Alternative Sources of Support

Funding for Internet freedom, journalism, software development, and human rights projects from sources other than OTF.

The following table contains alternate funding sources which support efforts relevant to the fields of Internet freedom, software development, journalism, and human rights, broadly speaking. Sources are organized by general subject matter. We're always seeking to grow this resource and make it as useful and inclusive as possible, so if you know of a funding source that should be on here, please let us know by contacting us at [email protected].
Note: This list is shared for information purposes only. OTF cannot assist with fundraising efforts of individual projects or refer projects to specific funders. Inclusion of a funding entity on this list does not represent an endorsement by OTF.
You can stay up to date on all OTF submission deadlines and open submissions windows for other alternative funders by joining the OTF-announce mailing list, where we send a monthly update on upcoming application deadlines. Click here to join the OTF-announce mailing list.
Categories
​Rapid Response​
​Rapid Response for Journalists & Scholars​
​In-Kind Digital Infrastructure​
​US Government Internet Freedom and Security​
​Privacy and Security​
​Digital Rights​
​ICT4D​
​Startup Incubators and Entrepreneurship​
​Fellowships​
​Research​
​Policy & Advocacy​
​Coding and Software Development​
​Social Justice and Global Challenges​
​Community​
​Gender & LGBTQ​
​Journalism & Media​
​Capacity Building​
​Region-Specific​
​Middle East​
​Asia-Pacific​
​South and Latin America​
​Africa​
Rapid Response
Organization
Fund
Access Now
​Digital Security Helpline - Access Now​
The Social Science Research Council
​Rapid-Response Grants on Covid-19 and the Social Sciences​
Internet Society Foundation
​Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19​
FOSS Responders
​COVID-19 Emergency Funds​
Digital Defenders Partnership
Incide
United Nations (OCHA)
​Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)​
Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme (AEDH)
​Emergency Fund​
University of York Centre for Applied Human Rights
​Protective Fellowship Scheme​
International Media Support
​Safety Fund​
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
​Grants for HRDs at Risk​
Freedom House
​Emergency Assistance to Frontline Activists​
​
​Embattled CSOs (Emergency)​
​
​Embattled CSOs (Advocacy)​
​
​LGBTI Assistance Program​
Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
​Rapid Response Grant​
​
​RR - Africa​
Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)
​Urgent Grants​
Justice and Peace Netherlands
​Shelter City​
Frontline Defenders
​Protection Grants​
​
​Emergency Contact​
ProtectDefenders.eu
​Emergency Support​
Civil Rights Defenders
​The Emergency Fund​
World Organisation Against Torture
​Emergency HRD Support​
Joopea Foundation
​JAssist​
Security Without Borders
​Security Assistance ​
Renewable Freedom Foundation
​Digital Rights Fund​
Defend Defenders
​East and Horn of Africa​
Derechos Digitales
​Fondo de Respuesta Rápida​
Dignity for All
​LGBTI Assistance Program​
Lifeline
​Embattled CSO Assistance Fund​
The Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC)
​Human Rights Defenders Fund​
Rapid Response for Journalists & Scholars
Organization
Fund
Free Press Unlimited
​Reporters Respond​
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
​IFJ Safety Fund​
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)
​Journalists in Distress Fund​
International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF)
​IWMF Emergency Fund​
La Maison Des Journalistes
​Assistance​
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
​Individual Support​
​
​Berlin Scholarship Program​
Rory Peck Trust
​Assistance Grants​
Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)
​Legal Assistance​
Scholars at Risk Network
​Support for Scholars Under Threat​
Cara
​Support for Academics Under Threat​
International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN)
​Writers/Artists at Risk​
Institute of International Education
​Fellowships for Threatened Scholars Around the World​
In-Kind Digital Infrastructure
Organization
Fund
eQualit.ie
​Deflect​
Google
​Project Shield​
CloudFlare
​Project Galileo​
Amazon
​AWS Imagine Grant Program​
Google
​Impact and Community Grants​
Twilio
​Twilio.org​
US Government Internet Freedom and Security
Organization
Fund
Department of State
​Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL)​
ISC Project
​Information security and Internet freedom grants ​
National Science Foundation (NSF)
​Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC)​
​
​Computer Systems Research (CSR)​
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
​Cyber Security Solicitations​
Privacy and Security
Organization
Fund
Mozilla Foundation
​Mozilla Open Source Support (MOSS)​
​
​MOSS - Foundational Technology​
​
​MOSS - Mission Partners​
​
​MOSS - Secure Open Source ​
NLNet Foundation
​Open Call - Network and Internet Technology​
​
​Internet Hardening Fund​
​
​Standards in Real-Time Communication​
​
​DNSSEC Fund​
Prototype Fund
​Open Source Project Support (Germany)​
Facebook
​Secure the Internet Grants​
Facebook
​Research Awards​
Cisco
​Research & Open Innovation​
Next Generation Internet (NGI)
​NGI Open Calls​
Core Infrastructure Initiative
​Grants​
Open Source Technology Improvement Fund (OSTIF)
​Grants​
​
​Managed Audit Program (MAP)​
Calyx Institute 
​Calyx Institute ​
AirVPN
​Project Support​
Library Freedom Project
​Library Freedom Institute​L​
Digital Rights
Organization
Fund
Reset
​reset.tech​
Mozilla
​Grants​
Digital Defenders Partnership
​Sustainable Protection Funding​
​
​Regional Partnership Funding​
Freedom House
​Various Programs​
Access Now
​Grants​
Sigrid Rausing Trust
​Grants​
Hivos
​Freedom and Accountability ​
Ford Foundation
​Internet Freedom​
Media Democracy Fund
​Grants​
Democracy Council
​About​
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
​Digital Extension Grants​
Renewable Freedom Foundation
​Funding Sources List​
Digital Freedom Fund
​Grants​
The Developer Society (DEV)
​Funding Sources List​
ESRC Digital Good Network
​About​
Lacuna Fund
​About​
Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund
​RFP Invitation​
Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) including Deploying Internet Connectivity
Organization
Fund
International Development Research Center (IDRC)
​Funding​
Microsoft
​Grants​
​
​Airband Initiative​
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
​Access​
Comcast
​Innovation Fund​
Internet Society
​Grants & Awards​
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
