SCILLS Grant Program

Strengthening Communities/Improving Lives and Livelihoods (SCILLS)

While people all over the world are increasingly connected to the Internet, many remain unable to use it safely, confidently, and productively to benefit their lives. The Strengthening Communities/Improving Lives and Livelihoods (SCILLS) grant program aims to contribute to economic inclusion and increase educational opportunities by supporting the development of meaningful connectivity for unserved or underserved communities. SCILLS supports an integrated, end-to-end approach that combines connectivity, digital skills, online safety, and community leadership, recognizing that infrastructure alone is not sufficient to drive lasting impact.

The long-term objective of the program is to support inclusive digital transformation by strengthening communities’ ability to engage with a safe, trustworthy, and useful Internet, in line with the Internet Society’s mission and its 2030 strategic goals. Through locally grounded projects, SCILLS supports a range of interventions that help communities turn Internet access into practical educational and economic opportunities.

Target Countries

The SCILLS program operates in selected countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The current countries of focus are Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, and Senegal. These countries were intentionally selected through phased analyses conducted by the Foundation, in collaboration with partners and consultants, to assess contextual factors such as enabling environments, levels of need and opportunity, language considerations, and the strength of local organizational ecosystems.

Across these contexts, Internet access has expanded, yet inequalities in who benefits from connectivity persist. They reflect settings with large rural and peri-urban populations, active civil society actors, and policy environments where investments in digital skills, online safety, and community-led approaches have the potential to scale beyond individual projects. SCILLS therefore focuses mobilizing support in countries where the Internet is widely accessible but opportunities for many people to engage with it meaningfully remain limited. We believe that in these contexts, local civil society organizations are best positioned to support communities in learning to use the Internet in ways that align with their priorities and aspirations.

Target Audience

By invitation only (which means applicants to this program are invited at the request of the ISOC Foundation).

Focus Areas

Proposed projects should emphasize meaningful connectivity and/or online safety as essential conditions that enable people to learn, work, and actively participate the digital economy.

In line with the Internet Society’s 2030 Strategy, meaningful connectivity goes beyond access alone and refers to the conditions that allow people to use the Internet effectively in their own contexts to benefit their lives. Adequate digital skills, access to devices, and knowledge of how to use the Internet securely are all criteria that must be met for individuals to achieve meaningful access.

SCILLS projects must integrate these elements into their projects in ways that complement their thematic focus and the communities they work with. This can look like expanding Internet connectivity while delivering digital skills training, embedding online safety knowledge into education practices, or supporting community-led approaches to promoting safe and productive Internet use.

In addition, one of the Internet Society’s strategic goals for 2030 is to ensure that people everywhere have an Internet experience that is safe, secure, and protective of their rights online. All projects must therefore include activities that strengthen communities’ online safety knowledge and skills. Online safety refers to the knowledge, skills, and practices that enable people to engage online with confidence, protect their privacy, and effectively manage digital risks.

Projects should focus on one of the thematic areas below.

1. Economic Inclusion

The Foundation seeks projects that help underserved and unserved communities leverage the Internet safely and productively to build career opportunities, increase economic independence, and create sustainable income sources.

Example of past projects have included, but are not limited to:

• Supporting entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises to use digital tools for market access and income generation
• Equipping individuals with job-relevant digital skills to improve employability
• Enabling migrant and displaced communities to engage in online economic activities with greater confidence and safety
• Supporting women to build digital skills and safe online practices for business growth
• Developing locally relevant Internet-based solutions that respond to economic challenges.

2. Educational Opportunities

The Foundation seeks projects that support underserved and unserved communities to leverage the Internet safely and meaningfully to increase access to high-quality education, improve learning outcomes, and strengthen teaching and learning practices across diverse educational contexts. 

Example past projects have included, but are not limited to:

• Supporting teachers to use the Internet safely to enhance learning for their students
• Helping girls and families access education through trusted online resources during interruptions to in-person learning
• Strengthening learning environments by providing Internet access in anchor institutions, such as public libraries
• Developing context-appropriate digital skills for young children
• Supporting schools and communities to integrate safe and effective Internet use into everyday teaching and learning practices.

Eligibility

The Foundation is seeking applications from organizations that:

• Have been invited to apply by an ISOC Foundation staff member
• Are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations or equivalent
• Have a mission and activities that are aligned with the mission and activities of ISOC
• Have experience using the Internet as a force for good, as reflected in their organizational purpose, mission, and activities, including supporting safe and responsible Internet use
• Have a demonstrated understanding and track record of success in one or both of the thematic Focus Areas of economic inclusion and educational opportunities
• Have a deep knowledge of and experience working with the communities the project is intended to reach
• Are well positioned to deliver the project, based on experience managing grants, role within the local ecosystem, relevant expertise, relationships with community actors, and the skills and capacities of staff and/or partners
• Proposals must clearly position the Internet as a key implementation tool. Where projects involve the deployment of physical Internet infrastructure, applicants are required to demonstrate appropriate technical expertise or provide formal documentation (such as a signed Memorandum of Understanding, letter of support, or equivalent agreement) with a qualified technical partner.

