This section is designed to support organizations who are considering applying for a grant by providing clear, practical information about our funding priorities, eligibility requirements, and application process.
1. Before You Apply: Eligibility and Legal Requirements
Eligibility requirements vary by program. The information below is general guidance. Please check the specific program page for applicable requirements.
What banking requirements must my organization meet?
For all grant programs, applicant organizations must have a bank account in their organization’s legal name that can receive funds from a foundation based in the United States . Grant funds will not be disbursed to bank accounts in the names of individuals, except where a specific program expressly permits this, such as the Research grant program.
Why do some grant programs restrict the types of organizations that are eligible for funding?
All grants managed by the Internet Society Foundation are subject to U.S. laws and compliance requirements. Depending on the applicant, the project, the source of the grant funds, and the jurisdiction in which the applicant operates, additional requirements may also apply.
Eligibility requirements such as legal status requirements, organizational eligibility criteria, and specific participation requirements may vary by program. These include:
- Being registered as a 501(c)(3) or equivalent charitable organization
- Demonstrating alignment with the mission and vision of Internet Society
- Being a chartered Internet Society chapter
Please consult individual grant program webpages for eligibility guidelines.
What is a 501(c)(3) Organization?
A 501(c)(3) is a U.S. nonprofit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, charitable organization. The Internet Society Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Some of our grant programs are only open to registered 501(c)(3) organizations and to organizations that can demonstrate equivalent status in their country of incorporation.
Please consult individual grant program webpages in order to determine whether 501(c)(3) or equivalent registration status is required to be eligible for funding.
What is an Equivalency Determination?
An Equivalency Determination is a process by which a U.S. grant maker evaluates whether an intended grantee outside of the U.S. is the equivalent of a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Organizations outside of the U.S. may qualify for an Equivalency Determination if they can demonstrate that they are the equivalent of a U.S. public charity under applicable U.S. tax rules. The review is conducted by independent partner organizations and legal counsel engaged by the Internet Society Foundation. If issued, an Equivalency Determination is documented on a certificate and remains current for a limited period, often up to two years.
If you are an international charitable organization, you do not need to obtain Equivalency Determination prior to applying for a grant from the Internet Society Foundation. The Foundation will facilitate this for select applicants later in the application process.
If you have a current Equivalency Determination certificate on file, include it in any applications you submit.
Please consult individual grant program webpages in order to determine whether 501(c)(3) or equivalent registration status is required.
How do I show my organization is aligned with the Internet Society?
Some of our funding programs require applicant organizations to demonstrate alignment with the mission and vision of Internet Society. To demonstrate organizational alignment, applicants must be able to show that their organization’s purposes and primary activities further Internet Society’s purposes and activities. These include activities that:
- Facilitate or support the technical evolution of the Internet as a research and education infrastructure
- Stimulate the community in the evolution of the Internet or educate them in its use and application
- Promote educational applications of the Internet
- Help to promote open development, evolution, or use of the Internet to benefit people
- Connect unconnected communities and individuals to the Internet
- Advocate for policy that is consistent with ISOC’s view of the Internet
- Advance the development and application of Internet infrastructure, technologies, open standards, or related activities
To demonstrate alignment, you may wish to include the following in your application:
- A copy of your organization’s formation document(s)
- A copy of your organization’s recent tax filings
- Links showing the following content on your website:
- Your organization’s mission statement
- Your organization’s purpose (i.e. reason) for existing
- Your organization’s programs and major activities
What is Fiscal Sponsorship?
A fiscal sponsor may be required when an applicant does not hold 501(c)(3) status or equivalent, and when the grant program is open only to those types of organizations.
For more information, read through the Guidance on the use of Fiscal Sponsors. Please consult individual grant program webpages in order to determine whether 501(c)(3) or equivalent registration status is required.
What is an Internet Society chapter and how do I join?
Internet Society chapters are independent entities that work with the Internet Society to advance our mission of a bigger and stronger Internet. They provide unique regional perspectives on emerging Internet issues, are passionate about our mission, and are committed to furthering our goals and objectives in their own communities. The Internet Society Foundation’s Beyond the Net and Chapter Admin Funding grant programs are exclusively available to chartered Internet Society chapters.