​Partnership Opportunities​
​
​Development Innovation Ventures (DIV)​
OpenCellular
​OpenCellular Grants​
Catholic Relief Services
​ICT4D​
CRDF Global
​Grants​
Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT)
​ICT​
USAID Development Innovations
​Grants​
Peace Corps Small Grants Program
​Grants​
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
​Global Grand Challenges​
Google
​Impact Challenge​
Inveneo
​Advice​
Mercy Corps
​Grants​
SPIDER
​Grants​
International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS)
​Grants​
Wehubit
​Grants​
Comic Relief
​Tech For Good​
GSM Association
​Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity​
Motorola
​Motorola Solutions Foundation​
NetHope
​Devices for Impact​
Digital Frontiers
​Grants​
European Commission
​Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid​
Microsoft
​AI for Humanitarian Action​
Microsoft
​AI for Accessibility​
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK)
​Research Grants​
Newton Fund
​Grants​
World Wide Web Foundation
​Web We Want​
Nonprofit Technology Network
​Digital Inclusion Fellowship​
Internet Society
​Beyond the Net Funding​
TechSoup
​TechSoup Global Network​
UNICEF
​Innovation Fund​
Startup Incubators and Entrepreneurship
Organization
Fund
Garage 48
​About​
Mach37
​About​
iHub
​Support for Africa-based tech startups​
Hackers/Founders
​Accelerator and Founders’ Cooperative​
United For Iran
​IranCubator​
3fs
​About​
National Science Foundation (NSF)
​America’s Seed Fund (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Program)​
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
​Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)​
Global Innovation Fund
​About​
Google
​Google for Startups​
PeaceTech Accelerator
​About​
MIT
​Innovation & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp​
DevLabs
​About​
Coinbase
​Coinbase Ventures​
Snap, Inc.
​Yellow​
The Thiel Foundation
​The Thiel Fellowship​
Samsung
​Samsung Next​
Comcast NBCUniversal
​LIFT Labs​
Code for Science & Society
​Digital Infrastructure Incubator​
Fellowships
Research
Organization
Fund
The Social Science Research Council
​Social Data Research and Dissertation Fellowships​
​
​Just Tech Fellowship​
National Science Foundation (NSF)
​Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW)​
​
​Graduate Research Fellowship Program​
University of Illinois Fellowship Finder
​Database of Fellowships for Graduate Students​
The Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy
​Grants for current PhD candidates​
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
​Sloan Research Fellowships​
Tinker Foundation Incorporated
​Field Research Grants​
Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG)
​Internet and Society Fellowship​
Harvard Library Innovation Lab
​Summer Fellowship​
Berkman Klein Center & MIT Media Lab
​Assembly​
Stanford PACS Digital Civil Society Lab
​Non-Resident Fellowship​
Venture for America (VFA)
​VFA Fellowship​
Al Jazeera Media Institute
​Al Jazeera Fellowship​
Azavea
​Summer of Maps​
PrivacyCo/Top10VPN.com
​Digital Rights Research Grant​
Policy & Advocacy
Organization
Fund
Ford Foundation/Mozilla
​Open Web Fellowship​
Open Society Foundations
​Open Society Fellowship​
CIPE/NDI/CIMA
​Open Internet for Democracy Leaders Program​
Shuttleworth Foundation
​Fellowship​
Human Rights Watch
​Fellowships (pdf)​
Google
​Public Policy Fellowship​
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
​Fellowships​
Echoing Green
​Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship and Leadership Development Programs​
Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society
​Fellowship Program​
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
​Science & Technology Policy Fellowships​
Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School
​Technology and Democracy Fellowship​
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP)
​Legal Fellowships​
Eisenhower Fellowships
​Global Programs​
Data & Society
​Fellows Program​
Internet Law & Policy Foundry
​Fellowships​
Voqal
​Fellowships​
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
​EPIC Law Fellowship​
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
​Westin Fellows​
Princeton University
​Siegel Public Interest Technology Summer Fellowship​
Mozilla
​Fellowships​
TechCongress
​Congressional Innovation Fellowship​
CrossCulture Programme
​Strengthening Civil Societies​
Kairos Fellowship
​Fellowship​
Coding and Software Development
Organization
Fund
Python Software Foundation (PSF)
​PSF Grants Program​
Google
​Faculty Research Awards​
Mozilla
​Research Grants​
SAGE
​Concept Grants​
Protocol Labs
​Research Grants​
Outreachy
​Mentorships and internships​
Rails Girls
​Summer of Code​
Google
​Summer of Code​
General Assembly
​Social Impact​
Coding it Forward
​Civic Digital Fellowship​
Cybersecurity Tech Accord/UN Office of Disarmament Affairs
​Apps 4 Digital Peace​
Microsoft
​FOSS Fund​
Social Justice and Global Challenges
Organization
Fund
Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF)
​Grants​
Omidyar Network
​About​
Knight Foundation
​Technology Innovation​
​
​Governance, Norms and Values - Research on the Future Internet​
The Reva & David Logan Foundation
​Social Justice, Scholarship, the Arts and Investigative Journalism​
Siegel Family Endowment
​About​
Bond
​Funding Opportunities​
Ariadne: European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights
​About​
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
​Grants​
Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)
​Research Calls and Grants​
CIVICUS
​Donor Finder​
Open Society Foundations
​Information Program​
​
​Grants​
Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs
​INGO Support​
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)
​Grants​
Enabel (Belgian Development Agency)
​Grants​
Cisco
​Cisco Foundation​
​
​Global Impact Cash Grants​
Dropbox
​Dropbox Foundation​
Humanity United
​Grants​
Oak Foundation
​International Human Rights​
Open Society Foundations
​Human Rights Initiative​
Overbrook Foundation
​Human Rights Defenders​
Hewlett Foundation
​About​
Fund for Global Human Rights
​Grants​
Human Rights First
​Human Rights Defenders​
Oak Foundation
​Grants​
FIDH
​Support for Local HRDs ​
Protection International
​About​
Human Rights Foundation (HRF)
​About​
European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
​Grants​
UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF)
​Grants​
Ashoka
​Changemakers​
Counterpart International
​Business Opportunities​
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
​Grants​
European Commission, Democracy and Human Rights
​Calls for Proposals​

