Apply for the Internet Society Foundation’s BOLT Grant Program (Grants of up to USD$300,000 awarded for projects up to 18 months)

Application Deadline: 6 August 2024
Apply for the Internet Society Foundation’s BOLT Grant Program (Grants of up to USD$300,000 awarded for projects up to 18 months)
Background
The Internet Society Foundation takes a futurist approach to support the development of innovative methods, technologies, and infrastructure that seek to enhance Internet connectivity and access. The Foundation aims to support teams of creatives, technologists, researchers, and social/cultural workers to design and build prototypes and pilots that will bring into reality innovative solutions to Internet connectivity particularly among communities where current technologies are unavailable or not readily accessible. By focusing our funding in this way, the Foundation will create opportunities to expand the vision of the Internet Society, that The Internet is for everyone.
BOLT Grant Program Objectives
- Advance Internet development
- Improve Internet access and connectivity around the world
- Promote responsible innovation
Overview
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. We believe the brightest future is the one we 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
Eligibility
The Foundation seeks to fund teams housed in organizations that align with the Internet Society’s mission and its work for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet for everyone.
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)
NOTE: For our grant programs that accept applications from individuals, information about basic requirements can be found on the respective program pages
Selection Criteria
Assembled teams/collectives will be asked in the online application form to:
- Clearly articulate how the proposed project directly addresses the objectives of the BOLT program
- Demonstrate their affiliation with an organization that is a 501(c)3 or equivalent
An Independent Program Review Committee (IPRC) will determine the success of eligible applications based on the following:
- The proposed project effectively responds to a clearly identified need
- The team demonstrates the necessary knowledge, experience and capacity required to successfully implement this project
- The project team has identified relevant outcome indicators that demonstrate sufficient impact, relative to the funding level.
Funding
Grants of up to USD$300,000 will be awarded for projects up to 18 months in duration.
How To Apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to register their organization in the Foundation’s grants managements system Fluxx prior to the application window opening. Please note that the registration process can take up to two days to complete after creating an account. Only applications submitted in the Foundation’s grants management system by the deadline will be considered for funding.
Internet Soociety Foundation accept applications in English, French, and Spanish.
VISIT THE PAGE HERE AND APPLY
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