OTF Funding Opportunities

Please find below upcoming deadlines for funding opportunities related to Internet freedom, including in the fields of Internet privacy, security, and/or access. There are two sections, the first for OTF support and the second for all alternative support sources.

In addition to the open application windows listed here, you can also check our compiled list of alternative sources of support: https://guide.opentech.fund/appendix-iv-alternative-sources-of-support

If a friend forwarded this your way and you’d like to sign up for our low-traffic OTF-announce mailing list, you can do so here: https://groups.google.com/a/opentech.fund/forum/#!forum/otf-announce/join. If you have any questions on the information below, please feel free to contact us at hello@opentech.fund. Thanks!

1. OTF FUNDING

OTF – Internet Freedom Fund

Next deadline: September 1, 2019
The Internet Freedom Fund is OTF’s primary way to support projects and people working on open and accessible technology-centric projects that promote human rights, internet freedom, open societies, and help advance inclusive and safe access to global communications networks. Successful applicants are awarded monetary support up to $900,000 and no less than $10,000, with preference given to projects and people who are new to the internet freedom community, directly serving those living within repressive environments, and are requesting less than $300,000 for a duration of 12 months or less.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/requests/internet-freedom-fund

OTF – Core Infrastructure Fund

Next deadline: September 1, 2019
The Core Infrastructure Fund supports the development, improvement, and increased adoption of foundational ‘building block’ technologies that are relied upon by digital security and circumvention projects. This may include efforts focused on sustaining or improving PGP, SSL, SSH, Tor, OTR, pluggable transports, code libraries, or other technologies, infrastructures, and standards that make up the core building blocks of everyday internet freedom technologies and which are used by people throughout the world to increase their access, privacy, and security online.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/requests/core-infrastructure-fund

OTF – Rapid Response Fund

Deadline: Ongoing
The Rapid Response Fund is part of a broader OTF initiative which aims to facilitate the development of a strong digital emergency response community that can work together to resolve threats in a timely and comprehensive manner. OTF offers both direct financial support as well as technical services from trusted service partners to resolve digital emergencies experienced by high-risk Internet users and organizations, such as bloggers, activists, journalists. and human rights defenders.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/requests/rapid-response-fund

OTF – Labs

Deadline: Ongoing
For more specific, one-off support needs and services, check out OTF’s Labs: Localization, Community, Engineering, Usability, Red Team, and Legal.
Learn more about OTF’s Labs here: https://www.opentech.fund/labs

2. ALTERNATIVE FUNDING

UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) – Cybersecurity Arts Contest

Deadline: July 30, 2019
Berkeley’s CLTC is now accepting proposals that seek “…to expand and refine representations and portrayals of cybersecurity, broadly defined…Contemporary tropes of security’s representation (e.g., the ‘hacker in the hoodie,’ the ‘scrolling green code,’ etc) fail to capture the gravity, impact, and reach of security in daily life. As such, a transformative cybersecurity research program should grapple with security’s representation and discourse in the public sphere.” Prize amounts range between $5,000 and $25,000. CLTC expects “to work with the selected artists to show this work throughout 2020,” with potential venues/audiences including the Eyeo Festival, RightsCon, and the Internet Freedom Festival, depending on the submission.
More information: https://cltc.berkeley.edu/artscontest/

Digital Whistleblowing Fund – Grants

Deadline: July 31, 2019
The Digital Whistleblowing Fund is accepting applications from European projects working on “gender-based violence, the rights of minorities, [and] migrants and refugees” looking to implement the use of their own secure whistleblowing platform. Grants of up to €3,000 are available. Details about organizational eligibility and other forms of non-monetary support offered, such as “IT and advisory support,” are available at the Digital Whistleblowing Fund website.
More information: https://www.whistleblowingfund.org/

Dangerous Speech Project – Global Research Initiative Fellowship

Deadline: August 1, 2019
The Washington, DC-based Dangerous Speech Project’s Global Research Initiative is “a network of scholars and practitioners who analyze Dangerous Speech in their home countries, to better understand it, and especially to learn how to diminish its harmful effects.” The fellowship runs in duration from October 2019 – May 2020. Fellows are paid $1,500 “for producing a detailed case study that documents and analyzes Dangerous Speech in their home countries” using a designated framework.
More information: https://dangerousspeech.org/global-research-initiative/