Organization	Fund
Access Now	Digital Security Helpline - Access Now
The Social Science Research Council	Rapid-Response Grants on Covid-19 and the Social Sciences
Internet Society Foundation	Emergency Response Grant Programme: COVID-19
FOSS Responders	COVID-19 Emergency Funds
Digital Defenders Partnership	Incide
United Nations (OCHA)	Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
Agir Ensemble pour les Droits de l'Homme (AEDH)	Emergency Fund
University of York Centre for Applied Human Rights	Protective Fellowship Scheme
International Media Support	Safety Fund
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)	Grants for HRDs at Risk
Freedom House	Emergency Assistance to Frontline Activists
	Embattled CSOs (Emergency)
	Embattled CSOs (Advocacy)
	LGBTI Assistance Program
Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights	Rapid Response Grant
	RR - Africa
Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF)	Urgent Grants
Justice and Peace Netherlands	Shelter City
Frontline Defenders	Protection Grants
	Emergency Contact
ProtectDefenders.eu	Emergency Support
Civil Rights Defenders	The Emergency Fund
World Organisation Against Torture	Emergency HRD Support
Joopea Foundation	JAssist
Security Without Borders	Security Assistance
Renewable Freedom Foundation	Digital Rights Fund
Defend Defenders	East and Horn of Africa
Derechos Digitales	Fondo de Respuesta Rápida
Dignity for All	LGBTI Assistance Program
Lifeline	Embattled CSO Assistance Fund
The Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC)	Human Rights Defenders Fund

