KRAMDEN INSTITUTE INC

Durham, NC   |  http://www.kramden.org

Mission

Providing technology tools and training to bridge the digital divide.

Ruling year info

2004

Executive Director

Cyndy Yu-Robinson

Main address

5010 NC Hwy 55

Durham, NC 27713 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

74-3108814

NTEE code info

Computer Science (U41)

Nonmonetary Support N.E.C. (O19)

Nonmonetary Support N.E.C. (S19)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Kramden's mission is to bridge the digital divide. The digital divide is the growing gap that exists between those who have broadband internet connectivity, computing technology and the skills to use both versus those who do not.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Kramden Tech Scholars

The Kramden Tech Scholars provides refurbished desktop computers to students in grades K-12 who do not have access to a working home computer.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Kramden Institute offers the following services for eligible applicants:

Low-cost refurbished computers: $50 desktops and $100 laptops
90-day warranty with all computers
All computers come with Windows 10 installed

Population(s) Served
Adults

As part of Kramden’s efforts to help our community, we offer affordable, heavily-discounted computer equipment to other, local non-profits, schools, churches and other institutions.

Population(s) Served
Adults

Kramden expanded its programs in 2014 to offer educational programs to members of the community who lack basic computing skills. Since that time, over 7,500 people have completed one of our adult computer classes, taken part in our STEM after-school programs, or enrolled in one of our technology camps, and workshops, fulfilling a crucial community need in an increasingly connected world.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Adults

Where we work

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of participants attending course/session/workshop

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, Adults, Seniors

Related Program

Digital Literacy Education

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Total individuals who have completed one of our in-person or online adult computer classes, taken part in our STEM after-school programs, or enrolled in one of our technology camps, and workshops.

Number of volunteers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Adolescents, Adults

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Total number of volunteers annually. *Numbers in 2020-2021 significantly declined due to COVID-19 precautions.

Number of products distributed

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, Adults, Seniors

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

Total number of computers distributed annually.

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Kramden Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the technology tools and training necessary for students, families, and communities to bridge the digital divide.

We harness the resources of the local community to collect computers that are no longer in use. We bring together thousands of volunteers to refurbish computers. We pull from the expertise of our staff and volunteers to develop educational programs that will enable all of the students and families we serve to achieve digital literacy. We partner with schools and municipalities across North Carolina and beyond to reach those most in need.

We have 15 years of experience refurbishing and awarding computers to hardworking students. Our volunteers, approximately 1,500 a year, bring a broad range experience to our operations. Over the past decade, we have partnered with educators, community organizations, and businesses across the state to collect donated hardware and to identify students for our programs. Our newsletter reaches thousands of individuals, families, and companies, raising awareness of issues surrounding access to technology and digital literacy skills.

Since our founding in 2003, Kramden has awarded more than 43,000 computers to students who did not have access to one before. We have hosted more than 11,000 volunteers. We held over 125 events in 2019, including volunteer days, recycling drives, and award days, and recycled 320,000 pounds of e-waste. In September 2014, we launched our Digital Literacy and Education programs, taking our expertise to the community in the form of free computer basics classes and afterschool programs for students on a variety of computer-related STEM topics.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Our programs concentrate on serving low-income students and adults, most of whom do not own a computer and, in many cases, have never learned how to use one.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Paper surveys,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board, Our funders,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

KRAMDEN INSTITUTE INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

KRAMDEN INSTITUTE INC

Board of directors
as of 02/25/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Dr. Mark Dibner

BioAbility, LLC

Kurt Schmidt

Triangle Angel Investors

Richard Martin

Entegrion, Inc.

Derek Kelly

CenturyLink

Mark Dibner

Luis Hernandez

Lenovo

Robin Salvaggio

Fidelity

Tracy Sternberg

NC TECH

Mia Bailey

Charter Communications

Tom Dekle

IBM

John Wilson

MetLife

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/27/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Asian American/Pacific Islanders/Asian
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 01/28/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.