We are seeking to support the most ambitious and innovative ideas to systemically improve the sustainability of the OSS ecosystem. Submit your idea or view other ideas here.
Discussion forum https://github.com/PlaintextGroup/oss-virtual-incubator/discussions
Like roads and bridges for the digital world, open source software (OSS) makes up much of our digital infrastructure and underlies many critical software systems, both public and private. Some of the most popular apps and websites are open source as well. Often referred to as "free and open source software" (FOSS), OSS can be used, modified, and shared by the public according to its terms of distribution.
However, OSS faces a sustainability problem. While some OSS projects are well-resourced by companies and non-profit organizations, other OSS code is maintained and released by people who struggle to monetize their work. Moreover, flaws in OSS has been used to mount supply chain attacks such as Heartbleed and, more recently, log4j. Traditional methods of resourcing OSS development and maintenance – such as corporate or philanthropic donations, crowdsourcing, or volunteer time – may not be enough.
We are seeking the most ambitious and innovative ideas to systemically improve the sustainability of the OSS ecosystem. We welcome ideas from around the world, and they can range from (but are not limited to) research proposals to specific technical improvements to institution-building to policymaking ideas. Here are some (not exhaustive) examples: "implement X feature in a certain package manager", "perform dependency mapping of the OSS ecosystem", "create a training program for OSS maintainers to learn how to apply to grants", "create a mechanism for the US National Science Foundation to better fund critical OSS libraries", "use X web3 mechanism to create incentives to fund OSS tools", "develop tools or new methodologies to predict open source sustainability or community health".
https://github.com/PlaintextGroup/oss-virtual-incubator/#2-submit-a-proposal
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The Polkadot Treasury is a pot of funds collected through transaction fees, slashing, and staking inefficiencies that can be spent by submitting a spending proposal that, if approved, will enter a waiting period before distribution.
Proposals may consist of (but not limited to):
Infrastructure deployment and continued operation;
Network security operations (monitoring services, continuous auditing);
Ecosystem provisions (collaborations with friendly chains);
Marketing activities (advertising, paid features, collaborations);
Community events and outreach (meetups, hackerspaces);
Research (academic and non-academic);
Software development (wallets and wallet integration, clients and client upgrades);
Cross-chain application development.
Anyone building with Substrate and/on Polkadot.
Discuss before in the forum and only post proposal if you have enough support, otherwise you may lose the deposit (you pay the deposit when you submit a proposal, if it ed, you get it back)
https://www.dotreasury.com/dot/proposals
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The Kusama Treasury is a pot of funds collected through transaction fees, slashing, and staking inefficiencies, that can be spent by submitting a spending proposal that, if approved by the Community, will enter a waiting period before distribution.
Proposals may consist of (but not limited to):
Infrastructure deployment and continued operation;
Network security operations (monitoring services, continuous auditing);
Ecosystem provisions (collaborations with friendly chains);
Marketing activities (advertising, paid features, collaborations);
Community events and outreach (meetups, hackerspaces);
Projects focusing on the relationship between technology and art;
Research (academic and non-academic);
Software development (wallets and wallet integration, clients and client upgrades).
Anyone building with Substrate and/on Kusama.
Discuss before in the forum and only post proposal if you have enough support, otherwise you may lose the deposit (you pay the deposit when you submit a proposal, if it ed, you get it back)
https://www.dotreasury.com/ksm/proposals
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The Substrate Builders Program directly supports you by connecting you with Parity’s extensive resources, taking your Substrate project to the next level. The program is divided into three tracks: chain, infrastructure and application track
The Substrate Builders Program identifies, supports, and mentors current and potential Substrate-related projects. If you're a visionary builder who is considering or already developing a project in the Substrate ecosystem, we want to talk to you.
https://share.hsforms.com/1mcuE-iW8TpynU-hGG7CAyQ4iqge
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As part of our commitment to promoting the Web3 ecosystem, we offer a comprehensive grants program focused on funding software development and research efforts related to Polkadot and Kusama.
