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 26-50 of 58, newest dated evidence first
RecipientProgramAmountDateEvidence
- MESH ForensicsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $133,551 (most recent grant 2025)DateNot recorded
- NasNet Panel: Autonomous, Censorship-Resistant ConnectivityProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $283,303 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- NoScriptProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $945,000 (cumulative; most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- nthLinkProgramSurge and Sustain FundAmountFunding to date $17,999,602 (cumulative across multiple Surge and Sustain Fund rounds; most recent 2025)DateNot recorded
- nthLink Multi-Path Implementation and DisseminationProgramUnspecifiedAmountFunding to date $214,493 (2025, 6 months; no fund named on grant line)DateNot recorded
- OONI Anonymous CredentialsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $289,307 (most recent grant 2025)DateNot recorded
- Open Measurement GatheringsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $453,919 (cumulative; most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- OpenVPN Community Maintenance and SustainabilityProgramFree and Open Source Software Sustainability FundAmountFunding to date $452,524 (cumulative; most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Partisan Telegram for AndroidProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $269,877 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- PiGuard ReloadedProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $316,162 (cumulative; most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- PiRogue Tool SuiteProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $392,576 (cumulative; most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- PolymorphicProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $337,481 (most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- Project Phoenix: Secure, Private MessagingProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $965,670 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- PsiphonProgramSurge and Sustain FundAmountFunding to date $40,791,508 (cumulative across multiple Surge and Sustain Fund rounds; most recent 2025)DateNot recorded
- qaul — Scaling, Usability, and TrustProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $552,195 (cumulative; most recent grant 2026)DateNot recorded
- RCBox: Extend EastProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $538,702 (most recent grant 2025)DateNot recorded
- Reproducible Builds SustainabilityProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $640,040 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Resilient Media ProjectProgramUnspecifiedAmountFunding to date $459,145 (2024, 24 months; no fund named on page)DateNot recorded
- Resilient NewNode Messenger Broadcasting ChannelsProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $503,420 (most recent grant 2023)DateNot recorded
- Robust Multi-Protocol, Multi-Platform Tunneling with INVISV MASQUEProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $610,643 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Rostam VPNProgramSurge and Sustain FundAmountFunding to date $640,000 (cumulative; most recent grant 2025)DateNot recorded
- SMS Without BordersProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $248,997 (cumulative; most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Strengthening Digital Security for Civil SocietyProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $154,619 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- Strengthening the Digital Security Ecosystem in the Eurasian regionProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $399,982 (most recent grant 2024)DateNot recorded
- SynthMorphProgramInternet Freedom FundAmountFunding to date $74,207 (most recent grant 2025)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