Internet Society Foundation launches BOLT Grant Program (Up to USD$300,000 in Grant)

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The Internet Society Foundation is seeking applications for the BOLT Grant Program to improve Internet access and connectivity around the world.

The Internet Society Foundation believes that innovation is at the core of providing better opportunities for people to transform and enrich their lives. The Foundation also believes that teamwork and collaboration are the cornerstone of forging new ideas, new realities, new systems and new ways of working. They believe the brightest future is that is build together.

The Building Opportunities/Leveraging Technologies (BOLT) Grant Program is designed to support teams of innovators working to expand the possibility of Internet connectivity and access globally through the development of prototypes and pilots. Teams may include creatives, artists, technologists, researchers, social or cultural workers and must be housed in a relevant non-profit organization or institution.

Teams should be focused on building technical and social innovations related to Internet connectivity that strive to be:

Cost-reducing
Environmentally sustainable
Trust-enhancing
Relevant to users and community
Imaginative and engaging in experimentation and play
Accessible

BOLT Grant Program Objectives

Advance Internet development
Promote responsible innovation

Funding Information

Grants of USD$300,000 will be awarded for 12-month projects.

Target Audience

Registered non-profit organizations (equivalent to US 501c3).

Eligibility Criteria for BOLT Grant Program

In order to receive funding from the Internet Society Foundation, all applicant organizations applying must meet the following three (3) requirements:

Be a legally registered 501(c)(3) or equivalent. (Before awarding funds to any organization, the Foundation will verify this equivalency)
Possess alignment with the purposes and activities of Internet Society (ISOC), the Foundation’s supported organization
Have an official bank account in their name (based on their legal registration)

Ineligibility Criteria

Projects that are unrelated to the Internet and the mission of the Internet Society
Projects that provide personal monetary gain
Political campaigns, voter registration, lobbying efforts or other attempts to influence legislation
Endowments, buildings, or capital campaigns
Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
Activities completed or costs incurred prior to the award, without prior approval
Tuition assistance
Transactions or grants prohibited by the Internet Society Foundation’s Bylaws, Conflict of Interest Policy, or other governing document.
Dissertations and postdoctoral research will be considered on a case-by-case basis.