Funding opportunities from OTF and elsewhere
Each month, OTF sends an announcement of upcoming funding deadlines for internet freedom and related projects and fellowships to our low traffic OTF-announce mailing list. The announcement includes funding opportunities from both OTF and alternative funding sources. Below you can find the December edition.
If you’d like to receive this announcement directly in your inbox, you can sign up for the low traffic OTF-announce mailing list here. In addition, you can find a compiled list of alternative funding sources here. The opportunities listed below are only for those with approaching deadlines, while a number of funders accept applications on a rolling basis.OTF Funding
OTF – Digital Integrity Fellowship Program
Deadline: December 30, 2017
The Digital Integrity Fellowship Program (DIFP) provides fixed monthly stipends to individuals capable of addressing short-term and long-term threats to freedom of expression online. Fellows provide organizations and communities most affected by internet freedom violations comprehensive internal support with their digital security expertise. Simultaneously, fellows will educate the broader internet freedom field about the threats and vulnerabilities experienced, to ensure that emerging and existing technologies best meet the needs of at-risk communities.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/fellowships/difp
OTF – Internet Freedom Fund
Next deadline: January 1, 2018
The Internet Freedom Fund is OTF’s primary way to support projects and people working on open and accessible technology-centric projects that promote human rights, internet freedom, open societies, and help advance inclusive and safe access to global communications networks. Successful applicants are awarded monetary support up to $900,000 and no less than $10,000, with preference given to those projects and people who are new to the internet freedom community, helping those living within repressive environments, and are requesting less than $300,000 for a duration of less than 12 months.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/requests/internet-freedom-fund
OTF – Core Infrastructure Fund
Next deadline: January 1, 2018
The Core Infrastructure Fund supports building blocks of digital security and circumvention projects. This may include efforts focused on sustaining or improving PGP, SSL, SSH, Tor, OTR, pluggable transports, code libraries, and other technologies used within the core building blocks of everyday Internet Freedom technology used by people throughout the world to increase their access, privacy, and security online.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/requests/core-infrastructure-fund
OTF – Rapid Response Fund
Deadline: Ongoing
The Rapid Response Fund is part of a broader OTF initiative which aims to facilitate the development of a strong digital emergency response community that can work together to resolve threats in a timely and comprehensive manner. OTF offers both direct financial support as well as technical services from trusted partners to resolve digital emergencies experienced by high-risk Internet users and organizations, such as bloggers, cyber activists, journalists. and human rights defenders.
Apply: https://www.opentech.fund/requests/rapid-response-fund
OTF – Labs
Deadline: Ongoing
For more specific, one-off support needs and services, check out OTF’s Labs: Localization, Community, Engineering, Usability, Red Team, and Legal.
Learn more about OTF’s Labs at: https://www.opentech.fund/labsAlternative Funding
State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor – Internet Freedom Annual Program Statement
Deadline: February 12, 2018
The State Department is seeking Statements of Interest (SOI) in response to four “funding themes” – “Technology: Uncensored and Secure Access to the Global Internet,” “Digital Safety,” “Policy and Advocacy,” and “Applied Research.” Organizations may submit up to two SOIs per deadline.
More information: https://www.state.gov/j/drl/p/271495.htm
Mozilla – Creative Media Grants
Deadline: December 31, 2017
“The program awards grants ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 for films, apps, storytelling, and other forms of media that explore topics like mass surveillance and the erosion of online privacy. We seek to support producers creating work on the web, about the web, and for a broad public. Producers should share Mozilla’s concern that the private communications of internet citizens are increasingly being monitored and monetized by state and corporate actors.”
More information: https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2017/12/07/mozilla-is-funding-art-about-online-privacy-and-security/
Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF) – Standard Intervention
Deadline: January 18, 2018
EMHRF provides support to “human rights defenders [in the South-Mediterranean region] in difficulty or at risk, for the specific purpose of allowing them to pursue their activities, as well as to small human rights organisations or groups with the aim of strengthening their capacities in implementing innovative activities in the region.” Funding is usually between €5,000 and €30,000 for a duration of no longer than 12-18 months.
More information: http://www.emhrf.org/en/guidelinesstandard.php
Swedish Institute – Creative Force Grants
Deadline: January 25, 2018
Creative Force supports organizations using media or the arts to “strengthen democracy, freedom of expression and human rights” internationally. Seeking to support efforts in 27 specific countries throughout the MENA and Eastern Europe regions, as well as Turkey and Russia. Funding for collaborative efforts can be for as much as SEK 500,000 per year for a duration between 12 and 24 months. Note: Applicant organizations must either be 1) registered in Sweden or 2) partner with an organization which is.
More information: https://si.se/en/apply/funding-grants/creative-force/
Mozilla – Open Source Support (MOSS)
Deadline: January 31, 2018
MOSS has 3 tracks: 1. Foundational Technology (open to FOSS projects relied upon or implemented into Mozilla products) 2. Mission Partners (open to any FOSS project that helps advance the Mozilla mission) and 3. Secure Open Source (supporting security audits for FOSS projects).
More information: https://wiki.mozilla.org/MOSS
Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University – Fellowship 2018-2019
Deadline: January 31, 2018
“The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University is now accepting fellowship applications for the 2018-2019 academic year through our annual open call. This opportunity is for those who wish to spend 2018-2019 in residence in Cambridge, MA as part of the Center’s vibrant community of research and practice, and who seek to engage in collaborative, cross-disciplinary, and cross-sectoral exploration of some of the Internet’s most important and compelling issues.”
More information: https://cyber.harvard.edu/getinvolved/fellowships/opencall20182019
Harvard Library Innovation Lab – 2018 Summer Fellows
Deadline: February 1, 2018
“Our summer fellows program will bring together a small set of visionaries to explore future directions in libraries, law, and technology. We value different ways of thinking and strongly encourage brilliant minds from all disciplines and backgrounds to apply…particular encouragement [is] given to potential candidates that might benefit from some of the Lab’s current work in open law, web archives, war crimes research, private talking spaces, crowdsourced fair use predictions, and free textbooks.” Fellows join the Lab from June through August and bring their own projects to work on – in collaboration with their cohort. A stipend of $6,000 is issued.
More information: https://cyber.harvard.edu/getinvolved/fellowships/opencall20182019
Library Freedom Project – Library Freedom Institute
Deadline: February 1, 2018
Designed for public librarians, this six-month program will allow participants to “spend 5 hours per week on a combination of readings, webinars, exercises, class discussion, and assignments” with a goal of teaching how to do things like “install, configure, and troubleshoot privacy software like Tor Browser,” increase your library’s digital security, and better “educate and train your community on privacy best practices.” The program consists of a free online course and one in-person weekend session in NYC.
More information: https://libraryfreedomproject.org/lfi/
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Sign up for the low traffic OTF-announce mailing list to receive this in your inbox on a monthly basis here. Access our compiled list of alternative support sources here.