Connect Humanity
Connect Humanity is a San Francisco, California-based public charity, formed in 2021, that finances and partners with communities to expand access to affordable, reliable internet and digital adoption services. It combines grants, technical assistance, community engagement, and investment capital to support community-focused broadband projects.
Connect Humanity at a glance
In short: Connect Humanity gave $395K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), top state West Virginia. 62% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $394,956
- -48.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -18.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,381
- -36.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $5,866,316
- -6.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (8 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- West Virginia (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Connect Humanity
- Contact
Mailing address: 1388 Haight Street Suite 1120, San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: (415) 613-3446
Website: https://connecthumanity.fund
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Connect Humanity funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Generation West Virginia ($78K). Together the top 10 received $374K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 35 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Connect Humanity describes work with underserved communities in the United States and internationally. Its 2024 filing describes programs in Appalachia, South Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, and Brazil. The 2025 grant filings show awards to recipients in West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and New York. West Virginia accounted for 20% of 2025 grant dollars, Ohio 15%, North Carolina 15%, Pennsylvania 12%, and Kentucky 10%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Connect Humanity open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 13 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $27K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $255K (2023) to $763K (2024). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $395K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Generation West Virginia Morgantown, WV | Engage 18 communities across West Virginia in generating connectivity plans in preparation for applications to funding programs. | $78,000 |
| Foothills Regional Commission Rutherfordton, NC | Engage 4 communities across North Carolina in generating connectivity plans in preparation for applications to funding programs. | $60,000 |
| Buffalo Trace Area Development District Maysville, KY | Engage 2 communities across Kentucky in generating connectivity plans in preparation for applications to funding programs. | $39,856 |
| Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners Jefferson, OH | Engage 1 community in Ohio in generating a connectivity plan in preparation for application to funding programs. | $30,000 |
| City of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Engage 1 community in Pennsylvania in generating a connectivity plan in preparation for application to funding programs. | $30,000 |
| Garrett County Oakland, MD | Engage 1 community in Maryland in generating a connectivity plan in preparation for application to funding programs. | $30,000 |
| Trumbull County Commissioners Warren, OH | Engage 1 community in Ohio in generating a connectivity plan in preparation for application to funding programs. | $30,000 |
| Virginia Community Action Partnership Richmond, VA | Engage 9 communities across Virginia in generating connectivity plans in preparation for applications to funding programs. | $30,000 |
| Whitfield County Board of Commissioners Dalton, GA | Engage 1 community in Georgia in generating a connectivity plan in preparation for application to funding programs. | $24,807 |
| Southern Tier 8 Regional Board Binghamton, NY | Engage 1 community in New York in generating a connectivity plan in preparation for application to funding programs. | $21,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Connect Humanity?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,866,316 | $3,779,298 | $3,629,796 | $394,956 | 13 | $158,867 |
| 2024 | $6,291,450 | $8,214,449 | $7,614,548 | $762,690 | 16 | $116,480 |
| 2023 | $6,465,111 | $7,719,452 | $2,530,962 | $255,000 | 6 | $5,185 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Connect Humanity states that its mission is to finance the internet access and adoption communities need to expand opportunity and improve lives. It works with communities, local internet providers, and financial partners to support broadband infrastructure and the services that help people use it. Its stated approach emphasizes community ownership, governance, and long-term accountability, and combines public funding, philanthropy, and impact investment.
Its planning grants support underserved communities in assessing residents’ digital needs and existing assets, then developing plans to improve broadband access. The organization says these plans can help communities pursue follow-on funding for infrastructure and implementation. Its FAQ describes potential applicants as community-embedded entities with community support and local partnerships; examples include utilities, municipalities, nonprofits, and community-centered enterprises.