NLNet Foundation – Next Generation Search and Discovery

Deadline: August 1, 2019
NLNet is seeking proposals requesting between €5,000 and €50,000 for projects looking to improve online search and discovery functionality. Specifically, projects should focus on ways “to put powerful new technology in the hands of future generations as building blocks for a fair and democratic society and an open economy that benefits all.” This effort is part of the EU’s Next Generation Initiative (NGI), which seeks to “re-imagine and re-engineer the internet for the third millennium and beyond to shape a value-centric, human and inclusive society for all.”
More information: https://nlnet.nl/discovery/

NLNet Foundation – Privacy & Trust Enhancing Technologies

Deadline: August 1, 2019
NLNet is seeking proposals requesting between €5,000 and €50,000 for projects for Privacy and Trust projects “aimed at providing people with new instruments that allow them more agency – and assist us with fulfilling the human need of keeping some private and confidential context and information private and confidential.” This effort is part of the EU’s Next Generation Initiative (NGI), which seeks to “re-imagine and re-engineer the internet for the third millennium and beyond to shape a value-centric, human and inclusive society for all.”
More information: https://nlnet.nl/PET/

Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF) – Standard Grant

Deadline: August 5, 2019
EMHRF provides support to “human rights defenders [in the South-Mediterranean region] in difficulty or at risk, for the specific purpose of allowing them to pursue their activities, as well as to small human rights organisations or groups with the aim of strengthening their capacities in implementing innovative activities in the region.” Funding may not exceed €40,000 and is usually between €5,000 and €30,000 for a duration of 12-18 months.
More information: http://emhrf.org/standard-grants/

State Department Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues – Strengthening International Engagement on Security in Cyberspace

Deadline: August 9, 2019
The State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues (S/CCI) is accepting applications “for a program to support upcoming United Nations-related cyber events of strategic importance, in particular meetings related to the UN Group of Governmental Experts and the UN Open Ended Working Group. The purpose of this award is to support travel, lodging and other logistics for civilian government officials to participate in these key cyber-related discussions, as well as other UN events that may discuss non-security cyber issues of concern (e.g. Internet governance, cybercrime, and Internet freedom). The recipient will also develop an online training course, which aims to provide foundational understandings on core U.S. cyber policy concepts for foreign civilian government officials, particularly regarding international security and stability in cyberspace. Pending the availability of funds, S/CCI anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement of up to $500,000.00.”
More information: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=316900

The Aspen Institute – Fellowship Program, Aspen Tech Policy Hub

Deadline: August 15, 2019
The Aspen Tech Policy Hub’s fellowship program seeks to “take tech experts, teach them the policy process through an in-person fellowship program in the Bay Area, and encourage them to develop outside-the-box solutions to society’s problems.” All fellows “must complete one practical policy output during their time with us — and an alumni base of technologists who understand policy and want to engage with it.” These policy outputs can take the form of “mock legislation, toolkits for policymakers, white papers, op-eds, or an app,” for example. Fellows spend a minimum of 10 weeks in the Bay Area for mandatory programming from January 2 – March 13, 2020. Fellows are paid a stipend of $18,000.
More information: https://www.aspentechpolicyhub.org/fellowship/

Department of State, US Mission to Kenya – 5 Ws of Cybersecurity

Deadline: August 19, 2019
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi is accepting applications for a project that “will leverage a cybersecurity public awareness campaign over SMS and social media, a series of cybersecurity lectures at American Spaces, and engagements with U.S. cybersecurity experts…The project will build the capacity of the participants to understand the 5 Ws of –cybersecurity: What is cybersecurity? When cybersecurity is breached, what are the ramifications? Who is at cybersecurity risk? Why is cybersecurity important? Where can a victim of cybersecurity violations seek help or legal redress?” $50,000 is available for one expected award.
More information: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318575

Department of State, US Mission to Nepal – Curbing Disinformation and Misinformation in Media

Deadline: August 19, 2019
The U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu “will fund a program to provide effective training to journalists on ethical and credible journalism that can prevent disinformation and misinformation. Local and international journalists, who have a proven track record of credible and responsible journalism, will train fifty print, television, radio, and online journalists in Ilam and Chitwan. The trainings will be conducted in two locations, Ilam and Chitwan, with each location conducting two workshops in phases, with the second training building upon the skills developed in the first.” Funding up to $25,000 is available.
More information: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318573

