SAN ANTONIO – The SBC Foundation – the philanthropic arm of SBC Communications Inc. – has increased its SBC Excelerator technology grant program to a total of $28 million. In 2004, $9 million is available to national and local nonprofit organizations for projects that use technology to build stronger communities. SBC Excelerator is a major philanthropic initiative that connects the nation’s neediest residents – including at-risk youth and underserved urban families – to important community resources, such as Internet access, computer training, math and reading classes, and job skills programs.

“SBC Excelerator has helped our organization improve its day-to-day operations, aiding us in our effort to promote student success,” said Nancy Reed, executive director of Communities in Schools of San Antonio, a 2003 SBC Excelerator grant recipient. “Our ability to use technology to improve the way we train staff and manage information allows us to quickly identify what students need to learn successfully and stay in school.”

This year, the SBC Excelerator grant program will award $5 million in competitive technology-related grants, enabling nonprofit organizations to integrate technology into their ongoing operations and community outreach. Interested organizations can apply for this year’s grant by downloading a copy of the 2004 request for proposals (RFP) from www.sbc.com/foundation, or by calling 1-800-591-9663.

In addition, this year, SBC Excelerator will provide $4 million in an invitational grant effort to support exceptional national organizations and programs with a significant local presence in the SBC 13-state service region.

The SBC Foundation has allocated $28 million through national and local SBC Excelerator grants in the past three years. Since 2002, SBC Excelerator has supported more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations across the nation.

2004 SBC Excelerator grants will help nonprofit organizations across the U.S. improve their operations and build stronger communities through:

• Interactive, Web-based applications that support activities such as service delivery, volunteer recruiting and e-fundraising
  
• Technology training programs for nonprofit staff members
  
• High speed access to the Internet and email
  
• Network connectivity enabling easy sharing of database applications and information systems

To qualify for an SBC Excelerator grant, an organization’s major focus and project must emphasize education, community development, health and human services, or arts and culture. Grant funds may be used for data communications services, hardware, software, technology training, personnel, and application development. Grants will range from $2,500 to $25,000 and are one year in length. Collaborations by two or more organizations will be considered for grants up to $50,000 for one year. Grant recipients of the 2003 SBC Excelerator program are eligible to submit a grant application for the 2004 program. Completed applications are due by August 13, 2004.

The SBC Excelerator program is the largest special grants program ever undertaken by the SBC Foundation, one of the top corporate foundations in the nation, according to The Foundation Center. SBC Excelerator marks a significant part of the SBC Foundation’s 20th anniversary year. Since 1984, SBC Communications and the SBC Foundation have contributed more than $1 billion to nonprofit organizations across the country. According to Business Week magazine’s 2003 Special Report on Corporate Philanthropy, SBC Communications ranks as one of the largest providers of corporate philanthropic funding in America.

The SBC Foundation is the charitable giving arm of SBC Communications Inc. The SBC Foundation supports efforts that enrich and strengthen diverse communities nationwide, particularly those with an emphasis on education and technology and those that benefit underserved populations. SBC Foundation-backed programs are designed to increase access to information technologies, broaden technology training and professional skills development, and effectively integrate new technologies to enhance education and economic development. The Foundation Center has consistently ranked the SBC Foundation among the nation's top six corporate foundations. In 2002, the SBC Foundation launched SBC Excelerator, a multimillion dollar competitive grants program that funds nonprofit organizations in their efforts to digitally connect communities.

SBC Communications Inc. (www.sbc.com) is a diversified communications company, owning several of the world's leading data, voice and Internet services providers. Through world-class networks, SBC companies provide a full range of voice, data, networking and e-business services, as well as directory advertising and publishing. A Fortune 30 company, SBC Communications Inc. owns America’s leading high-speed DSL provider and one of the nation's leading Internet Service Providers. SBC companies currently serve 55 million access lines nationwide. In addition, SBC companies own 60 percent of America's second-largest wireless company, Cingular Wireless, which serves more than 24 million wireless customers. Internationally, SBC companies have telecommunications investments in 26 countries.

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