The Chapter Admin Funding program offers annual funding to support Internet Society chapters to manage their day-to-day activities and to maximize their effectiveness.
Program Objectives
- Strengthen chapter and administrative operations
- Assist chapters establish as formal legal entities
- Improve chapter performance
- Contribute to maintaining an active and dynamic chapter community
What Do We Support
The areas supported by Chapter Admin Funding fall into six categories:
- Official registration of the chapter
- General admin support
- Membership management
- Website development with hosting
- General Assembly
- Marketing, publicity, and branding
For the full list of supported activities under each of these six categories, please refer to the List of Costs.
In addition, starting in 2025, $5,000 USD in add-on funding for mission-related activities will be available for the organization of events and projects that are included in the Chapter’s Action Plan. Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions below for guidance on what events and projects are in scope of the program.
The following activities are NOT supported by Chapter Admin Funding:
- Travel costs for chapter officers, Board members or chapter members
- Compensation of chapter officers for voluntary engagement
- Travel for ISOC staff
Funding may only be used for the purposes listed in the approved funding application.
Eligibility
Chapter Admin Funding is available to Internet Society chapters only.
Chapters must also meet the following criteria:
- Chapter is in good standing (or pre-rejuvenation – on a case-by-case basis) and meet the minimum Chapter standards as outlined in the Chapter’s Charter Letter.
- Chapter undergoing a rejuvenation process cannot be considered.
- Chapter has submitted all required funding reports from previous years.
- Chapter has an official bank account in its name according to the local legal registration.
- Any applications that do not meet the above requirements will automatically be disqualified from receiving funding.
Funding Available
The maximum amount for which each Chapter is eligible depends on the results of their performance evaluation.
In 2025, the CAF amounts available to each Chapter are based on the December 2024 performance evaluation results:
- Gigabit: up to $4,000 USD + optional $5,000 USD in add-on funding
- Megabit: up to $3,500 USD + optional $5,000 USD in add-on funding
- Kilobit: up to $3,000 USD + optional $5,000 USD in add-on funding
- Bit: up to $2,750 USD + optional $5,000 USD in add-on funding
- In Good Standing: up to $2,500 USD + optional $5,000 USD in add-on funding
- In pre-rejuvenation: up to $2,000 USD (approved on a case-by-case basis)
2025 Application Timeline
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 4 February 2025 | Applications Open |
| 30 April 2025 | Applications Close |
| 19 May 2025 | Deadline for signing Grant Agreement* *Chapters that have not signed their Grant Agreement by this date will not be able to receive 2024 Admin Funding. |
| 18 February – 6 June 2025 | Admin Funding disbursed month upon receipt of signed Grant Agreement |
Application Review Process
Applications are reviewed by Internet Society staff to determine whether the activities fit the program guidelines. Feedback is provided during this period and, if necessary, staff will reach out for additional information about the submitted application.
Disbursement of Funds
At the time of approval of their application, the Chapter is required to sign the Internet Society Grant Agreement.
Please note that depending on the circumstances (e.g. additional information needed), the review period up to the actual disbursement can take several weeks.
Reporting Requirements
The Chapter is requested to describe and evaluate the activities undertaken and report on the use of admin funds and any add-on funding received at the end of the year, based on the originally submitted financial plan.
The Chapter is also requested to keep all invoices for reporting and audit purposes.
In case of non-compliance with these requirements, the Chapter may be asked to return funds to the Internet Society and will not be eligible to apply for future funding.
Required Elements
PLEASE NOTE: 2025 CAF budget categories have been updated. For an explanation of changes from 2024 to 2025 categories, please see 2025 CAF Budget Category Changes.
- Budget Template (required as part of your application) – if you are requesting funding for equipment as part of your budget, please also complete the Equipment Tab
- 3-tab Budget Report Template (required as part of all Chapter Admin reports)
- Chapter Action Plans are required for add-on event and small project funding. Action plans must be validated by a chapter’s regional CEM prior to applying.
Want to Learn More?
Moving forward, there will be no distinct small and large Beyond the Net grant programs, however, chapters may still request funding for small projects through Beyond the Net grant funding. Please see the Beyond the Net program page for further details.
Add-on funding can support mission-related activities outlined in a chapter’s Action Plan including annual events, small projects, and trainings. Activities included in the add-on funding request cannot be supported through additional grants from other ISOC Foundation programs. For example, if a chapter includes a Global Encryption Day activity, they will be ineligible to apply for a Global Encryption Day mini-grant. National and Regional Internet Governance Forums and Schools on Internet Governance cannot be supported with add-on funding. These sponsorships should be requested through our IGF Event Sponsorship program.
The proposal request includes a budget to be spent by the end of the calendar year. A month following the end date, a narrative report including documentation, photos, related links, and budget report are due. Chapters must keep all receipts for four years in accordance to the grant agreement. Chapters may be subject to random spot audits. Chapters that fail the audit, will not be eligible to apply for the next period of funding and may be placed into emergency rejuvenation.
The chapter will not be able to apply until the pending information is provided as requested. If pending reports are not received within 14 days of the closing of the application window, a chapter’s application will be declined and they will not be eligible to receive Chapter Admin Funding for that year.
The maximum amount that each chapter is eligible for is determined by the results of their annual performance evaluation. The exact amounts per evaluation status are listed on the website (see “Funding Available”) as well as in the program application.
More questions?
Feel free to contact: [email protected]
Due to limited staff capacity, we cannot guarantee a response to questions about the application process received after the end of the working day, one day before the application window closes.
Read the 2024 Philanthropy Impact Report
