An initiative of the Open Technology Fund, the Internet Freedom Fund strives to build the capacity of individuals, organizations, and companies working to advance technology-centered efforts designed to strengthen Internet freedom and promote human rights by circumventing repressive censorship and surveillance, improving related digital security capabilities, and contributing to the overall health of the Internet.
To that end, ITF invites applications focused on creating new open source circumvention technologies that fill a current need of target users; improve the security, usability, and adaptability of existing open source Internet freedom technologies; and/or provide new or deeper insight into the challenges of front-line communities that ultimately contribute to the improvement of technological solutions .The fund also supports applied research; research that focuses on real-time monitoring and analysis of both technical and political threats to Internet freedom; new content redistribution methods able to reintroduce content behind firewalls; and next-generation tools that move beyond traditional "cat-and-mouse" circumvention techniques.
An initiative of the Open Technology Fund, the Internet Freedom Fund strives to build the capacity of individuals, organizations, and companies working to advance technology-centered efforts designed to strengthen Internet freedom and promote human rights by circumventing repressive censorship and surveillance, improving related digital security capabilities, and contributing to the overall health of the Internet.
To that end, the fund welcomes applications focused on creating new open source circumvention technologies that fill a current need of target users; improve the security, usability, and adaptability of existing open source Internet freedom technologies; and/or provide new or deeper insight into the challenges of frontline communities that ultimately contribute to the improvement of technological solutions. The fund also supports applied research; research that focuses on real-time monitoring and analysis of both technical and political threats to Internet freedom; new content redistribution methods able to reintroduce content behind firewalls; and next-generation tools that move beyond traditional "cat-and-mouse" circumvention techniques.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that support Internet Freedom. In support of the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace, DRL's goal is to protect the open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet by promoting fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online through integrated support to civil society for technology, digital safety, policy and advocacy, and applied research programs. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces the availability of funding for projects that support Internet freedom. DRL's goal is to protect the open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet by promoting fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online through integrated support to civil society for technology, digital safety, policy and advocacy, and applied research programs. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.
The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from organizations interested in submitting Statements of Interest (SOI) for programs that support Internet Freedom. In support of the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace, DRL's goal is to protect the open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet by promoting fundamental freedoms, human rights, and the free flow of information online through integrated support to civil society for technology, digital safety, policy and advocacy, and applied research programs. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit SOI applications outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for programs that promote Internet freedom in Ukraine. In support of the National Cyber Strategy for the United State of America, DRL's goal is to promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet by promoting human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the free flow of information online.
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for long-term, core support for proven anti-censorship technologies. In support of the U.S. government's policy to "promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet that fosters efficiency, innovation, communication, and economic prosperity, while respecting privacy and guarding against disruption, fraud, and theft," as described in E.O. 13800, DRL supports efforts to enable civil society actors to safely achieve access to the uncensored Internet through support for anti-censorship technologies. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit proposals outlining program concepts that reflect this goal.
The Core Infrastructure Fund (CIF) strives to uphold and increase capacity for individuals, organizations, and companies working to fortify the foundational components of demonstrably important technology relied upon by people in repressive countries.
Ideal applications are: open in nature, collaborative, promote a broader understanding of existing challenges and limitations, are preemptive in approach, and/or exist at the core of the Internet's ecosystem. Common applicants come from the community of developers and organizers working on open-source projects recognized as critical dependencies of one or more active platforms or tools strengthening Internet freedom and digital security.
Ideal applications for this fund focus on supporting:
Key developers or organizers so they can work full time on crucial core efforts in need of additional support;
New developers or organizers focused on improving security standards, quality assurance, and best practices within core infrastructure projects;
Developers, authors, or organizers drafting or promoting digital security and civil society needs within standards and protocols;
Researchers exploring new methods of circumvention that would improve the resiliency of widely utilized tools;
Specific outcomes, such as the necessary maintenance and upgrades to existing open source projects (database, hosting, or other tool migration; rewriting test suites; major new features);
Efforts that make existing projects more accessible and easier to contribute to (ex. documentation, tool migration, refactoring code, testing);
Efforts that develop new or evolve existing organizational and governance structures and sustainability models beyond work-for-hire;
Efforts that increase the understanding and awareness of relevant actors in this space, their roles, and how they contribute to maintaining the Internet's core ecosystem;