Applications Open for the New Community-Centered Connectivity Grant Program
The Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation are pleased to announce the opening of applications for the new Community-Centered Connectivity (CCC) grant program, which supports connectivity solutions to increase the availability of affordable, reliable Internet access for digitally excluded communities. Applications are open until 7 May 2026.
Why Community-Centered Connectivity Solutions Matter
Over 2 billion people are still offline. That’s a quarter of the world’s population without access to a tool that enables people to access education, find work, run businesses, connect with public services, and stay in touch with friends and family.
Large-scale efforts by governments, the private sector, and multilateral institutions have extended connectivity to most of the world, but these approaches are not enough. In many rural, remote, or underserved communities, the economic models that drive traditional expansion don’t work. But efforts that are focused on communities often do.
“Community-centered connectivity is when connectivity solutions are built for, with, or by local communities themselves,” said Michuki Mwangi, Distinguished Technologist – Connectivity and Insights, at the Internet Society. “These solutions are not imposed. They are designed with direct involvement from the people who will use and maintain them. The CCC Grant Program supports people and organizations doing exactly that.”
Learn more about Community-centered connectivity.
What Is the Community-centered Connectivity Grant Program?
The CCC grant program is part of the Internet Society’s effort to help communities bridge the digital divide. It supports connectivity solutions that solve the major barriers to meaningful connectivity for communities: availability, affordability, and adoption. This can take different forms, like fostering Internet adoption by strengthening digital literacy and local capacity to manage and maintain connectivity solutions.
The CCC grant program has two open funding tracks for eligible organizations, based on their organization’s capacity, experience, the scale, and duration of the project they propose. While applications from any eligible organizations are welcome, we will give a strong preference to those working with refugees/displaced communities, Indigenous communities, and women and girls. The open funding tracks are as follows:
• Catalyst Track: Up to USD $50,000 to build at least one new connectivity solution, or expand an existing solution, in a community. This project can take up to 12 months.
• Scaling Track: Up to USD $200,000 to support deployment of proven, successful solutions to improve or expand connectivity to multiple communities. This project can take up to 18 months.
How Do I Know If My Organization Is Eligible to Apply?
Required criteria include being registered as a non-profit or social enterprise and being able to demonstrate the capacity to lead and deliver the proposed project as planned. The full list of criteria is available on the Community-centered Connectivity Grant Program page. The easiest way to determine eligibility is to take the short quiz on the program’s page.
Applications will be open from 17 March 2026 until 21:00 UTC on 7 May 2026 and must be submitted through the Foundation’s grant management platform (Fluxx), in English, French, or Spanish.
If your organization wants to build community-centered connectivity solutions to help make sure everyone has access to the Internet, visit the CCC grant program page, take the quiz, and stay tuned for information sessions designed to help applicants succeed.
Take the quiz and find out if your organization is eligible to apply.