You don't need to start your own project in order to be eligible for a grant. Instead, some teams choose to port existing work to Substrate, where the pertinent licenses allow, or even to contribute to an existing open-source project. In the latter case, you should check in advance that the maintainers of the project are interested in your contribution, and the acceptance of the milestones will generally be tied to the inclusion of your work in said project. See the Maintenance Grants section for more info.
Generally, your project will have better chances to be accepted if:
It presents a well-researched or tested concept, for which ideally you are able to show some prior work.
You can demonstrate that the project will be maintained after completion of the grant, be it through an obvious commitment to the technology from your side, additional funding sources or an existing business model.
Your team has proven experience with the relevant languages and technologies and/or a strong technical background. You will be asked to provide the GitHub profiles of your team members as part of your application, which we will examine for past activity and code quality. Naturally, you can also link to projects on other platforms.
Your application is rich in technical details and well-defined.
You can clearly present how your project stands out among competitors or implements technology that doesn't exist in the ecosystem yet.
Additionally, it must fulfill the following requirements:
All code produced as part of a grant must be open-sourced, and it must also not rely on closed-source software for full functionality. We prefer Apache 2.0, but GPLv3, MIT or Unlicense are also acceptable.
We do not award grants for projects that have been the object of a successful token sale.
Applications must not mention a specific token. Furthermore, the focus of the application should lie on the software that is being implemented/research being carried out as part of the grant, and less on your project/venture/operation. For the purpose of the application and delivery, think about how others might also benefit from your work.
As a general rule, teams are asked to finish a grant before applying for another one.
Lastly, we do not fund projects that actively encourage gambling, illicit trade, money laundering or criminal activities in general.
https://github.com/w3f/Grants-Program/#mailbox_with_mail-suggest-a-project
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We fund research and education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and economics
Software Publication and Archiving
Software is not well-integrated into the scholarly communication system; scientific software is often not cited or well-archived, and can require substantial work to reuse. The Better Software for Science program seeks opportunities to elevate software as a first-order research product as well as efforts that aim to improve the linkages between software and other research outputs such as articles, preprints or data.
Career paths and incentives
The work of building and maintaining research software is often undervalued and marginalized in the research enterprise. The Better Software for Science program seeks opportunities to foreground and institutionalize the individuals and communities who are essential to the utility and durability of software in science, with particular attention to the roles of research software engineer, data scientist, and software curator.
Trust in Algorithmic Knowledge
The complexity and opacity of AI-driven research methods has raised new questions about the degree to which their results can or should be trusted. Issues examined in this focus area include identifying and mitigating algorithmic bias, the role of training and benchmarking datasets in AI development, how Machine Learning techniques enhance or degrade rigor and reproducibility, and the ways that algorithmic recommendation systems influence trust in knowledge. Grants focus on exploring these issues with an eye toward understanding the potential for Foundation impact.
Virtual Collaboration
Health, safety, and travel restrictions imposed in response to the global coronavirus pandemic made co-located scientific activities impossible. From conferences to classrooms to lab work, research communities responded by using new approaches and technology platforms to continue the practice of science. Grants in this focus area explore these innovations, their effects on research outcomes, and their post-pandemic durability, and encourage continued experimentation by research communities in how scientific practice might be effectively mediated by digital platforms and immersive technologies.
https://sloan.org/
https://sloan.org/grants/apply
https://www.softwareheritage.org/2020/05/20/welcoming-sloan-support-to-expand-the-software-heritage-archive/
In selecting projects for funding, the Foundation seeks proposals for original initiatives led by outstanding individuals or teams. We are interested in projects that have a high expected return to society, exhibit a high degree of methodological rigor, and for which funding from the private sector, government, or other foundations is not yet widely available.
The Foundation does not generally make grants to for-profit institutions.
