Internet Society Foundation
The Internet Society Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Established in 2018 as a supporting organization to the Internet Society, the Foundation serves as a central source for philanthropic grants and programs. The organization focuses on funding initiatives that strengthen the Internet in function and reach so that it can effectively serve all people globally.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$90.3M
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.5M
-80.6% YoY
Grant Count
28
-31.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$519K
-71.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Internet Society Foundation champions ideas and enables communities to unlock the Internet's potential to tackle the world's evolving challenges. The Foundation advances the vision of the Internet Society: The Internet is For Everyone.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Funding initiatives that strengthen Internet infrastructure and accessibility
- Research into critical issues around the future of the Internet
- Building and supporting communities that make the Internet work
- Advancing the development and application of Internet infrastructure, technologies, and open standards
- Enabling access and digital skills for communities in need
- Supporting Internet-based solutions to global challenges
- Advocacy for policy consistent with an open, globally-connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet
Program Areas:
- Philanthropic funding programs focused on research, resilience and emergency response, strengthening communities and improving livelihoods, building opportunities and leveraging technologies, and Internet governance
- Empowering people to take action through training, e-learning, fellowships, and alumni programs
- Support of related organizations in furthering Internet Society's mission
- Beyond the Net Small Grant Program for Internet Society Chapters and Special Interest Groups
Grantmaking
The Foundation offers multiple grant programs to support its mission:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation operates in 17 countries including Kenya, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, and Spain. Its philanthropic work has global reach, supporting organizations around the world to create an Internet for Everyone.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $32.7 million
- Total Expenses: $33.9 million
- Total Assets: $90.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.75 million
Staffing: The Foundation employs 47 people as of 2024, representing a 23.1% year-over-year increase.
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since April 2018 (EIN: 82-3285688). Donations are tax-deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $90,334,360 | $87,654,990 | $126,634,739 |
| Revenue | $32,709,029 | $39,756,178 | $37,230,111 |
| Expenses | $33,868,292 | $93,634,981 | $12,240,348 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $3,685,029 | $2,975,089 | $2,903,483 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Internet Society Foundation
Beyond the Net Grant
INTERNET SOCIETY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $35,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Building Opportunities/Leveraging Technology (BOLT) program
INTERNET SOCIETY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Chapter Admin Funding Grant
INTERNET SOCIETY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $9,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Internet Society ($7,000,000), Global Cyber Alliance ($1,500,000), Techsoup Global ($1,041,358).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Society Fredericksburg, VA | IETF | $7,000,000 |
| Global Cyber Alliance East Greenbush, NY | Opportunities | $1,500,000 |
| Techsoup Global San Francisco, CA | SCILLS | $1,041,358 |
| University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Research | $527,125 |
| Code for Science and Society Inc Portland, OR | Research | $472,671 |
| Techsoup Global San Francisco, CA | Research | $396,675 |
| Center for Democracy and Technology Washington, DC | Research | $302,500 |
| SubOptic Foundation Coral Gables, FL | RARE | $250,000 |
| Mycelia Foundation Las Cruces, NM | BOLT | $226,235 |
| Techsoup Global San Francisco, CA | RARE | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Executive Vice President and Managing Director: Chris Locke
- President and Chief Executive Officer (Internet Society): Sally Wentworth
- Executive Vice President and Managing Director (Internet Society): Yogesh Khanna
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Leiba | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Brian Haberman | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Caleb Ogundele | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Charles Mok | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Jon Peterson | Trustee (Thru 06/24) | 1 | — |
| Kathleen Moriarty | Trustee (As of 06/24) | 1 | — |
| Laura Thomson | Trustee/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Luis Martinez | Trustee (Thru 06/24) | 1 | — |
| Maureen Hilyard | Trustee (As of 06/24) | 1 | — |
| Olufunke Baruwa | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ramanou Biaou | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Robert Pepper | Trustee (Thru 06/24) | 1 | — |
| Russell Housley | Trustee (As of 06/24) | 1 | — |
| Sagarika Wickramasekera | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Ted Hardie | Trustee/Board Chair | 4 | — |
| Victor Kuarsingh | Trustee/Secretary | 1 | — |
| Andrew Sullivan | President and Chief Executive Officer (Thru 08/24) | 5 | $182,046 |
| Ilona Levine | Senior Vice President and General Counsel | 5 | $110,777 |
| Sae-Young Park | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 5 | $104,289 |
| Sally Wentworth | President and Chief Executive Officer (As of 09/24) | 5 | $36,281 |
| Christopher Locke | Executive Vice President and Managing Director | 40 | $146,834 |
| Sarah Armstrong | Executive Director | 40 | $307,953 |
| Alejandra Prieto | Director, Fellowships and Alumni | 40 | $194,416 |
| Joyce Dogniez | Vice President, Empowerment and Outreach | 40 | $281,233 |
| Kristi Mason | Vice President, Communications | 40 | $261,446 |
| Shannon Morley-Ragland | Senior Director of Institutional & Grant Funding | 40 | $154,982 |
| Yurie Cho | Operations Director | 40 | $156,536 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has opened applications for several grant programs:
Research Grant Program | Internet Society FoundationInternet Governance Forums and Special Interest Groups funding applications
The Internet Society Foundation Opens Funding Applications for IGFs and SIGsSustainable Peering Infrastructure Grant Program with awards up to $200,000
A New Global Grant Program Supporting Cybersecurity NonprofitsCommon Good Cyber Fund, a new global grant program supporting cybersecurity nonprofits
A New Global Grant Program Supporting Cybersecurity NonprofitsThe Foundation continues to evolve its role in sustaining and promoting the work conducted by the Internet Society, with recent expansion of its grantmaking programs and increased staffing capacity.
Research Grant Program | Internet Society FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Internet Society Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Internet Society Foundation champions ideas and enables communities to unlock the Internet's potential to tackle the world's evolving challenges. The Foundation advances the vision of the Internet Society: The Internet is For Everyone. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Funding initiatives that strengthen Internet infrastructure and accessibility • Research into critical issues around the future of the Internet • Building and supporting communities that make the Internet work • Advanci…
How do I apply for a grant from Internet Society Foundation?
The Foundation offers multiple grant programs to support its mission: • **Beyond the Net Small Grant Program:** Annual funding available to Internet Society Chapters and Special Interest Groups for projects including learning opportunities, skill development, networking events, and membership and marketing campaigns • **Research Grant Program:** Supports research into critical Internet-related issues • **Internet Governance Forum (IGF) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Funding:** Applications …
Where does Internet Society Foundation make grants?
The Foundation operates in 17 countries including Kenya, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Brazil, and Spain. Its philanthropic work has global reach, supporting organizations around the world to create an Internet for Everyone.
What size grants does Internet Society Foundation award?
In 2024, Internet Society Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $14.5M — an average of about $519K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Internet Society Foundation's EIN?
Internet Society Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3285688. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Internet Society Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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