The Internet Society Foundation’s Beyond the Net Large Grant Program offers funding to support Internet Society Chapters to implement innovative projects that make a local impact by providing meaningful access to an open, trusted, and globally-connected Internet, as well as strengthening the Chapters’ relationships, partnerships, and presence in the surrounding community.
Program Objectives
- Strengthen the impact of the Internet Society and the Internet Society Foundation’s mission and global initiatives with complementary local activities.
- Develop new and strengthen existing relationships and partnerships at the local level.
Focus Areas
The Foundation will support Internet Society Chapters to implement initiatives within one or more of the following thematic areas:
- Establishing or facilitating connectivity: Projects that focus on providing or promoting the provision of Internet connectivity to underserved or unconnected communities. This could be done through building community networks, creating WiFi hotspots, establishing an Internet exchange point (IXP), or similar projects.
- Growing local Internet-related knowledge and skills: Projects that focus on increasing the technical knowledge or skills of local policymakers, stakeholders, or communities. This could be done through digital literacy or other training programs, workshops, innovation labs, or other similar initiatives.
- Understanding Internet usage and local needs: Projects that serve to better understand the needs of local communities, how these communities use the Internet, identify gaps in knowledge or uncover needs.
Eligibility
Beyond the Net Large grants are available to Internet Society Chapters who meet the following criteria:
- Are in good standing (or pre-rejuvenation – on a case-by-case basis) and meet the minimum standards as outlined in the Chapter’s Charter.
- Have an official bank account in their name (based on their legal registration) in order to receive Internet Society Foundation funds.
- Are not undergoing a rejuvenation process.
- Have submitted all required reports for other Internet Society Foundation-funded projects.
Chapters that wish to apply for the highest tier of Large grants ($31,000-50,000) must meet the following additional criteria:
- Have successfully managed a Beyond the Net Large grant within the past 3 years.
- Plan to execute the proposed project in partnership or collaboration with external partners. External partners can include, but are not limited to: local non-profit organizations, businesses, universities, and other ISOC Chapters. Documentation of partnerships, such as MOUs, must be included in the application.
Chapters may manage a maximum of three active Beyond the Net grants at a time (up to two Small and one Large grant projects). Projects that have already been completed and reported on earlier in the year (or from prior years) are not counted in this calculation.
Proposed projects should be designed with the following parameters:
- Application must be submitted at least ten (10) weeks in advance of a proposed project. The Foundation requires sufficient time to review, conduct due diligence, make a determination, and complete administrative duties for processing grant requests. (Please note that applications received less than 10 weeks in advance will be declined immediately, and that Foundation funding cannot be used for any expenses incurred before signing of the grant agreement).
- Proposals must have a clear focus and cohesive objectives. Applications combining multiple different projects under a single proposal will not be considered.
- Projects must be implemented in a period of either 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, or 24 months.
- Funds may be used to compensate chapter members or external contractors for their time and contributions to the project, including salaries, stipends, and honorariums where appropriate. Elected chapter officers may receive stipends for their contributions to projects. Chapters are encouraged to recruit experts from within their chapter member communities to carry out projects, and all recruitment should be done in an open and transparent manner to ensure inclusiveness. Names and qualifications of paid staff must be included in grant applications and budgets. Personnel expenses cannot exceed 20% of the total grant amount.
- Currency exchange rates should be shown in budgets. Please ensure that the most current exchange rate is used.
Applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements and project design parameters will be disqualified from receiving funding. Applications are evaluated solely based on the content submitted and a chapter’s previous performance with Foundation grants, including reporting quality and compliance with grant agreement terms and conditions. Evaluation of proposals does not consider a chapter’s annual plan, and submission of an application does not guarantee that a project will be funded.
Review and Selection
Applications will be screened by the Foundation and then reviewed by the Selection Committee against the following criteria:
- The proposed project aligns with the overall objectives and priorities of the Beyond the Net program.
- The proposed project is clear, realistic, and demonstrates need (of stakeholders, communities, and/or the broader Internet community).
- The proposed project provides a creative solution for the presented problem that is well tailored to the local environment.
- Technical specifications are suitable to accomplish the project activities and the equipment requested is appropriate for the execution of the project.
- The project team has identified clear objectives with relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and reasonable targets.
Selection Committee
The Beyond the Net Large Grants Selection Committee is responsible for the review and selection of applications, in accordance with the parameters listed above. Members of the Selection Committee must adhere to the Foundation’s Conflict of Interest Policy. Members include ISOC and ISOC Foundation staff, ISOC Chapter representatives, and qualified community experts.
Funding
Grants of up to USD $50,000 will be awarded for projects lasting up to 24 months. Grants are made on a first come, first serve basis, and applications are reviewed in the order they were received.
Each year, the Foundation has a fixed amount of funds available for Beyond the Net grants. Chapters are therefore encouraged to apply for grants as early as possible, as funding availability cannot be guaranteed late in the year.
Reporting
Beyond the Net grant recipients are responsible for submitting all required reporting to the Internet Society Foundation in a timely manner through the Fluxx platform. Reports include narrative information about the projects, workplan updates, data demonstrating the achievement of project objectives, and detailed financial reporting.
Compliance with Grant Agreement Terms and Conditions
It is extremely important to carefully review a grant agreement before signing it in order to ensure your chapter carries out the project according to the standards required by the Internet Society legal team.
All organizations receiving Internet Society Foundation funding, including Internet Society Chapters, are required to maintain detailed financial records for projects and be prepared to share them with the Foundation’s accounting staff in a timely manner if requested. A project can be audited at any time during its implementation and up to four years after the project comes to an end.
The Internet Society Foundation has a zero-tolerance policy concerning fraud. Any misrepresentation of project activities or apparent mismanagement of grant funds is taken seriously.
Failing to pass an audit or committing fraud can result in a chapter being placed in emergency rejuvenation.
How To Apply
Applications must be completed and submitted online through the Foundation’s Grants Management System, Fluxx. The Fluxx URL, https://isocfoundation.fluxx.io/auth/saml, is uniquely created for the ISOC’s Chapter Officer users. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Typically, applicants will receive a decision from the Foundation within eight weeks of submission.
The program will open for applications on November 28, 2023 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The last date to apply for 2024 grants is October 10, 2024.
Read the 2023 Program Impact Report
Required Elements
- Budget and workplan template (required as part of your application) – if you are requesting funding for equipment as part of your grant budget, please also complete the Equipment Tab
- Objective Writing Guidance
- 3-Tab Budget Report Template (Required as part of all grant reports)
Questions?
If you have questions about this program or the application process, please email [email protected].
Due to limited staff capacity, we cannot guarantee a response to questions about the application process received after the end of the working day, one day before the application window closes.