Interested grantseekers should send a two-page letter of inquiry to technology@sloan.org. After that follows the real grant proposal process
Letter of Inquiry should include (1 or max 2 pages)
A brief statement (1-2 sentences) about the nature and purpose of the proposed project;
A description of the proposed work to be supported;
An estimate of the total cost of the project and the amount of this total the proposer would likely seek from the Sloan Foundation;
An estimate of the duration of the project;
The grantseeker's title and contact information;
The names, affiliations, and titles of other key members of the project, if any.
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We are looking for research and development of interactive private communication mechanisms.
Commensurate with scope, up to USD 150k per award for research grants and USD 300k per award for implementation grants.
Works we are interested in funding include those which:
Explore new mechanisms for private communication (e.g. with cryptographic, information theoretic, or statistical basis)
Relax the traditional ‘web’ assumptions of a single origin to engage with the possibilities of pre-distributed CDN or content-addressed data.
Prototype the use of novel network-layer privacy technologies in real systems.
Implementation grant
We expect that a team of 2-3 research engineers/developers working for 1-2 years will be sufficient to carry out the prototype development projects envisioned in this call, but we will consider other proposals. Renewals are possible.
@willscott
We encourage you to reach out to research-grants@protocol.ai or visit #private-retrieval in the Lodestar Discord if you’re considering applying or have any questions.
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is an employee-led DAO with the mission of funding the development of high-value projects in the MetaMask ecosystem through a grants program. We seek to support developers across the community to be able to nimbly build on top of the MetaMask ecosystem, while empowering employees to embrace Web3 mechanisms and contribute as “One ConsenSys”.
Any project that adds value to the MetaMask ecosystem is eligible. We are keeping scope wide to consider as many interesting projects as possible. As the DAO evolves, we may choose to focus on specific, high-priority areas at times.
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https://bounties.gitcoin.co/grants/
The Gitcoin Grants Program is a quarterly initiative run by Gitcoin DAO that empowers everyday believers in web3 to drive funding toward what they believe matters, with the impact of individual donations being magnified by the use of the Quadratic Funding (QF) distribution mechanism. QF was introduced in a paper published in 2018 by Vitalik Buterin, Zoe Hitzig, and Glen Weyl.
April 25th to May 9th
Sponsorships
To request sponsorship for research-oriented events, we ask that you fill out our sponsorship request form. Please provide as much information as possible (sponsorship tiers, free non-speaker tickets, branding, a table or other space for swag, inclusion in newsletters, etc.) to minimize the need for back-and-forth communication and help streamline our review process.
We ask that all requests are submitted at least two months prior to the date of your event, so we have sufficient time to review the request, make a decision, and finalize logistics. If you have a question about sponsorship that is not covered by the request form, please email research-grants@protocol.ai.
Protocol Labs (PL) Research reviews requests for sponsorship at research-focused events. In addition to financial support, we seek to support these events by providing speakers, sending attendees, and promoting them on our website when appropriate. Note that we do not sponsor pay-to-speak events
https://protocollabs.smapply.io/prog/event_sponsorship/
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We know that philanthropy doesn’t hold all the answers to addressing tough societal challenges. However, we believe that philanthropy is uniquely positioned to ask big questions of our society, and to bring together the right stakeholders to answer those questions. Our inquiry-driven approach to grantmaking is an iterative process of asking questions, systematically interrogating them, and applying our learnings to subsequents rounds of questioning.
Our approach is grounded in the scientific method, and is inspired by our chairman and founder David Siegel’s approach to his life’s work. We ask questions that help us develop an informed hypothesis, support academic and field-work that uncovers evidence, track and interpret outcomes thoughtfully, and apply our findings in order to inform the next phase of inquiry.
https://www.siegelendowment.org/our-interest-areas/infrastructure/
https://www.siegelendowment.org/our-interest-areas/learning/
Siegel Family Endowment supports organizations working at the intersections of learning, workforce, and infrastructure.
no application, but an inquiry driven approach
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The Catalyst Fund makes grants between 2,500–15,000 USD to anyone, anywhere in the world who has an early-stage idea or project that addresses pressing global challenges.
