Internet Society Chapters 

Community Grants Programme

Applications for the next round will be opened on 1 March 2010 and close 26 March. Decisions will be made mid-May 2010.

For this application cycle, any one Project may be eligible for an award of up to US $10,000.

Background and Objective

The Internet Society (ISOC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1992 to provide leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy. It is dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the Internet for the benefit of people throughout the world.

A Community Grants Programme has been established to assist ISOC chapters and members specifically in projects that will:

• Advance ISOC's mission and goals specifically those aligned with ISOC Major Strategic Initiatives
• Serve the Chapters’ communities
• Nurture collaborative work among Chapters/Individual Members
• Enhance and utilize knowledge sharing in the global internet community and
• Encourage Chapters’ sustainability and relevance.

Scope

This Community Grants Programme is open to the creativity and imagination of the ISOC Community. The only parameters of the Program are the Criteria.

Eligibility

Persons and entities entitled to apply for funds are only those chapters and individual members of the Internet Society who are in good standing as of the date of application and who remain in such standing throughout the funding schedule of their project proposal, should it be accepted for funding.

Funding

The amount of funding set aside by the ISOC Board each year will be announced after it is approved by the Board. The announcement will be made in the ISOC monthly newsletter, in mailings to various ISOC constituencies (e.g. ISOC Members and ISOC Chapters' delegates) as well as being posted on the ISOC website.

In 2010, the funds set aside are US$200,000. For the upcoming May 2010 cycle: Any one Project may be eligible for an award of up to US $10,000. ISOC will not fund the entire cost of the Project. At least 25% of the total budget for the Project must be contributed from other sources. This contribution can include cash contributions or in-kind donations. In general, in- kind donations demonstrate a strong collaboration with partner organizations and are preferred over cash contributions. In-kind sources of funding are accepted, provided they are from other sources, rather than from the applicants themselves. Wherever possible, applicants should provide documentation to substantiate the contributions from other sources. See the Budget Template:
Excel format (XLS) or Open office format (ODS) for more details.

The Community Grants Programme will operate with funds being dispersed in two stages as the project progresses. It is, however, understood that some Projects may not be able to begin until some funding has been released and the Committee will take that into account as warranted. Confirmation of payment, receipts as appropriate, or other evidence of the use of funds is required as part of the reporting process. All reasonable efforts will be undertaken to transfer funds in a manner so as to legally and appropriately diminish the potential effect of government or banking charges.

Schedule

The amount set aside by the Board for funding each year is divided into two funding periods of equal size.

The awards announcement dates are approximate and depend in part on the number and complexity of the applications.

Unsuccessful applications for funding will not be carried forward for consideration under subsequent funding periods. Applicants may however reapply.

Approval Process

The Community Grants Programme Committee has been established by the Board to review and act upon requests for funding. The Committee will be chaired by the ISOC Sponsored Programs & Grants Manager or other designee of the ISOC CEO, who will be assisted by other ISOC staff and invited experts as needed. The Committee will include up to two other ISOC staff members as chosen by the ISOC CEO and members of the Board of Trustees as appointed by the Board of Trustees from time to time (the Board will assign at least three such members and these members may be any member of the Board of Trustees).

The Committee may seek expert assistance but voting on proposals will only be conducted by the Committee itself. The approval process will normally be guided by a series of preferences that are detailed under the Criteria.

Monitoring/Program Evaluation

The Project Leader of any funded project is required to make interim status reports to the Committee. Deadlines for the interim reports will be established by the Committee, based on the duration of the awarded project. Reports must detail the following:

• Use of funds
• Performance to date against the goals of the project
• Outcomes achieved
• Lessons learned
• Other relevant information

A final report is required no later than 30 days after the conclusion of a Project.

Written and Financial reporting guidelines may be found here.

Questions regarding any aspects of Project Funding should be addressed to projects@isoc.org.

Committee Action

It is understood that questions will arise that are not specifically addressed by these provisions and in such cases the Committee is expected to exercise its best judgment and prudence to achieve the aims of this ISOC Initiative and report to the Board annually on any matters for which the Committee seeks clarification.

IPR - Note Well

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), if any, arising from the Project funded under this Initiative or otherwise by ISOC will reside in a 'commons' area for the unrestricted use, benefit and welfare of Internet users worldwide. If such an arrangement is not feasible then ISOC (including all its past and present members, chapters, officers, trustees, volunteers and employees) will not have less than a free, perpetual and irrevocable license to use, develop, distribute and exploit all such IPR as and how it/they so desire.