The Internet Society Foundation exists to support the positive difference the Internet can make to people everywhere. It promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people's lives, and a force for good in society.

Funding areas

Supporting inspirational work by people who believe in the power of the Internet.

Emergency Response Grant Program: COVID-19

Our Emergency Response Program will provide funding to organizations working on projects that utilize the Internet to improve lives during or in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the Net Large Grant Program

Beyond the Net Large Grants support innovative projects from Internet Society Chapters seeking to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing meaningful access to an open, trusted, and global Internet.

Tracing Journeys

The Beyond the Net Funding Program supports innovative ideas that use the Internet to empower people and transform lives around the world.

Photo © Roopa Gogineni / Panos Pictures

Man seated on bench with his laptop

An Internet for everyone: empowering persons with disabilities through accessibility

Although website accessibility was a core principle in the use and development of the Internet, most websites are far from being accessible to everyone. In response, the project “Enhancing the barrier-free Internet through blind people empowerment”, aims to address this issue.

Aerial photo of Tiradentes, Brazil

Course guides Brazilian community networks on how to get legal recognition

Brazil is known for its complex bureaucracy and misunderstandings or attempts to avoid it have left many community networks operating irregularly or even illegally. As a result, many fear getting classified as ‘clandestine telecommunications services’, which can bring fines of $10,000 reais (USD $1,790) or imprisonment of two to four years.

A team building community networks in rural Brazil

Three new community networks are helping safeguard communities in rural Brazil

On the fringes of the Amazon in northeastern Brazil, many communities live in fear of attacks by invaders who slash and burn forest to make way for illegal mining, cattle and soy plantations. This is also one of the country’s poorest regions and the low potential profits have left most communities without Internet access.