The Catalyst Fund has been created to source ideas from all corners of the globe. You can be a seasoned social entrepreneur or a first-time changemaker. Eligible candidates for the Catalyst Fund may be individuals, teams of individuals, non-profit organizations, or social enterprises. To be eligible, all applicants must:
Be 18 years of age or older
Submit an application in English
Include completed responses to all required application questions
Agree to all legal terms and conditions of the Catalyst Fund grant program
Be able to legally receive grant funding
There are no deadlines. Applications are accepted year-round.
We focus broadly on these technology areas, but invest opportunistically in founders pursuing the imagined and impossible: artificial intelligence, blockchain, fintech, healthtech, infrastructure, mediatech
Samsung Next is committed to driving and fostering innovation globally. This means that we invest in startups, acquire technology, and partner with companies big and small to unlock value across the entire ecosystem and maximize impact.
We believe great talent and ideas exist in all communities. Companies like ours have a responsibility to ensure that all great founders and tech leaders, regardless of background, access, and geography, have the same opportunity to unlock their potential. Knowing that so much of the tech industry is powered by relationships, we found ourselves asking: How do we broaden our networks to ensure that we’re meeting with the companies who are building the most exciting and visionary products, services, and technologies?
https://www.samsungnext.com/whats-next/introducing-the-samsung-next-stack-zero-grant/
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https://samsungnext.typeform.com/to/FFh0nIgy?typeform-source=www.samsungnext.com
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Have a crazy brilliant idea that needs funding? We award 1,000 USD grants every month. It couldn't be simpler! Your idea is yours alone. We don't want a stake in it. We just want to help you make it happen!
Each fully autonomous chapter supports awesome projects through micro-grants, usually given out monthly. These micro-grants, 1000 USD or the local equivalent, come out of pockets of the chapter's "trustees" and are given on a no-strings-attached basis to people and groups working on awesome projects.
Every chapter interprets "awesome" for itself. As such, awesome projects include initiatives in a wide range of areas including arts, technology, community development, and more. Many awesome projects are novel or experimental, and evoke surprise and delight. Awesome sometimes challenges and often inspires.
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Organisations and institutions wishing to ensure support, maintenance and continuous development of mission critical free software can use FDL and AWL to offset some of the associated cost while also being able to influence the long-term roadmaps of utilised software solutions.
Aside from supporting Free Software solutions, the FDL also aims to increase the visibility of European Free Software publishers and their importance in terms of innovation and employment as well as their contribution to a possible European technological sovereignty.
n supporting long term maintenance of essential and mature Free Software as well as short term development of any generic Free Software, FDL sponsorship fits in the gap between public R&D funding and private system integration funding.
In order for a project to be eligible to receive funding for:
Short-term improvements/extensions
Long-term maintenance
The following criteria have to be met in addition for long-term maintenance:
The software must be in existence for more than 10 years
It is used by companies or institutions and needs to be maintained for at least another 10 years.
The following criteria have to be met:
The software must be Free and Open Source Software (FOSS), with all source code and documentation available online.
The software must be generic, meaning it is not specific to the needs of a single organisation.
If the software is browser based, it should be compatible with at least two independent web browsers (ex. Firefox and Chrome).
If the software is server based, it should be compatible with at least two independent operating systems (ex. GNU/Linux and FreeBSD).
If the software is smartphone based, it should be compatible with at least two independent operating systems (ex. Android and iOS).
The software must be easily accessible to the general public, meaning it is installable via a single click or a single command line.
The software must be easy to contribute to, meaning it's source code can be remotely edited and contributed to through the web.
The project must be of general interest (software, documentation, education) which cannot be financed through existing R&D grants in Europe.
https://www.fdl-lef.org/process/
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As an independent fund and Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling ( ANBI ), we support projects that contribute to a strong internet for everyone. We were founded in 2014 at the initiative of SIDN (Stichting Internet Domeinregistratie Nederland) and since the first call in 2015 we have supported more than 300 projects.
