Amateur Radio Digital Communications
Preselected recipients only
Amateur Radio Digital Communications is a private foundation in San Diego, California. In tax year 2025 it gave $3.3 million in 111 grants; the typical grant was $10,662 and the largest $507,500. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$3.3 million
- Number of grants111
- Typical grant$10,662
- Largest grant$507,500
- Assets$143 million
- New grantees85%
Giving in 2025 was down from $3.4 million the year before.
85% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $6.3 million | 91 | $117 million |
| 2024 | $3.4 million | 92 | $128 million |
| 2025 | $3.3 million | 111 | $143 million |
How to apply
Amateur Radio Digital Communications says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Amateur Radio Digital Communications funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 32 states, the most to California. It also paid $705,163 in 19 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 17 | $675,816 |
| Connecticut | 4 | $516,581 |
| New York | 13 | $361,991 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $264,859 |
| Illinois | 4 | $189,555 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $103,670 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $88,678 |
| Indiana | 3 | $70,146 |
| Kentucky | 3 | $52,843 |
| Kansas | 2 | $49,590 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arrl Foundation | Final payment of $507,500 for three total years to fund the ardc scholarship. Total request is $1,522,500 over three years. | $507,500 |
| Internet Archive | Expand dlarc by digitizing more materials and increasing outreach to preserve and provide free access to amateur radio resources. | $319,110 |
| Rhizomatica Communications | Finishes the open source mercury hf modem and makes the full hermes digital hf system easier to install and use. | $235,045 |
| Software Freedom Conservancy Inc | Continuation of gpl compliance and enforcement. | $175,000 |
| Pleasant Valley Telecommunications Advisory Council-Pvtac | Establish microwave backbone and mixed-mode vhf/uhf simulcast system to replace aging infrastructure to improve emergency communications. | $170,356 |
| Society of Women Engineers | Fund scholarships, research, and education programs that support women in engineering and technology, including 35 scholarships in total. | $146,200 |
| Teachers in Space Inc | Train teachers to use amateur radio technology to track satellites, communicate with spacecraft, and teach students about its role in aerospace communications. | $110,107 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (Behalf Hameenlinnan Radioamatoorit Ry) | Improve the stability and release quality of hamlib through the development of an automated testing framework, and to expand hamlib to support modern network controlled and software defined radio transceivers. | $98,229 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (On Behalf of Librecube) | Creates an open source, fully redundant vhf/uhf communications board for cubesats and educational space systems. | $92,917 |
| Information Age Learning Center (On Behalf of Computer Deconstruction Labor | Funding for a makerspace to upgrade its antennas, communications systems, and facility infrastructure so it can expand public programs and support more radio and technology activities. | $88,678 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (On Behalf of the Radio Society of Sri Lan | Strengthen emergency preparedness in sri lanka by deploying solar-powered radio stations and training communities in amateur radio. | $88,000 |
| Estero Radio Club Inc | Upgrade and expand the san luis obispo (slo) aredn backbone mesh network with modern 802.11ac radios, rf backbone links, and battery backups. | $77,000 |
| Radio Amateur Du-Of Quebec Inc (On Behalf la Federation Des Clubs Radioamat | Repairing, upgrading, and expanding a province wide linked repeater network by replacing aging equipment, restoring damaged sites, and adding new repeaters. | $73,584 |
| American Indian Science and Engineering Society | Provide 12 undergraduate scholarships to indigenous students pursuing STEM fields related to amateur radio and digital communications. | $72,000 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (On Behalf of Wildfiremesh) | Deploy meshtastic nodes for wildfire fighters in argentina, improving off grid digital communications when cellular and traditional radio systems fail. | $62,775 |
| Alberta Digital Radio Communications Society | Develop a high speed ofdm-based digital modem for the 400 mhz amateur radio band, enabling significantly higher data rates and modern digital linking capabilities. | $60,000 |
| Southeast Community Development Corporation | Provides hands-on STEM education with fm radio and soldering kits to amateur radio education. | $46,272 |
| New England Sci-Tech Inc | Expand youth education programs through hands-on workshops, scouting labs, and balloon launches. | $42,565 |