DARPA – Securing Information for Encrypted Verification and Evaluation (SIEVE)

Deadline: September 20, 2019
DARPA’s Information Innovation Office is seeking research proposals “in the area of zero-knowledge proofs for complex, DoD-relevant capabilities…SIEVE is particularly motivated to provide ZK proofs for statements about capabilities associated with cybersecurity and cyberspace operations, which have historically been difficult for the United States Government to communicate about in a verifiable fashion without the release of sensitive information.” DARPA anticipates multiple awards in each of three Technical Areas described in the solicitation: “TA1: Constructing Useful ZK Statements,” “TA2: Building Efficient ZK Proof Generation Compilers,” and “TA3: Post Quantum ZK.” An April 2020 start date is expected, and the program is planned to run for 48 months in total.
More information: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=318397

State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) – Internet Freedom Annual Program Statement

Deadlines: September 20, 2019 and March 6, 2020
The State Department’s Internet Freedom program has issued its annual program statement detailing its desired criteria for applicants interested in submitting a Statement of Interest (SOI). There are four funding themes: 1) “Technology: Uncensored and Secure Access to the Global Internet,” 2) “Digital Safety,” 3) “Policy and Advocacy,” and 4) “Applied Research,” with preference given to open source technologies and projects that include a long-term sustainability model, feature collaborative partnerships, and which benefit at-risk and marginalized populations. Eligible SOIs should not request “less than $500,000” or “more than $3,000,000.” Organizations may submit no more than two SOIs per deadline.
More information: https://www.state.gov/request-for-statements-of-interest-drl-internet-freedom-annual-program-statement/

National Science Foundation (NSF) – Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) FY19 Solicitation

Deadline: September 30, 2019
NSF’s SaTC program “welcomes proposals that address cybersecurity and privacy,” with preference given to “proposals that advance the field of cybersecurity and privacy within a single discipline or interdisciplinary efforts that span multiple disciplines.” NSF estimates that there will be $68 million available for project funding, with 93 awards in total expected. Funding is available for small (up to $500k, up to three years) and medium (from $500,001 to $1.2 million, up to four years) projects across three designations (CORE, Education, and Transition to Practice). Note that per NSF guidelines, applicants must be U.S.-based. This year, NSF is accepting SaTC submissions on a rolling basis over the course of a year, from October 2018 until September 2019. There are a number of other notable changes made from past NSF SaTC solicitations, which can be found in the posting linked to below.
More information: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18572/nsf18572.htm

Internet Society Foundation – Beyond the Net Small Grant Programme

Deadline: October 30, 2019
The Internet Society’s Beyond the Net Small Grant Programme is available to Internet Society Chapters and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for “projects such as learning opportunities, skill development, networking events, and membership and marketing campaigns” with a goal of “contribut[ing] to the development of the Chapter and local community” or “strengthen[ing] the impact of the Internet Society’s mission and global initiatives with complementary local activities,” for example. Grants of up to $3,500 per Chapter are available. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be completed at least 60 days in advance of the proposed effort.
More information: https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant/beyond-the-net-small-grants/

Comcast – Innovation Fund (2019)

Deadline: Rolling
The Comcast Innovation Fund “offers funding for researchers at leading academic institutions and elsewhere to support research that is of mutual interest to Comcast and the research community. It also provides funding to support open source software development.” Grant types include “open source development grants” (“intended to fund new or continued development of open source software in areas of interest to Comcast or of benefit to the Internet and broadband industries”) and both “general” (“focused on supporting excellent technical research in a wide variety of fields that are relevant to the broadband industry and/or to Comcast specifically”) and “target” (“more narrowly tailored and typically study more specific issues.”) research grants. Areas of interest include network and user security, IoT, DNS operations and management, routing, home security, and network optimization and measurement. Funding is available for projects up to $150,000 and lasting up to one year in duration.
More information: https://innovationfund.comcast.com/

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In addition to the open application windows listed above, you can always check our compiled list of alternative sources of support: https://guide.opentech.fund/appendix-iv-alternative-sources-of-support

Sent your way by a friend? Receive this and other OTF-related announcements directly by signing up for our low-traffic OTF-announce mailing list: https://groups.google.com/a/opentech.fund/forum/#!forum/otf-announce/join