Areas: Strong Internet , Strong Internet Users and Internet & Society.
https://www.sidnfonds.nl/aanvragen/pioniers
You are eligible for our support if your innovative project serves a social interest, has the potential to make an impact on one of our focus areas and can continue to exist after our funding period. Moreover, it is essential that the results of your project are shared, as is the knowledge and experience gained. We take the following general criteria into account when assessing an application. Please note: additional criteria are sometimes set for theme calls.
Closes: 2023-12-31 23:59
The Comcast Innovation Fund was created to support technology and public policy research that contributes to the betterment of the Internet, and the continued evolution of connectivity products and services. The fund provides grants to technologists, researchers, and academics to support Internet- and connectivity-focused projects within the fund’s areas of interest, which are updated annually.
The Comcast Innovation Fund offers funding for researchers at leading academic institutions and elsewhere to support research that is of mutual interest to Comcast and the research community. It also provides funding to support open source software development. While Comcast has supported this kind of work for many years, we are now doing so in a more strategic way.
Areas out of scope for the 2023 Grant Year include:
2023 AREAS OF INTEREST
https://comcastinnovationfund.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp
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The Open Technology Fund supports projects and people that develop open and accessible technologies promoting human rights and open societies, and help advance inclusive and safe access to global communications networks.
OTF aims to support technologists and activists bring to life ideas that advance inclusive and safe access to global communications networks, counteract censorship and surveillance, and mitigate digital security threats to Internet freedom specifically for at-risk-users, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists and others living in repressive environments. OTF prioritizes projects coming from individuals or organizations who are applying for the first time, identify as under-represented within the field, and address areas that are underfunded.
Technology Development
In this category we support the development of innovative Internet freedom technology, prototypes, and projects as well as core infrastructure projects that serve the Internet freedom and human rights communities. OTF seeks to support technology-focused interventions with clear human-centred benefits for Internet freedom.
Applications for this fund could include:
Creating new open source circumvention technologies
Improving the security, usability, and adaptability of existing open source Internet freedom technologies, as well as maintenance and upgrades
New content redistribution methods able to reintroduce content behind firewalls, or similar services;
Next-generation tools that move beyond traditional “cat-and-mouse” circumvention techniques;
Improving security standards, quality assurance, and best practices within core infrastructure projects;
Efforts that make existing projects more accessible and easier to contribute to (ex. documentation, tool migration, refactoring code, testing)
https://apply.opentech.fund/internet-freedom-fund-concept-note/
Be aligned with Mozilla Mission
How commonly used is the software?
Is the software network-facing or does it regularly process untrusted data?
How vital is the software to the continued functioning of the Internet or the Web?
Does the software depend on closed-source code, e.g. in a web service?
Are the software’s maintainers aware of and supportive of the application for support from the SOS fund?
Has the software been audited before? If so, when and how extensively? Was the audit made public? If so, where?
Does the software have existing corporate backing or involvement?
Mission Partners
The project should be to write or enhance some software or software documentation which is under an OSI open source and/or an FSF free software license (non-software exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
The project should benefit Mozilla’s mission. This is normally demonstrated by tying the objective of the project to specific Mozilla manifesto principles or other demonstrated priorities.
Activities which are not sufficient for an award on their own include:
Writing open source software (notwithstanding manifesto principle #7)
Building something cool with web technologies
Translating open source software into another language
The project’s home can be anywhere in the world where we can make payment without undue burden. We have a preference for funding legal organizations rather than individuals representing projects, although circumstances could lead to some flexibility.
The specific project activity should be endorsed (on the application form) by someone well-known and respected in a wider software community of which the project is a part.
see abouts
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The Sovereign Tech Fund supports the development, improvement and maintenance of open digital infrastructure. Our goal is to sustainably strengthen the open source ecosystem. We focus on security, resilience, technological diversity, and the people behind the code.
https://sovereigntechfund.de/en/applications/
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