Open Technology Fund

Overview

The Open Technology Fund supports technology that keeps the open internet reachable for people living under censorship and surveillance. Its work is technical and specific: circumvention tools, privacy and security software, measurement of network interference, and the infrastructure those efforts depend on. The main route is the Internet Freedom Fund, which also covers applied research, ecosystem work and community convenings; separate funds handle rapid digital emergencies, user costs for large anti-censorship services, and the long-term health of open-source internet-freedom software.

Who it's for

It suits a team with working technology or a credible technical plan, not a policy campaign. OTF states that it prioritises first-time applicants, people under-represented in the field, and underfunded areas, which is unusual among funders of this size. Individuals over eighteen and organisations of any legal form may apply, from any country not subject to US sanctions. Work that is really connectivity, general civic technology or policy advocacy falls outside its remit.

What you get

Awards are contracts sized to the scope of work, running for a fixed period, with payment tied to agreed deliverables rather than a single up-front sum. Each grantee gets a programme manager who oversees monitoring and evaluation against metrics set in the proposal. The labs add services that small teams rarely buy: security audits, usability and discovery work, and communications support. For a young project, that combination of money and technical review is often worth more than the funding alone.

How to apply

Applications to the Internet Freedom Fund run in two stages. First a short concept note through the online system, describing the problem, the approach and the people it serves; strong notes are invited to a full proposal, which an advisory council of subject experts reviews. The applicant guidebook sets out what each stage expects, so read it before drafting. Expect questions on fit with the remit, real-world applicability, cost-effectiveness, sustainability after the contract and whether the work duplicates something that exists.

Timing

Rolling for the Internet Freedom Fund: concept notes are accepted continuously and reviewed in cycles, and OTF publishes an expected response window. The rapid-response and sustainability funds follow their own conditions, and the research programme has separate calls. Check each fund page for the current process.

How to stand out

Read the remit before writing: a strong proposal for connectivity or general digital development will be declined on scope, however good it is. In the concept note, name the censorship or surveillance context and the users you can actually reach, then show what already exists and why yours is different. Cite measurable outcomes you can report against, since payment follows deliverables. If a security audit would strengthen the tool, ask about the labs in the same conversation.

FAQ