Organization	Fund
Free Press Unlimited	Reporters Respond
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)	IFJ Safety Fund
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE)	Journalists in Distress Fund
International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF)	IWMF Emergency Fund
La Maison Des Journalistes	Assistance
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)	Individual Support
	Berlin Scholarship Program
Rory Peck Trust	Assistance Grants
Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)	Legal Assistance
Scholars at Risk Network	Support for Scholars Under Threat
Cara	Support for Academics Under Threat
International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN)	Writers/Artists at Risk
Institute of International Education	Fellowships for Threatened Scholars Around the World

Organization	Fund
eQualit.ie	Deflect
Google	Project Shield
CloudFlare	Project Galileo
Amazon	AWS Imagine Grant Program
Google	Impact and Community Grants
Twilio	Twilio.org

Organization	Fund
Department of State	Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL)
ISC Project	Information security and Internet freedom grants
National Science Foundation (NSF)	Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC)
	Computer Systems Research (CSR)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Cyber Security Solicitations

Organization	Fund
Mozilla Foundation	Mozilla Open Source Support (MOSS)
	MOSS - Foundational Technology
	MOSS - Mission Partners
	MOSS - Secure Open Source
NLNet Foundation	Open Call - Network and Internet Technology
	Internet Hardening Fund
	Standards in Real-Time Communication
	DNSSEC Fund
Prototype Fund	Open Source Project Support (Germany)
Facebook	Secure the Internet Grants
Facebook	Research Awards
Cisco	Research & Open Innovation
Next Generation Internet (NGI)	NGI Open Calls
Core Infrastructure Initiative	Grants
Open Source Technology Improvement Fund (OSTIF)	Grants
	Managed Audit Program (MAP)
Calyx Institute	Calyx Institute
AirVPN	Project Support
Library Freedom Project	Library Freedom InstituteL

Organization	Fund
Reset	reset.tech
Mozilla	Grants
Digital Defenders Partnership	Sustainable Protection Funding
	Regional Partnership Funding
Freedom House	Various Programs
Access Now	Grants
Sigrid Rausing Trust	Grants
Hivos	Freedom and Accountability
Ford Foundation	Internet Freedom
Media Democracy Fund	Grants
Democracy Council	About
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)	Digital Extension Grants
Renewable Freedom Foundation	Funding Sources List
Digital Freedom Fund	Grants
The Developer Society (DEV)	Funding Sources List
ESRC Digital Good Network	About
Lacuna Fund	About
Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund	RFP Invitation

