ed, Digital Wish, FIRST Robotics, DonorsChoose and Rural Schools Collaborative. Quill.org is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Common Sense Education, 4-H Youth Development and Girls Who Code.
Does Rural Technology Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rural Technology Fund.
What industry is Rural Technology Fund in?
Rural Technology Fund's product category is Nonprofit Education Grants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAH, Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms), with a secondary code of EDAKAIAJ, AT Funding, Procurement & Compliance Support (IEP/504 Documentation). Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8200.