The 2025 grantees illustrate the kinds of organizations Connect Humanity supports. Generation West Virginia, which received $78,000, describes its mission as attracting, retaining, and advancing young talent in West Virginia. Alleghenies Broadband Inc., which received $9,488, says it partners with internet service providers to support broadband infrastructure and high-speed internet access in its region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Connect Humanity reported 13 grants totaling $394,956. Grants ranged from $5,805 to $78,000, with a median of $30,000. The listed grant purposes focus on helping communities develop connectivity plans in preparation for applications to funding programs.
Notable grants included $78,000 to Generation West Virginia to engage 18 West Virginia communities in connectivity planning; $60,000 to Foothills Regional Commission for planning with four North Carolina communities; and $39,856 to Buffalo Trace Area Development District for planning with two Kentucky communities. Other listed grants included $30,000 each to the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners, City of Pittsburgh, Garrett County, Trumbull County Commissioners, and Virginia Community Action Partnership.
Connect Humanity’s planning-grant FAQ describes community participation in needs assessment, data collection, convening residents, identifying local partners, and collaborating on funding applications. The FAQ also says grants may support communities’ time and effort in the planning process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Steve Song as board chair. Board members listed are Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean, Bryan Woliner, and Chris Worman. Listed staff include Marco Girish, chief financial officer; Brian Vo, chief investment officer; Erica Mesker, chief development and operations officer; Samantha Schartman, director of philanthropic programs; and Rian Wanstreet, operations manager. Jochai Ben-Avie is listed as chief executive officer, with a note that he left in November 2024.
Connect Humanity is led by Jochai Ben-Avie, Chief Executive Officer since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 7 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jochai Ben-Avie
Chief Executive Officer
CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$190K (2024) → $295K (2025)
Steve Song
Board Chair
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Schartman
Director of Philanthropic Programs
Director & Philanthropic Programs → Director of Philanthropic Programs, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$125K (2024) → $158K (2025)
Marco Girish
Chief Financial Officer
CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$200K (2024) → $200K (2025)
Brian Vo
Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$223K (2024) → $222K (2025)
Erica Mesker
Chief Development & Ops Officer
Chief Development & Operating Officer → Chief Development & Ops Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$163K (2024) → $195K (2025)
Rian Wanstreet
Operations Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$135K (2025)
Sarah Brown-Campello
Community Engagement Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$115K (2025)
Bryan Woliner
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Worman
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanine Abrams McLean
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Anriette Esterhuysen (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Lynette Bell (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kenya Browning (2024) — Senior Director of Fp & A
- Former: Melissa Boagey (2024) — Cmp
- Former: Christopher Worman (2023) — Cpo
- Former: Larry Irving To (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Stephen Song (2023) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $295K, to Jochai Ben-Avie (Chief Executive Officer (Left 11/24)). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Connect Humanity
How much does Connect Humanity give each year?
Connect Humanity gave $395K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $763K across 16 grants.
What is Connect Humanity's typical grant size?
Connect Humanity's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $30,381, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Connect Humanity that year got $23K on average.
Where does Connect Humanity give grants?
Connect Humanity's top state is West Virginia, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Ohio (15%) and North Carolina (15%).
Does Connect Humanity give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Connect Humanity's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Connect Humanity's largest grantees?
Connect Humanity's largest 2025 grantees include Generation West Virginia ($78,000), Foothills Regional Commission ($60,000) and Buffalo Trace Area Development District ($39,856), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Connect Humanity?
Connect Humanity reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What does Connect Humanity fund?
Connect Humanity states that its mission is to finance the internet access and adoption communities need to expand opportunity and improve lives. It works with communities, local internet providers, and financial partners to support broadband infrastructure and the services that help people use it. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Connect Humanity?
Connect Humanity has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check connecthumanity.fund for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Connect Humanity's EIN?
Connect Humanity's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1528048. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 10, 2026)
Live grants for the work Connect Humanity funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Connect Humanity funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/connect-humanity-morg_cb41c8ee1a874f51ba32793d28b08837
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_871528048_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Connect Humanity funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/connect-humanity-morg_cb41c8ee1a874f51ba32793d28b08837},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Connect Humanity's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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