Introduction
At the Internet Society Foundation, we believe in the transformative power of the Internet to improve lives worldwide. We champion for an open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy Internet that enhances education, healthcare, innovation, and economic opportunities. Yet, one-third of the global population still lacks access, limiting their potential.
As the philanthropic fundation of the Internet Society, our mission is to partner with organizations and communities to ensure an Internet for everyone. By providing timely and strategic funding, we empower grantees to expand Internet access, build trust, influence policy, and enhance infrastructure. This support enables organizations and communities to address societal challenges and reduce inequalities through increasing access to the Internet.
In 2024, the Foundation awarded 390 grants and sponsorships totaling USD $16.2 million across 111 countries. We operated 12 funding programs, providing grants to Internet Society chapters, as well as to organizations and individuals globally. Our programs focused on expanding Internet access, promoting digital inclusion, building resilient connectivity, and fostering Internet safety. We also supported groundbreaking research and convened stakeholders to discuss Internet governance issues. This report highlights the lives transformed, communities connected, and the progress made toward greater digital equity.
We also sought to learn from our grantees. Through our first Grantee Perception Report (GPR), conducted with the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), we received overwhelmingly positive feedback: 89% percent of grantees praised our focus on their success. Grantees rated our impact on their fields and local communities highly, placing us above peer funders in key influence and knowledge advancement measures. Additionally, the Foundation received the highest average in CEP’s dataset for how well grantees understand how their funded work aligns with our broader strategy.
The feedback also highlighted areas for growth. While grantees praised the clarity of our communications and processes, they noted that grant requirements could be streamlined further, with some reporting spending more time than deemed reasonable on compliance tasks. Based on such honest feedback, we are committing ourselves to improving processes and providing holistic support to our grantees.
2024 was also a year of reflection. We conducted evaluations of our Research and SCILLS (findings coming in 2025) programs to ensure alignment with our vision and used these findings to refine strategies. Additionally, we held several internal and external reflection sessions throughout the year, as we believe that greater accountability fosters trust within our community.
Looking ahead, we will continue supporting the Internet Society's 2030 Strategy, which sets strategic goals for ensuring that people everywhere have access to affordable, reliable, and resilient Internet and that everyone has a safe and secure online experience. Our 2025 Action Plan and the Internet Society's 2025 Action Plan outlines our priorities in the first year of our five-year roadmap. These priorities demonstrate our collective ambition to ensure that the Internet is a resource that enriches people’s lives and is a force for good in society.
