Honoring the Work
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Honoring the Work: Reliable Connectivity for the Organizations Behind National Nonprofit Day
August 2026 | 7 minute read
August 17 marks National Nonprofit Day. On this day, we celebrate the amazing work nonprofits do across the country. At Mobile Beacon, we are proud to be one of these organizations, and we know from experience how much this work relies on dedicated people who often have to do their jobs with limited resources.
With the expiration of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which previously provided $14.2 billion in internet subsidies, and shrinking state digital equity budgets, community organizations are struggling to keep families, students, and seniors connected to essential services.
Reliable broadband has become increasingly expensive, forcing nonprofit leaders to make tough choices, like cutting programs, reducing staff, or searching for new funding. To help navigate these changes, community groups are turning to affordable and reliable internet alternatives.
Why Has Nonprofit Connectivity Gotten Harder to Afford?
For years, programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program and the Digital Equity Act have supported schools, libraries, and front-line nonprofits. That changed on June 1, 2024, when the ACP shut down after Congress didn’t renew its funding.
The fallout was immediate. A study by the Benton Institute shows that most people expected their internet to get cut off or slow down without these subsidies.
“Because of the high cost, there’s no alternative to a dedicated federal benefit program like the ACP to solve the problem of affordability,” said Angela Siefer, executive director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. “What we’re going to end up with is a piecemeal approach where some communities figure out solutions — most will not.” (via Stateline).
Former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel made a similar point in a 2023 National Press Club address: “It is not a luxury. It is a necessity.” Nonprofits are making the same argument, just from the budget side rather than the policy side.
And It’s Potentially Getting Worse
Just as nonprofits are adjusting to life after the ACP, another major connectivity program is now on the chopping block. On June 25, 2026, the FCC voted 2-1 to launch a sweeping review of E-Rate, the 30-year-old program that has helped schools and libraries afford broadband, with the review opening the door to potentially limiting or even terminating the program
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition called the review an “attack” on schools and libraries. Its executive director, Joey Wender, argued, “the FCC should be asking how to make it stronger,” not whether to end it. “That connectivity underpins nearly every aspect of school district operations,” adds Noelle Ellerson Ng of the School Superintendents Association, pointing to everything from security systems to classroom learning.
If the FCC weakens or eliminates E-Rate, nonprofits will lose a second major connectivity lifeline in just two years, proving once again that organizations cannot rely on federal support when building long-term budgets.
Nonprofits Were Already Struggling
These rising costs are hitting organizations with already tight budgets. Smaller nonprofits spend about 13.2% of their total budget on technology (which is far higher than larger nonprofits), and unfortunately, donors aren’t filling the gap. Bridgespan’s research shows only 20% of funders set aside money specifically for tech, and just 11% of nonprofits say grants actually cover their tech needs.
The Organizational Digital Divide
Mobile Beacon’s research report, Creating Opportunity Through Connectivity, surveyed over 2,500 nonprofit clients. The study points out both a traditional digital divide and an organizational digital divide. Many nonprofits are underfunded and struggle with slow connections, outdated hardware, and high tech costs that stall client intake and program delivery.
• 86% of respondents whose previous service was capped needed more data than they could afford, resulting in overage charges or diminished service.
• 84% rate unlimited data as “very important” to “essential”.
• 67% of nonprofits use Mobile Beacon’s hotspots for work outside the office, including telework and community outreach.
Our companion study, Bridging the Gap, which examined affordable home broadband among families below the 200% poverty line, found that 94% of subscribers became daily internet users, 95% of parents reported being better able to support their children’s education, and 24% started taking regular online classes.
What’s Really At Stake
When an internet bill spikes or the connection drops, it’s not just a budget issue; it directly affects the people depending on these services.
Clients get cut off from telehealth, online classes, and public benefits. Staff ends up wasting time fixing tech problems and juggling budget gaps instead of doing their actual jobs. When that happens, important work grinds to a halt.
To keep things running smoothly, community organizations need simple, affordable internet options built for how they actually work.
How Nonprofits Are Keeping Connectivity Costs Under Control
• Lock In Predictable Rates: Partners like Mobile Beacon offer affordable, high-speed internet powered by major national networks with flat-rate, unlimited data and no overage fees.
• Tap Into TechSoup’s Marketplace: Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and libraries can get $10/month unlimited service, up to 11 donated 4G hotspots, and discounted 5G SIMs, hotspots, and other hardware (plus a small admin fee).
• Use Digital Wish (for Schools & Academics): K-12 schools, universities, and academic libraries can access up to 15 donated 4G hotspots, donated 5G SIMs, and discounted 5G hotspots and other hardware on the same $10/month plan.
• Maximize Local Resources: Community foundations, digital inclusion grants, and public-private partnerships are filling critical funding gaps to keep organizations connected.
Keeping Community Lifelines Online
August is a time to celebrate the heartbeat of the nonprofit sector. But the best way to honor the people doing the work is to remove the obstacles in their path.
Technical barriers, surprise bills, and fragile infrastructure shouldn’t hold your nonprofit back. With a reliable, fixed-rate internet plan, you can stop worrying about unexpected costs and focus on helping people.
Ready to see how flat-rate internet can bring more budget predictability to your nonprofit? Contact us to learn more about our service plans.
