Samantha Schartman-Cycyk is a nationally recognized leader in digital equity,
broadband policy, and community-based technology initiatives, with more than a decade
of experience translating public policy and philanthropic investment into measurable,
community-level impact. She currently serves as Director of Philanthropic Programs at
Connect Humanity, where she led the Appalachia Digital Opportunity Accelerator, a $6
million initiative that catalyzed more than $150 million in broadband and digital inclusion
investments across 68 counties and supported the development of 47 county and
regional digital opportunity plans.

Previously, Samantha served as a Broadband Program Specialist at the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where she supported state
broadband offices in preparing for and aligning with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (IIJA) programs. Her career also includes leadership roles with the Marconi Society
and the Connect Your Community program, a multi-state federal initiative that
connected more than 33,000 first-time internet users and helped pioneer data-driven
approaches to digital inclusion program design and evaluation.

In addition to her program leadership, Samantha leads the Alternative Funding Working
Group, a practitioner-led effort focused on identifying and documenting non-grant
sustainability pathways for digital equity and digital skills programs. Through this work,
she brings a field-level perspective on long-term program viability, cross-sector
partnerships, and the evolving funding landscape for community-based digital inclusion
efforts. She is known for her ability to bridge policy, practice, and community needs, and
brings a systems-oriented, strategic lens to nonprofit governance and sector
stewardship.