If you are interested in joining an Internet Society chapter, or if your country does not yet have an Internet Society chapter and you are interested in starting one, please visit the Internet Society website for further information.
Are there other legal requirements my organization must meet to be eligible for grants managed by the Internet Society Foundation?
Prior to making a grant award and issuing payment to an organization, the Internet Society Foundation conducts sanctions screening and related compliance checks required under applicable U.S. law, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
As part of this process, we may ask for information such as the organization’s legal and operating names, the names of senior officers, directors or trustees, key project personnel, and any fiscal sponsors, as applicable.
Applicants are also responsible for ensuring that receipt and use of grant funds is permitted under the laws applicable to the applicant and the project. In some jurisdictions, this may include registration, reporting, government approval, banking, or other local legal requirements.
What kinds of projects are not funded by the Internet Society Foundation?
- Projects that are unrelated to the Internet and the mission of the Internet Society
- Projects that provide personal monetary gain
- Political campaign activity, voter registration activity, or substantial lobbying activities or other attempts to directly influence legislation
- Projects that involve providing gifts, meals, or entertainment to any government officials, including government employees and agents, political candidates, employees of state-owned entities, and family and agents thereof, without prior approval from Internet Society Foundation
- Endowments or capital campaigns
- Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
- Activities completed or costs incurred prior to the award, without prior approval
- Tuition assistance
- Travel costs for ISOC and ISOC Foundation staff
- Transactions or grants prohibited by the Internet Society Foundation’s Bylaws, Conflict of Interest Policy, or other governing document
How do I demonstrate my organization's capacity to manage a grant?
To demonstrate your organization’s capacity to manage a grant, you can share examples of previous grants awarded to your organization. You can provide links to award announcements and press releases, a copy of your organization’s annual budget that includes funding amounts, or other evidence of experience and capacity to manage a grant.
We recommend providing evidence of successful management of grants of equal or greater value to the grant amount you are applying for.
Can I apply with a partner or as part of a consortium?
Yes, but there will be one lead applicant on the application. If awarded funding, the grant agreement will be signed with the lead applicant, who will be responsible for using the funds as well as reporting throughout the grant. Applications should make roles, governance, and accountability of all partners clear. The Foundation will not provide subaward payments on behalf of a grantee.
2. The Application Process
Where can I learn more about your grant programs and the projects you fund?
Visit our website to learn about our funding areas. Each program page provides information about the program’s objectives, which activities are in scope, and the eligibility requirements. To learn more about previously funded grant projects, check out the Project Map.
When can I apply for a grant?
Each grant program has a different application window in which proposals are accepted. Please consult the web page for the specific grant program you are interested in applying to for more details.
We recommend submitting your application at least 24-48 hours before deadline to avoid technical issues or last-minute disruptions. For funding opportunities open on a rolling basis, it is recommended to apply as early as possible, as proposals may be reviewed on a first come, first serve basis.
Applications are only accepted through the Foundation’s grants management system, Fluxx. Applicants must be registered in Fluxx at least 24 hours before the application deadline. If new registrants do not register at least 24 hours before the application deadline, they will not be able to get into Fluxx and submit an application. If you and your organization are already registered in Fluxx, you can apply until the application deadline.
How do I use Fluxx if I’ve never used it before?
In order to access Fluxx, you need to register for an account. Once you have submitted your registration, it can take 1-2 business days for it to be processed. Once your registration is complete, you should receive a confirmation email (check your spam folder).
Please watch our "How to use Fluxx" video. It is a comprehensive guide that provides step-by-step instructions on how to navigate and utilize the Fluxx platform effectively. If you still have questions regarding Fluxx, email [email protected].
I forgot my password for Fluxx. How do I reset my Fluxx password?
Visit the Fluxx password reset page to reset your password and gain entry to your Fluxx account. If you have continued issues accessing your account, contact [email protected].
Can I use generative AI to write my grant application?
While the use of generative AI tools to support the preparation of grant applications is not prohibited, these tools should serve as supportive resources only.
Applicants are expected to use their own words and ideas to build a proposal that accurately represents their experience, expertise, and project vision. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that all information in their application is accurate, true, and relevant to their proposed project and program they are applying for.
Where can I learn more about how to apply for Internet Society Foundation programs?
