Call For Applications: OTF Internet Freedom Fund ($50,000 and $200,000 Funding)

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Applications are now open for the Internet Freedom Fund Program to support innovative internet freedom projects, including technology development, research, digital security projects, and convenings.

The Internet Freedom Fund is the primary opportunity through which Open Technology Fund supports innovative global internet freedom projects. These projects are focused on technology development and implementation, but can also include applied research, convenings, and digital security projects. See below for more details about each category.

OTF prioritizes projects coming from individuals or organizations who are applying for the first time, identify as under-represented within the field, and address areas that are underfunded.

Internet Freedom Fund Categories

Technology Development

OTF supports the development of innovative internet freedom technologies from the prototype phase to deployment phase, in addition to supporting core infrastructure projects that serve the internet freedom and human rights communities.

Applications for this category can include, but are not limited to:

Creating new, open-source circumvention technologies
Taking an existing open-source internet freedom technology and improving upon its security, usability, and adaptability
Developing content redistribution methods to aid in content access behind government firewalls
Next-generation tools
Improving security standards, quality assurance, and best practices within core infrastructure projects
Improving accessibility and usability of existing projects

Applied Research

OTF supports the applied research efforts of the internet freedom community through the Internet Freedom Fund. This includes research that identifies where and how censorship is occurring, studying the methods to counteract censorship, and advancing knowledge around what types of content is targeted to help assess threats to internet freedom.

Applications for this category can include, but are not limited to:

Research that focuses on real-time monitoring and analysis of threats to internet freedom
Research exploring new methods or improvements of censorship circumvention tools
Efforts that increase the understanding and awareness of the Internet freedom community, their roles, and how they contribute to maintaining a free and open internet
User research identifying the needs of people living under repressive surveillance and censorship, how technologies and tools can address those needs, and how these tools can introduce usability and localization improvements.

Improving the Digital Security Ecosystem

Authoritarian censors are sharing strategies, techniques and—in some cases—the tools to enact repressive information controls. To effectively counter this highly orchestrated, well-resourced, and pervasive online censorship and surveillance, they need a strong digital security ecosystem that can grow and adapt to evolving threats.
OTF seeks to support systematic improvements to this ecosystem, including infrastructure-wide investments to help practitioners, threat intel researchers, and other community actors make systematic changes to boost the impact of digital security work.
If you have an idea that will support the growth and adaptability of the regional and/or global digital security network, including improving coordination and collaboration—they’d love to hear from you.
Applications in this category should include thoughtful consideration of existing and complementary efforts and a clear explanation of how the proposed effort will lead to positive change in the global and/or regional digital security ecosystem.
Please be mindful that OTF does not support one-off training, training of trainers, or organizational capacity building as an effort’s primary outcome. Various other funders provide these types of direct support for digital security providers.
Note: In some cases, the Rapid Response Fund support emergency digital security training for at-risk individuals and organizations facing an active or imminent threat, but the digital security support under the Internet Freedom Fund is focused on ecosystem-wide solutions.

Events and Community Convenings

OTF provides funding that empowers internet freedom communities to collaborate and work cohesively to improve knowledge sharing and collaboration, cultivate deeper trust, and support and diversify the next generation of Internet freedom leaders. Supported efforts include a wide representation of voices to foster greater collaboration and intersectionality. OTF believes that the need to build a collective vision and strategy with a diverse global network of internet freedom collaborators is becoming increasingly important.

Applications for this category can include, but are not limited to:

Targeted research and development gatherings designed to improve collaboration and knowledge sharing between projects in the areas of privacy, circumvention technology, and digital security
Community organized events to identify needs, share resources, and gain new insights about censorship, surveillance, and digital security issues

Funding Information

Awards are between $10,000 and $900,000 for up to 24 months. Ideal applicants seek funding between $50,000 and $200,000 for efforts between 6 and 12 months.

Eligibility Criteria for Internet Freedom Fund

Individuals or organizations (for-profit or nonprofit) of all ages irrespective of nationality, creed, or sex are eligible to apply.
OTF is not able to support applicants within countries that the United States has trade restrictions or export sanctions as determined by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).