Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group
Twin Cities Schools’ Telecommunications Group Inc., doing business as Voqal Twin Cities, is a public charity based in Longmont, Colorado. It began transmitting educational video programs to schools in the mid-1980s using FCC-regulated frequencies. Today, it provides services to schools and nonprofits nationwide, conducts philanthropic programs centered on social equality, and participates in other entrepreneurial endeavors.
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group at a glance
In short: Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group gave $1.3M across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,267,500
- +274.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +230.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,409
- +13.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $42,000
- Total assets
- $28,818,729
- +260.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group
- Contact
Mailing address: 205 Ken Pratt Blvd Ste 120 Pmb 103, Longmont, CO 80501
Phone: (303) 532-2852
Website: https://www.tcstg.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Illinois Immigrant Action ($90K). Together the top 10 received $579K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 68 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed primarily to recipients in Illinois (52%) and Minnesota (29%), followed by California (9%), Florida (2%), and Tennessee (2%). Separately, the organization reports providing broadband services to schools and nonprofits locally and nationwide.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
How Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $302K (2020) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Immigrant Action Chicago, IL | Core Support | $90,000 |
| Center for Racial and Gender Equity Chicago, IL | Core Support | $60,500 |
| Blackroots Alliance Chicago, IL | Core Support | $60,000 |
| Center for Media Justice Oakland, CA | Core Support | $60,000 |
| Minnesota Black Collective Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Core Support | $58,000 |
| Urban Gateways Chicago, IL | Core Support | $50,000 |
| United Working Families Chicago, IL | Core Support | $50,000 |
| The People's Lobby Chicago, IL | Core Support | $50,000 |
| One People's Campaign Chicago, IL | Core Support | $50,000 |
| Jane Addams Seniors Senior Caucus Chicago, IL | Core Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $28,818,729 | $4,469,348 | $3,301,607 | $1,267,500 | 33 | $604,116 |
| 2024 | $7,986,299 | $2,713,471 | $2,632,034 | $338,665 | 10 | $183,193 |
| 2023 | $7,329,525 | $4,618,036 | $4,389,801 | $409,096 | 8 | $142,830 |
| 2022 | $7,613,730 | $2,200,883 | $1,612,903 | $355,635 | 7 | $224,024 |
| 2021 | $7,187,807 | $1,276,257 | $1,100,667 | $405,428 | 10 | $226,994 |
| 2020 | $5,934,604 | $1,202,890 | $1,268,690 | $302,000 | 9 | $112,696 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s filing refers readers to Schedule O for its mission or purpose. Its program descriptions say it participates in the Education Opportunity Project, which aims to reduce educational opportunity gaps by providing capital and strategic advice to entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged populations. It also participates in the Voqal Fellowship, an accelerator for individuals and budding entrepreneurs whose projects include areas such as civic media and online tools. These programs are distinct from the organization’s separate grantmaking to outside organizations.
Its 2025 grants, reported as core support, included organizations whose own missions address immigrant participation and advocacy, Black-led community transformation, media and digital justice, arts experiences for young people, working-class interests, and social, racial, and economic justice. For example, Illinois Immigrant Action describes its mission as promoting immigrants’ full and equal participation, while the Center for Media Justice describes its mission as building a movement for a more just and participatory media and digital world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 33 grants totaling $1,267,500. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $90,000, with a median of $42,000. The largest awards included $90,000 to Illinois Immigrant Action; $60,500 to the Center for Racial and Gender Equity; $60,000 each to Blackroots Alliance and the Center for Media Justice; and $58,000 to the Minnesota Black Collective Foundation. Each of these grants was listed for core support.
Other listed awards included $50,000 each to Urban Gateways, United Working Families, The People’s Lobby, One People’s Campaign, Jane Addams Seniors Senior Caucus, and Equity and Transformation, as well as $42,000 to Awood Center. The organization’s 2023 filing narrative also describes its grantmaking as including grants to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations; it notes that several 501(c)(4) organizations conduct 527 exempt function activities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The organization’s current website lists Ron Harris as treasurer, Denise Mayotte as secretary, and David McKay as president and director. It also lists Kim Bubon and Adam Miller as non-voting ex officio assistant secretaries. The website states that voting board members are not paid for board service.
The 2025 filing lists Maria Hadden as president, Denise Mayotte as secretary, Ron Harris as treasurer, and Christina Dawkins, Lilly Gleich, Barbara Iverson, David McKay, Dan O’Neil, and Cec Ortiz as directors. It lists Brenda Williams-Sears as CEO. The filing also states that Williams-Sears’s role in EBS Support Services, LLC makes her effectively the employer for the organization’s CEO and CFO.
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group is led by Brenda Williams-Sears, CEO on every filing since 2022; 3 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brenda Williams-Sears
CEO
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$233K (2025)
Maria Hadden
President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan O'Neil
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$32K (2025)
David McKay
Director
Vice President → President & Director, 2022
President & Director → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Iverson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cec Ortiz
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Dawkins
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lilly Gleich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Reed
CFO
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$205K (2025)
Denise Mayotte
Secretary
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2022
Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Harris
Treasurer
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2022
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Adam Miller (2020–2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Kim Bubon (2020–2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Cecilia Ortiz (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Barbara Hunter (2020–2021) — CFO
- Former: John Schwartz (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Luchelle Stevens (2020–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $233K, to Brenda Williams-Sears (CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group
How much does Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group give each year?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group gave $1.3M across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $339K across 10 grants.
What is Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's typical grant size?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's median grant in 2025 was $42,000, and its average grant was $38,409, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group give grants?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group gives mostly in Illinois: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (29%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (15 grants), Minneapolis, MN (8 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Core Support" (33 grants).
Who are Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's largest grantees?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's largest 2025 grantees include Illinois Immigrant Action ($90,000), Center for Racial and Gender Equity ($60,500) and Blackroots Alliance ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group reported $28.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.5M.
What does Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group fund?
The organization’s filing refers readers to Schedule O for its mission or purpose. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check tcstg.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's EIN?
Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1804970. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/twin-cities-schools-telecommunications-group-morg_87ddce5018fa44d893be6b0b6ebbfb42
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411804970_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/twin-cities-schools-telecommunications-group-morg_87ddce5018fa44d893be6b0b6ebbfb42},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Twin Cities Schools' Telecommunications Group'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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