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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arrl Foundation ($507,500), Asociacion Civil Altermundi ($313,970), Allina Health Foundation on Behalf of Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institut ($224,841).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALHAMBRA HIGH SCHOOL PHOENIX, AZ | #1370 REVIVE AN OLD RADIO CLUB AT A HIGH SCHOOL BY UPDATING EQUIPMENT. | $18,133 |
| ALLINA HEALTH FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF COURAGE KENNY REHABILITATION INSTITUT MAIL ROUTE, MN | #1446 SUPPORTS THE HANDIHAM PROJECT FOR THREE YEARS BY PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND ADDING PROGRAM STAFF. THE HANDIHAM PROGRAM ENABLES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN AMATEUR RADIO. | $224,841 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA, CA | KK6UC CLUB MODERNIZATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE | $7,547 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SOCIETY ALBUQUERQUE, NM | #1593 PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT FOR TWELVE STUDENTS PURSUING STEM DEGREES RELATED TO AMATEUR RADIO IN THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR. | $72,000 |
| APRS FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | FORMED IN 2022. "SUPPORTS THE AUTOMATIC PACKET REPORTING SYSTEM (APRS)" | $1,000 |
| ARRL FOUNDATION NEWINGTON, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ARRL FOUNDATION NEWINGTON, CT | #1312 SECOND PAYMENT OF $507,500 FOR THREE TOTAL YEARS TO FUND THE ARDC SCHOLARSHIP. TOTAL REQUEST IS $1,522,500 OVER THREE YEARS. | $507,500 |
| ARTISANS ASYLUM INC BOSTON, MA | #1543 FOSTERING AMATEUR RADIO ENGAGEMENT BY INTEGRATING RADIO CURRICULUM INTO THEIR PROGRAMS. | $19,097 |
| ASOCIACION CIVIL ALTERMUNDI | #1583 AIMS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY MESH NETWORKS, AIMING TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ACCESS AND RELIABILITY FOR COMMUNITIES THROUGH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS. | $313,970 |
| BRICK STORE MUSEUM KENNEBUNK, ME | #1539 CREATE AN EDUCATIONAL INTERACTIVE AMATEUR RADIO DISPLAY AND HAM SHACK WITHIN THE MUSEUM TO EXPAND OUTREACH. | $7,275 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Amateur Radio Digital Communications fund?
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…
How do I apply for a grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications?
ARDC operates an active grant program with the following characteristics: **Grant Activity:** • Made 69 grants in 2023 • Distributed over 250 grants since 2019 • Total giving of approximately $4.0 million annually • Typical award range: $1,000–$889,405 • Average grant size: $211 **Funding Uses:** • General operating expenses for amateur radio projects • Youth summer camp support • Upgrades to Vara FM on repeaters and base stations • Hardware upgrades for UHF repeater systems • Educational and r…
Where does Amateur Radio Digital Communications make 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.
What size grants does Amateur Radio Digital Communications award?
In 2024, Amateur Radio Digital Communications awarded 92 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Amateur Radio Digital Communications's EIN?
Amateur Radio Digital Communications's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3751971. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Amateur Radio Digital Communications's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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