Organization	Fund
International Development Research Center (IDRC)	Funding
Microsoft	Grants
	Airband Initiative
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)	Access
Comcast	Innovation Fund
Internet Society	Grants & Awards
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)	Partnership Opportunities
	Development Innovation Ventures (DIV)
OpenCellular	OpenCellular Grants
Catholic Relief Services	ICT4D
CRDF Global	Grants
Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT)	ICT
USAID Development Innovations	Grants
Peace Corps Small Grants Program	Grants
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation	Global Grand Challenges
Google	Impact Challenge
Inveneo	Advice
Mercy Corps	Grants
SPIDER	Grants
International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS)	Grants
Wehubit	Grants
Comic Relief	Tech For Good
GSM Association	Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity
Motorola	Motorola Solutions Foundation
NetHope	Devices for Impact
Digital Frontiers	Grants
European Commission	Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid
Microsoft	AI for Humanitarian Action
Microsoft	AI for Accessibility
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UK)	Research Grants
Newton Fund	Grants
World Wide Web Foundation	Web We Want
Nonprofit Technology Network	Digital Inclusion Fellowship
Internet Society	Beyond the Net Funding
TechSoup	TechSoup Global Network
UNICEF	Innovation Fund

Organization	Fund
Garage 48	About
Mach37	About
iHub	Support for Africa-based tech startups
Hackers/Founders	Accelerator and Founders’ Cooperative
United For Iran	IranCubator
3fs	About
National Science Foundation (NSF)	America’s Seed Fund (Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Program)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)	Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
Global Innovation Fund	About
Google	Google for Startups
PeaceTech Accelerator	About
MIT	Innovation & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
DevLabs	About
Coinbase	Coinbase Ventures
Snap, Inc.	Yellow
The Thiel Foundation	The Thiel Fellowship
Samsung	Samsung Next
Comcast NBCUniversal	LIFT Labs
Code for Science & Society	Digital Infrastructure Incubator

Organization	Fund
Ford Foundation/Mozilla	Open Web Fellowship
Open Society Foundations	Open Society Fellowship
CIPE/NDI/CIMA	Open Internet for Democracy Leaders Program
Shuttleworth Foundation	Fellowship
Human Rights Watch	Fellowships (pdf)
Google	Public Policy Fellowship
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)	Fellowships
Echoing Green	Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship and Leadership Development Programs
Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society	Fellowship Program
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)	Science & Technology Policy Fellowships
Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard Kennedy School	Technology and Democracy Fellowship
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP)	Legal Fellowships
Eisenhower Fellowships	Global Programs
Data & Society	Fellows Program
Internet Law & Policy Foundry	Fellowships
Voqal	Fellowships
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)	EPIC Law Fellowship
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)	Westin Fellows
Princeton University	Siegel Public Interest Technology Summer Fellowship
Mozilla	Fellowships
TechCongress	Congressional Innovation Fellowship
CrossCulture Programme	Strengthening Civil Societies
Kairos Fellowship	Fellowship

Organization	Fund
Python Software Foundation (PSF)	PSF Grants Program
Google	Faculty Research Awards
Mozilla	Research Grants
SAGE	Concept Grants
Protocol Labs	Research Grants
Outreachy	Mentorships and internships
Rails Girls	Summer of Code
Google	Summer of Code
General Assembly	Social Impact
Coding it Forward	Civic Digital Fellowship
Cybersecurity Tech Accord/UN Office of Disarmament Affairs	Apps 4 Digital Peace
Microsoft	FOSS Fund

Organization	Fund
Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF)	Grants
Omidyar Network	About
Knight Foundation	Technology Innovation
	Governance, Norms and Values - Research on the Future Internet
The Reva & David Logan Foundation	Social Justice, Scholarship, the Arts and Investigative Journalism
Siegel Family Endowment	About
Bond	Funding Opportunities
Ariadne: European Funders for Social Change and Human Rights	About
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)	Grants
Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)	Research Calls and Grants
CIVICUS	Donor Finder
Open Society Foundations	Information Program
	Grants
Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs	INGO Support
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)	Grants
Enabel (Belgian Development Agency)	Grants
Cisco	Cisco Foundation
	Global Impact Cash Grants
Dropbox	Dropbox Foundation
Humanity United	Grants
Oak Foundation	International Human Rights
Open Society Foundations	Human Rights Initiative
Overbrook Foundation	Human Rights Defenders
Hewlett Foundation	About
Fund for Global Human Rights	Grants
Human Rights First	Human Rights Defenders
Oak Foundation	Grants
FIDH	Support for Local HRDs
Protection International	About
Human Rights Foundation (HRF)	About
European Endowment for Democracy (EED)	Grants
UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF)	Grants
Ashoka	Changemakers
Counterpart International	Business Opportunities
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation	Grants
European Commission, Democracy and Human Rights	Calls for Proposals