OTF Application Guidebook
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  • OTF Applicant Guidebook
  • Introduction
  • Guide to the Guide
  • General Funding Guidelines
  • Application Platform Guidance
    • Login
      • Your Profile
      • Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
    • Submitting Your Application
    • My Dashboard
      • Submission Details
      • Communication
      • Activity Feed
    • Edit Your Application
    • Invited to Proposal
  • Our Funds and Fellowships
    • Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Sustainability Fund
    • Internet Freedom Fund
    • Rapid Response Fund
    • Technology at Scale Fund
    • Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP)
  • Our Labs
    • Localization Lab
    • User Experience & Discovery Lab
    • Security Lab
    • Impact & Engagement Lab
  • Topical Guidance
    • Digital Security Support Guidance
    • Disinformation Criteria
    • Human Rights Documentation and Reporting Tools Criteria
    • Online Harassment and Internet Freedom Criteria
  • More about the Program
    • Values & Principles
    • Creating a More Inclusive, Diverse Community
    • Annual & Monthly Reports
    • Keep in Touch
    • Common Ineligible Areas of Focus
    • Alternative Support Sources
  • FAQ
  • Appendix I: IFF Concept Note Guide
  • Appendix II: IFF Proposal Guide
  • Appendix III: Evaluation Worksheet
  • Alternative Sources of Support
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  1. More about the Program

Common Ineligible Areas of Focus

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Last updated 5 years ago

OTF knows our applicants’ time is valuable so we aim to make our application process as transparent and straightforward as possible. Part of this also means being transparent about what we don’t fund so that applicants do not expend unnecessary time and resources submitting applications that fall outside of OTF’s remit. In order to better reflect our respect for an applicant’s time and effort in submitting an application, we have detailed below common types of proposed projects that we are unable or very rarely support. If your project falls within one of these categories, we encourage you to explore our alternative sources of support to identify a more suitable funder.

OTF does not provide support for basic connectivity except in limited cases around politically instigated internet shutdowns. Numerous U.S. Government programs outside of OTF provide support for bringing Internet connectivity to areas that have never had it previously. The framework OTF operates within ensures a clear distinction exists to protect against overlapping mandates which is why we do not support projects of this nature.

OTF does not provide support for projects focused on harnessing technology for the purpose of societal development. Numerous U.S. Government programs exist to support civic technology projects that use technology to solve societal challenges, such as improving government delivery of services, providing equitable access to technologies and improving digital literacy across society. The OTF program is focused on assisting those exposed to censorship or surveillance in repressive environments.

OTF does not provide support for projects to improve the legal and policy landscape, outside of narrowly focused technical research to help inform these efforts. Numerous U.S. Government programs provide support for efforts to conduct legal analysis and improve advocacy for specific policies. The framework OTF operates within ensures a clear distinction exists to protect against overlapping mandates. In addition, these types of activities do not reflect the technology centric approach underlying the OTF program.

resources
Providing Internet Connectivity
Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D)
Legal Analysis and Policy Advocacy