| Jay County Amateur Radio Club Inc | Renovation and outfitting of an existing building to create a permanent amateur radio clubhouse with meeting space, training areas, license testing facilities, and fixed on air operating positions. | $39,334 |
| Ufb New England | Expands and repairs a multi site digital repeater network by adding a new site and upgrading key existing sites to improve capabilities. | $35,725 |
| Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club Inc | Create a mobile STEM/ar lab serving underserved communities across rural kansas. | $35,640 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (On Behalf of Thanet Radio Infrastructure | Remote hf station for education and youth engagement, providing schools and youth groups across the uk hands on access to hf operating. | $34,169 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (On Behalf of Openmesh Voice Network) | Build and test an open source 70 cm mesh network that supports real time voice and basic data. | $33,000 |
| Radio Amateur Du-Of Quebec Inc (On Behalf of Ares Association Radio Exp | Funds a new solar-powered vhf repeater on mont blanc to extend aress network into an unserved region, improve emergency communication for hikers and local agencies. | $32,365 |
| Radio Amateur Du-Of Quebec Inc (On Behalf of Vallee du Richelieu Club) | Replace outdated repeater equipment at two sites with modern vhf/uhf systems to improve reliability and reduce maintenance. | $31,945 |
| The Leffell School | Build a student-run satellite ground station to support hands-on learning with amateur radio. | $31,200 |
| Western Lake Superior Amateur Responders | Upgrade repeater with backup power, antennas, and deploy aredn for emergency communications. | $28,282 |
| Porter County Amateur Radio Club Inc | Build a mobile radio communications trailer that will help expand outreach, education and emergency communications. | $27,462 |
| Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club Inc | Replaces old repeater equipment and improves network links to improve repeater reliability. | $26,743 |
| Black Girls Do Engineer Corporation | Teaches brooklyn youth amateur radio and digital communications through hands on workshops, licensing classes, and student projects. | $25,000 |
| Half Moon Bay Amateur Radio Club | Build a self-contained emergency communications trailer with multiple radios and off grid power to support public outreach. | $25,000 |
| Okaw Valley Amateur Radio Club Inc | Replace a failing repeater shelter and supporting infrastructure, add emergency power, repair antennas, and restore a reliable vhf repeater site to keep the system on the air. | $24,750 |
| Valencia County Amateur Radio Association Inc | Funds student radios, license materials and exams, classroom supplies, repeater connectivity, and field trips to support and expand valencia middle schools amateur radio classes. | $24,570 |
| Electronic Applications Radio Service Inc | Additional funds to cover increased number of campers and costs. | $22,000 |
| Fondation Open Collective Europe (On Behalf of Dimension Parabole F4KLO) | Support hands-on demonstrations of amateur radio, earth-moon-earth communication, and radio astronomy through a restored radio telescope. | $22,000 |
| Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness | Upgrades and consolidates tceps radio systems at 69 bravo into a dedicated, hardened communications hub, expanding capacity, improving reliability during wildfires and outages. | $20,891 |
| Radio Amateur Du-Of Quebec Inc (On Behalf of la Federation Des Clubs Radioa | Funding of components needed to refurbish and distribute several motorola quantar repeaters to amateur radio clubs across quebec. | $20,275 |
| Electronic Applications Radio Service | Funding to host the 2025 youth on the air junior USA camp to promote youth involvement in amateur radio. | $20,181 |
| World Genesis Foundation | Expand free amateur radio and steam programs that provide licensing, hands-on projects, and community events for students and families. | $20,000 |
| Wikiciv Org Inc (On Behalf of Offworld Lab) | Legal advisory to establish clear regulations for open-source passive radar development in the u.s. | $19,632 |
Officers and trustees
- Alfred Dickinson Barksdale Garbee I
- Ashhar Farhan
- Elizabeth Schechter
- John Gilmore
- Keith Packard
- Philip Karn
- Ria Jairam
- Robert Witte
- Harald Welte
Questions people ask
Does Amateur Radio Digital Communications accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Amateur Radio Digital Communications give?
$3.3 million in tax year 2025, across 111 grants, with a typical grant of $10,662.
Who runs Amateur Radio Digital Communications?
Its 2025 filing lists Alfred Dickinson Barksdale Garbee I (President - Board of Directors), Ashhar Farhan (Director - Board of Directors), Elizabeth Schechter (Executive Director) and John Gilmore (Secretary - Board of Directors) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does Amateur Radio Digital Communications fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, international and science and research.