Resiliency Grant Program

The Internet Society Foundation's Resiliency Grant Program aims to enhance network resilience in communities vulnerable to natural disasters. With grants ranging from $250,000 to $500,000, the program supports initiatives that ensure communities can maintain or restore Internet connectivity during crises. The foundation seeks organizations experienced in Internet resiliency to deploy infrastructure and provide training, thereby fostering quicker reconnection after disasters. This initiative is crucial for helping affected communities stay connected during challenging times.

NOTE: Not opening for applications in 2025.
The Internet Society Foundation’s Resiliency Program supports projects that increase network resiliency in communities prone to natural disasters, so that these communities will be better able to prepare for and withstand the effects of natural disasters on Internet connectivity.
Program Objectives
Ensure readiness of local communities to maintain or repair Internet connectivity Re-establish Internet connectivity for communities affected by natural and climate-related disasters
Overview
With the constant threat of natural and climate-related disasters, people around the world are experiencing more and more disruption in their lives and to their livelihoods. The damage from these disasters often interrupts Internet connectivity and isolates people from family, friends and information in a time of crisis and vulnerability. The Resiliency program aims to provide support for these communities to be prepared for and reconnect to the Internet quickly after natural and climate-related disasters strike.
The Internet Society Foundation will support organizations with experience and direct knowledge of Internet resiliency to deploy resilient Internet infrastructure and provide training to local stakeholders on its use in the event or in the aftermath of natural and climate-related disasters.
Examples of the types of projects the Foundation will support include:

• Supporting the development of community networks
• Hardening data centers and IXPs against environmental threats
• Fortifying sub-sea cables and/or stations
• Supporting ISPs to upgrade infrastructureStrengthening capacity of communities to maintain, repair, and re-establish Internet connectivity
• Funding
• Grants of $250,000 to $500,000 USD will be awarded for 12-month projects.

Eligibility

The Foundation seeks to fund teams housed in organizations that align with the Internet Society’s mission and its work for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet for everyone.In order to receive funding from the Internet Society Foundation, all applicant organizations applying must meet the following three (3) requirements:Be a legally registered 501(c)(3) OR equivalent.Before awarding funds to any organization, the Foundation will verify this equivalency.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.If you are not a registered 501(c)(3), your organization may be eligible for Equivalency Determination Certification. To better understand how an Equivalency Determination is made, please consult the Equivalency Determination section.  If you have a current Equivalency Determination certificate on file with NGOsource or Paragon Philanthropy, the Foundation will request a copy and keep it on file with your organization’s record in our grants management system.If the Foundation decides to award funds to your organization, and your organization is not a 501(c)(3) OR does not hold a current Equivalency Determination Certificate, the Foundation will apply for and cover the cost of Equivalency Determination certification on your organization’s behalf.Possess alignment with the purposes and activities of Internet Society (ISOC), the Foundation’s supported organization.Therefore, our grantees’ purposes and activities must also further ISOC’s purposes and activities in some way. These include: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 a policy that is consistent with ISOC’s view of the Internet
Advance the development and application of Internet infrastructure, technologies, or open standards, etc.Have an official bank account in their name (based on their legal registration).The specific requirements for the Resiliency Program are:Organizations with 501(c)(3) or equivalent status that have a mission that is aligned to that of the Internet Society
Demonstrated capacity to manage grant awards between $250,000 to $500,000
Prior experience with Internet resiliency and or reconnection projects
Prior experience working on global projects or projects that are multi-national
Prior experience working in disaster management, emergency response, or recovery

Ineligibility

Projects that provide personal monetary gain
Political campaigns, voter registration, lobbying efforts or other attempts to influence legislation
Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
Activities completed or costs incurred prior to the award, without prior approval
Tuition assistance
Transactions or grants prohibited by the Internet Society Foundation’s Bylaws, Conflict of Interest Policy, or other governing document.