Organization Profile
Open Technology Fund
aka OTF, Free and Open Source Software Sustainability Fund, Open Tech Fund, open technology
NonprofitInternet Freedom & Digital Rights, Sovereign Tech & Public-Interest Digital InfrastructureActivewww.opentech.fundX ↗
Open Technology Fund (OTF) is an independent non-profit organization, funded through annual appropriations passed by the United States Congress, that supports projects countering repressive censorship and surveillance so people can exercise their human rights online. It funds individuals and organizations through the Internet Freedom Fund, Rapid Response Fund, Surge and Sustain Fund and FOSS Sustainability Fund, runs the Information Controls Research Program, and offers services through its resource labs. It reports supporting more than 450 projects.1,2,3,4
Open & upcoming
1 deadline ahead- OTF Rapid Response Service Provider RFP 20262026 service-provider proposals
Programs
4 activeOTF's fund for the sustainability of free and open source software used for internet freedom, making targeted awards (from $7k/month up to $400k over 24 months) for maintenance, interoperability, security, and resilience of FOSS tools. Awards run through a two-stage competitive process (concept note, then proposal with advisory council review) as deliverable-based performance contracts; supported projects include F-Droid, DEfO, and Mailvelope, and an application round ran March-May 2026.
- Internet Freedom FundGrants · USD 10,000 to USD 900,000 for up to 24 months
OTF funds internet-freedom technology, applied research, digital-security ecosystem work and convenings through performance-based contracts. Rolling applications use a concept-note and full-proposal process. Awards range from USD 10,000 to USD 900,000 for up to 24 months; preferred requests are USD 50,000-200,000 for six to twelve months. Payments follow agreed deliverables.
- OTF Rapid Response Service Provider RFP 2026RFP · Up to $150,000 per contract for the initial period
OTF is procuring digital emergency support services through time-and-materials contracts. Each initial one-year contract has a ceiling of USD 150,000; work and payment are not guaranteed. This procurement is separate from applications for emergency assistance.
- Rapid Response FundGrants · Direct financial support typically up to USD 50,000 for six months or less
The Open Technology Fund's Rapid Response Fund provides short-term, urgent digital security support for at-risk users facing clear, time-sensitive, state-sponsored digital emergencies. Applications are rolling.
2026 timeline
Free and Open Source Software Sustainability Fund
March-May 2026 round: Closed, deadline 2026-05-07
OTF Rapid Response Service Provider RFP 2026
2026 service-provider proposals: Deadline ahead, deadline 2026-11-23
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec◆ Today
Free and Open Source Software Sustainability FundMarch-May 2026 round: Closed, deadline 2026-05-07
OTF Rapid Response Service Provider RFP 20262026 service-provider proposals: Deadline ahead, deadline 2026-11-23
Awards
58 on fileShowing 1-25 of 58, newest dated evidence first
RecipientProgramAmountDateEvidence
- Amigo: Secure, Shutdown-Resilient Group MessagingProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $172,270 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- Anti-Censorship IXPProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $50,000DateNot recorded
- BitpartProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $614,456 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Connection LabsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $137,474 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- Countering Digital Censorship in PakistanProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $212,540 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- dCommsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $416,434 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Decentralized and private DNS lookup with Quad9ProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $556,730 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Deep Packet Resistance with AI-driven Deflect & CenoProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $510,393 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- Defending and Documenting Digital Threats in TaiwanProgramInternet Freedom FundAmount$563,785 (2023, 30 months, Internet Freedom Fund)DateNot recorded
- DEfO SustainabilityProgramFree and Open Source Software Sustainability FundAmountFunding to date $721,958 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Design from the MarginsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $673,232 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Developing Test Lists for Censored Online ContentProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $360,529 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Documenting and preventing information controls during the electoral period in the DRCProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $345,946 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Enabling secure Signal workflows in Tails via Flatpak integrationProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $399,733 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- F-Droid SustainabilityProgramFree and Open Source Software Sustainability FundAmountFunding to date $396,044 (most recent grant 2025)DateNot recorded
- Fake Antenna Detection ProjectProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $424,144 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- Global GatheringProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $305,443 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- Increasing Internet Security Through Shorter-Lived TLS CertificatesProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $800,000 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Internet Architecture in the Public InterestProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $469,713 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- InterSecLabProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $699,988 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Investigating Protocol-Agnostic Methods to Fingerprint Obfuscated Circumvention TrafficProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $298,113 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- IRBlock: A Large-Scale Measurement Study of the Great Firewall of IranProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $150,000 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- LanternProgramSurge and Sustain FundAmountFunding to date $14,160,286 (cumulative across multiple Surge and Sustain Fund rounds; most recent 2025)DateNot recorded
- Mailvelope SustainabilityProgramFree and Open Source Software Sustainability FundAmountFunding to date $829,330 (cumulative; most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Mapping China's Capabilities in Police Cloud Platforms to Improve Protection of Vulnerable PopulationsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $54,333 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
Focus Areas
internet freedom, censorship circumvention, digital security, privacy, anti-surveillance, secure communications, applied research, human rights tech.
Typical sizeInternet Freedom Fund USD 10,000 to 900,000 (ideal 50,000 to 200,000); Rapid Response Fund direct support typically up to USD 50,000; FOSS Sustainability Fund up to USD 400,000
CadenceInternet Freedom Fund and Rapid Response Fund applications are rolling; the FOSS Sustainability Fund, Surge and Sustain Fund and Information Controls Research Program open once a year
Sources
- www.opentech.fund/funds/free-and-open-source-software-sustainability-fund
- apply.opentech.fund
- www.opentech.fund/projects-we-support/supported-projects/f-droid-sustainability
- www.opentech.fund/projects-we-support/supported-projects/lantern
- www.opentech.fund
- www.opentech.fund/about
- www.opentech.fund/news/open-technology-fund-requests-proposals-for-the-rapid-response-fund
- www.opentech.fund/funds/internet-freedom-fund
- www.opentech.fund/funds/rapid-response-fund
- www.opentech.fund/funds/surge-and-sustain-fund
- www.opentech.fund/research-2/icrp