We’re currently in the process of updating our Grant Application course.
How can I be invited to an invite-only program?
The majority of the Foundation’s programs are open to broad audiences. Invite-only programs require organizations to be invited at the request of the Internet Society Foundation and self-nominations are not accepted. Please refer to specific program webpages for more information about invite-only criteria.
I plan to apply for a grant through one of your programs. Can you review my budget, narrative proposal, or other documents before I submit them?
We do not provide individualized application guidance or meet with prospective applicants during open application windows. We only review completed applications submitted in Fluxx .
For most programs, our staff organizes public information sessions during the application window . In these sessions, key information about the programs is provided, along with time for questions and answers. Please consult individual grant program webpages for more information.
What should I do if I don’t know how to answer a question in my application?
We do not provide individualized application guidance or meet with prospective applicants during open application windows. We encourage applicants to focus on demonstrating their ability to consider the questions and respond intentionally.
Strong applications clearly describe the problem the project aims to solve, the proposed solution(s), the key project activities, and information about where and how the project will be implemented. If your proposal is otherwise strong but we require further clarification, we may contact you during the review period.
What is the review process for applications?
To make sure there is transparency and accountability in our grantmaking process, most programs at the Internet Society Foundation work with independent external reviewers to review, score, and give recommendations on applications. These experts are leading practitioners from across a range of Internet-related fields, including development, policy, security, research and innovation as well as international development. Throughout this process, external reviewers are required to adhere to the Foundation’s Conflict of Interest Policy.
Once all applications for a funding area or program have been reviewed and final funding decisions made, we share the decisions with each applicant.
When will I hear whether my application was successful or not?
The timelines for each grant program vary, so check the program’s webpage for specific information. For most programs, notifications for declined and awarded applications will go out around the same time. We encourage you to check your spam folders for automated emails from the Internet Society Foundation grants management system, Fluxx.
What are the different types of project costs that I can include in my project budget?
Understanding project costs is an important part of grant management. For most programs at the Internet Society Foundation, applicants are required to complete a Budget, Workplan, and Equipment Support Request using the template provided under the Documents section of the application. The template includes an example of what a completed budget should look like, which you can use for reference.
Some guidance for the categories in the budget template:
Personnel: your organization’s staff who will be paid for their work managing or implementing the project. If you already know which staff will be included in the project, list their names, roles, and responsibilities for the project in the “Notes” column of the budget. If you expect to hire staff for the role, indicate this in the “Notes” column.
Contractual: any external support, such as contractors or consultants, that you will hire on a temporary basis to support your project. You should maintain signed contracts or statements of work with all individuals or organizations listed under this category. Grantees remain responsible for ensuring that any affiliate or subcontractor uses grant funds in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of their Grant Agreement.
Equipment: any electronic equipment you will purchase to implement your project, such as networking equipment, routers, computers, switches, cables, etc. Please note that any electronic equipment that will be purchased must be included on the equipment support request form. The equipment support request form must also include information about the specific models of equipment being purchased, where it will be sourced , and where it will be installed or stored.
Travel: any travel expenses required to implement the project. Show the duration of travel and number of travelers and list transportation, lodging, and other related expenses as separate line items.
Subawards: any funds that will be subawarded to project partners. This is often included as a lump sum. Grantees remain responsible for ensuring that any affiliate or subawardee uses grant funds in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement.
Other Direct Costs: project expenses that do not fit into the other categories but are necessary for the direct implementation of the grant. Examples include: office consumables, furniture, venue rentals, catering for workshops or events, printing services, promotional materials etc. .
Indirect Costs: general administrative or operational expenses that cannot be easily attributed to a single grant project, sometimes referred to as “overhead.” This includes office rent, utility bills, insurance, administrative fees to Fiscal Sponsors, banking fees, etc. The total amount for this category should not exceed 25% of the total budget for the project.
My grant application was rejected. Can you tell me why?
The Foundation’s application process is highly competitive and receives a large volume of requests; as a result, the Foundation is unable to provide personalized feedback to those not chosen for funding. Please note that being declined for a grant does not mean that your project lacks value; even strong applications may not be awarded grants.
Note: The information in this section is general information, please consult individual grant program webpage for the program you want to apply to for more specific information or additional requirements.