About Us
Connecting People to the Information They Need
A Connected Planet Foundation is a Virginia-chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit working at the intersection of education, technology, and international development. We operate in two sectors — public and government — with one mission.
Our Mission
Two Sectors, One Mission
In the public sector, we bring digital tools, open educational resources, and classroom technology to underserved communities — from Title I schools in Appalachia to developing nations worldwide.
On the government side, we help the U.S. engage more effectively with partner nations by tackling the real-world challenges of cross-border information sharing — configuring enterprise systems and training the people who use them.
All of our work involves Information and Communication Technology (ICT). But we are not a technology organization. We solve complex problems through technology — with the majority of our effort focused on the people and processes that make it work.
What Drives Us
Our Core Values
Information Is a Right
Whether it's a child in Appalachia needing quality learning materials or a partner nation needing critical operational data, access to information changes lives.
Configure & Teach
We don't just deploy technology and leave. We configure systems to fit real needs and train the people who use them — so the tools actually get used.
People First
Technology is only as good as the people behind it. We invest in training, capacity building, and relationships — not just infrastructure.
Mission-Driven
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, every dollar we earn through fee-based work goes back into our humanitarian programs. Profit is a means, not an end.
How We Work
Our Operating Model
We perform fee-based consulting and cost-sharing services. Profits go exclusively back into our humanitarian programs.
Alongside paid work, our team contributes volunteer time to humanitarian projects in underserved communities worldwide.
Private donations are reserved for humanitarian projects with matching requirements from government or NGO partners — maximizing your impact.
In Memory of Dr. Sheila Hearne
Dr. Hearne founded A Connected Planet with the conviction that access to information is a fundamental human right. Her vision — that technology should serve the many, not the few — lives in every project we undertake. We are honored to carry her work forward.