Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is a private foundation based in San Diego, California, established in 2011. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting amateur radio and digital communications initiatives. ARDC manages the stewardship of 44Net (formerly AMPRNet), an internet protocol address space reserved for use by licensed amateur radio operators worldwide, and administers a grant program supporting projects in communication science and technology.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.0M
-31.5% YoY
Grant Count
92
+1.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
-32.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ARDC's primary mission is to support, promote, and enhance amateur radio digital communications and broader communication science and technology. The organization focuses on:
- Stewardship and conservation of 44Net internet protocol resources
- Education of network users on efficient resource utilization
- Grants and financial support to educational institutions, foundations, and other organizations
- Technical experimentation in amateur radio and digital communication science
- Development and advancement of open source hardware and software in communications technology
Grantmaking
ARDC operates an active grant program with the following characteristics:
Grant Range
$211
Average Grant
$211
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ARDC funds projects across the United States and internationally. Geographic areas of support include multiple states and cities throughout the country, with particular emphasis on California, New York, and Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $117.2 million
- Total revenue: $4.01 million
- Total expenses: $7.79 million
- Total liabilities: $1.52 million
Staffing:
- 5 employees (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
222 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Amateur Radio Digital Communications
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Rosy Schechter (compensation: $169,572)
Principal Officer: Bdale Garbee
Founder & First Board Chair/CEO: Brian Kantor, WB6CYT (1953–2019), whose vision and leadership established ARDC's foundational mission and negotiated the 2019 endowment-building transaction that enabled the current grant program.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH SCHECHTER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $169,572 |
| ALFRED DICKINSON BARKSDALE GARBEE I | PRESIDENT - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 2 | — |
| JOHN GILMORE | SECRETARY - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 2 | — |
| RIA JAIRAM | TREASURER - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 2 | — |
| PHILIP KARN | DIRECTOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| KEITH PACKARD | DIRECTOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| ROBERT WITTE | DIRECTOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
| ASHHAR FARHAN | DIRECTOR - BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
ARDC continues to expand its grant program and support for amateur radio digital communications projects. The organization maintains an active grants application process and regularly announces new funding opportunities for organizations and projects aligned with its mission of advancing amateur radio technology and digital communications innovation.
Press Releases | ARDC - Amateur Radio Digital CommunicationsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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