Selection Criteria

Invited applicants will see a full proposal added to their Fluxx queue. The selection criteria against which the Independent Program Review Committee (IPRC) will review eligible applications is:

• The proposed project supports the overall goal of the SCILLS funding program
• The proposed project clearly aligns with at least one of the focus areas of the SCILLS program
• The proposed project clearly outlines why and how the Internet can be leveraged safely and meaningfully to effectively address the identified issue or opportunity
• The applicant and any partners demonstrate the necessary knowledge, relationships, and experience to accomplish the project goals
• The project’s goals, outcomes, key milestones, indicators, and workplan are clearly defined and align with each other.

Funding

Grants of up to USD $300,000 will be awarded for projects that are 30 months in duration. Smaller grant amounts may be made based on the availability of funds and/or the applicant’s capacity to manage grant funds.

Timeframe

The 2026 SCILLS cycle will open April 7 to formally invited applicants, and applications are due by May 13, 2026, by 21:00 UTC / 5:00 p.m. ET.

Helpful Resources

• Budget and workplan template (required as part of your application) 
• Objective Writing Guidance

The following resources may support applicants in designing projects that advance meaningful and sustainable connectivity:

• Community Network Readiness Course – An online course by the Internet Society to help communities assess readiness and explore sustainable, community-led connectivity approaches.
• Community Network DIY Toolkit – A practical toolkit offering step-by-step guidance and tools to plan, build, and sustain community networks across diverse contexts.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has the SCILLS program been operating?
SCILLS implemented its first grant cycle in 2020 and currently accepts applications on an annual basis.

Who are the current SCILLS grantees?
You can learn more about current and past SCILLS grants on the Our Projects page.

Is my organization eligible for SCILLS funding?
To be eligible to receive funding from the Internet Society Foundation, an organization must be invited to apply by an ISOC Foundation staff member, be a registered 501(c)(3) or equivalent, and demonstrate alignment with the purposes and activities of Internet Society (ISOC), the Foundation’s supported organization.

What is a 501(c)3 and what is an Equivalency Determination?
A 501(c)3 is a United States nonprofit organization that has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to act as a tax-exempt, charitable organization. The Internet Society Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. If you are not a registered 501(c)(3), your organization may be eligible for Equivalency Determination Certification.
An Equivalency Determination is a process where a U.S. grantmaker evaluates whether an intended international grantee is the equivalent of a U.S. public charity, a 501(c)(3). The certification process is conducted by independent partner organizations and their legal counsel, contracted by the Foundation. The designation is typically documented on a certificate and is valid for up to two years. To better understand how an Equivalency Determination is made, and what documents your organization would need to provide to supplement the certification process, please consult this guidance. You do not need to obtain Equivalency Determination prior to applying for Internet Society Foundation funding.
The Foundation has partnered with NGOsource and Paragon Philanthropy to confirm all international grantee organizations meet the Equivalency Determination qualification.

What does it mean to be aligned in the purpose and activities of ISOC?
As a supporting organization of the Internet Society (ISOC), the Internet Society Foundation must operate exclusively for the benefit of ISOC and follow special rules under the U.S. tax laws. These rules include that we can only make grants to organizations whose purpose(s) and activities are aligned with the purposes and activities of ISOC.
ISOC’s purposes and activities can be found in its articles of incorporation and they are detailed further in its mission statement and three areas of focus. The Foundation therefore asks applicants to provide evidence of their own mission and activities’ alignment with ISOC’s and to demonstrate that the proposed project clearly fits within one of ISOC’s purposes.

Are projects centered on Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions in scope for SCILLS?
While many AI tools interface with the Internet, SCILLS projects are expected to help communities leverage Internet technology broadly. Projects and organizations focusing exclusively on promotion of AI tools are not in scope for the program.

How does the selection process work? 
Once full proposals have been received, they will be submitted to the Foundation’s Independent Program Review Committee for evaluation and a funding recommendation.

What resources and tools are available to me as I put together my organization’s grant proposal?
To help you develop your proposal, refer to our online training course on designing impactful and effective projects and grant applications. For tips related to developing your project budget, please refer to this project budget guidance document.

Questions

If you have any further questions about this program or the application process, please email [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.

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