Powering Social Justice Through Digital Equity
We are a focused and well-resourced grantmaker, collaborator, partner, and convener working to narrow the digital divide, seek social justice, and empower people to equitably participate in today’s society.
Our Mission
We are on a mission to help historically marginalized people step across the digital divide by funding digital equity initiatives and unexpected opportunities that enable affordable internet access and advance social justice.
Our Partners
What We Do
Our overarching goal is simple — to make it easier for people around the world to fully participate in the digital world.
We help people equitably participate in today’s digital society. Through our affordable internet program, schools, libraries, nonprofits, and social welfare agencies in under-resourced communities are offered affordable internet services and devices.
We fund digital equity and social justice grantmaking operations, as well as convening and collaboration work in the space across the US.
Why We Do It
Full participation in the digital world empowers people to be more involved in modern civil society and culture, take advantage of existing opportunities in today’s economy and civic activities, engage in the democratic process as a part of an informed electorate, and play an active role in overcoming systemic inequity and elevating themselves in every aspect of their lives.
How We Operate
We are the owners of a significant telecommunications asset. Our telecom partnership provides us with a foundation upon which to scale our impact. By combining our base revenue with revenue from our programs, spectrum agreements, and investment income, we are able to fund grantmaking operations that support and grow the impact of organizations focused on digital equity and social justice.
In addition, our core revenue allows us to expand our impact and take educated risks that other organizations in these spaces cannot.
Values-based Strategy
We believe that internet accessibility is critical for people to utilize government and nonprofit services and compete for jobs, wages, and opportunities.
To help people gain access, we sell internet accounts and low-cost hardware to our digital equity partners that allow and incentivise them to offer low cost internet devices and services.
Strong believers in partnerships, we collaborate across our extensive network to support digital equity advocacy organizations and conduct joint advocacy initiatives with our partners.
About Us
We are a team with deep roots and decades of experience in digital equity and social justice work. Due to our strong partnerships and relationships, we are growing our impact as we scale our operations.
Team Members
Adam Miller
Executive Director
Adam is an accomplished and forward-thinking leader in the nonprofit sector. Recognized for his proactive and innovative approach to building and growing robust organizations, he has extensive experience in nonprofit governance, strategic management, and talent acquisition.
Before joining 35 Mile Foundation, he held officer and key liaison positions at EBS Support Services, a management organization serving its five nonprofit members.
Adam's experience in the social justice sector also includes stints at Special Olympics Texas and Americorps Vista. Adam holds a Bachelor's degree from The University of the South, Sewanee.
Cassie previously served as the Chief Business Development Executive of Mobile Citizen, which advances social equity through internet access. Cassie led Mobile Citizen from start-up stage to an established wireless internet service provider serving all 50 states and thousands of organizations and end-users. Previously, Cassie was the VP of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at mGive and was a Director of Cause Marketing with the American Heart Association.
With a background in nonprofit and tech start-ups, Cassie firmly believes technology should be used for social good. She has a B.A. in Applied Communications from Appalachian State University and an M.A. in Integrated Marketing Communications from CU Boulder.
Vice President of Broadband Services
Cassie Bair
Program Director of Broadband Services
Luis Gomez
Luis brings 20+ years of experience working with nonprofits and the private sector in developing systems, management processes, and programs for communities in the US and abroad.
Prior to joining 35 Mile Foundation, Luis served as a Director of Operations for Mobile Citizen, where he focused on advancing social equity by providing internet access. He also served as the Operations and Field Director for the Appleseed Foundation, a Program Manager for the Clinton Foundation's Health Access Initiative in Ecuador, and instructor and project manager for international academic classes for members of the U.S. military.
Luis holds an M.A. in Human Rights and Democracy and a degree in Wireless Telecommunications.
Board Members
Chet is the founder and president of the RTC Impact Fund, a full-spectrum social and environmental impact fund designed to provide access to capital for mine-impacted communities around the world who seek to harness their natural resource endowments for sustainable development.
A serial social entrepreneur, Chet is the founder of the Global Greengrants Fund and the Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center. Chet joined DAETC, now 35 Mile Foundation, in 2015.
Chet Tchozewski
Current Board Member
Joe Pezzillo
Current Board Member
Joe has been with the 35 Mile Foundation since the mid-2000s and was originally recruited by the founder for his extensive experience in technology, business, and the arts.
A veteran of leading tech corporations such as Apple and Oracle, as well as years of startup entrepreneurism, Joe is also known for his decades of volunteering for community radio, and for founding one of the first internet radio stations in 1996.
A proud father, amateur chef, world traveler, patented inventor, tsundoku addict, and longtime Boulder resident, Joe is enjoying his current, slow transition from lifelong workaholic to hopefully at least someday becoming semi-retired.
Contact Us
Whether you’re a digital equity or social justice organization looking to partner with us or a nonprofit working in the sector, contact us to explore how we might join forces to empower people to equitably participate in modern society and the economy.
