IFFOR Grants Program

The International Foundation for Online Responsibility (IFFOR) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing policies for Top Level Domains that maximize benefit to global Internet users, domain holders and domain registry operators.

IFFOR provides grants to organizations and individuals who demonstrate the potential to further its mission of safeguarding online safety, free expression, and privacy. The purpose of these grants is to encourage dynamic projects and efforts, harness the same spirit of innovation that built and has continued to transform the Internet, in order to promote the IFFOR Policy Goals.

IFFOR Policy Goal

  • Promote user choice, parental control, and the development and adoption of responsible business practices designed to combat online child abuse images.
  • Protect free expression rights as defined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19
  • Protect the privacy, security, and consumer rights of consenting adult consumers
  • Foster communication among Internet stakeholders

 

Grant Process & Timeline

The IFFOR Grants Committee will accept applications until November 1, 2012 and will decide on the Grant Recipient(s) by December 31, 2012. The initial IFFOR grant fund available for 2012 is $10,000 USD. Based upon the applications received, IFFOR will determine if the money is granted to one or multiple projects/applicants.

The IFFOR Board of Directors determines the available funds for the Program each year. The IFFOR Grants Committee determines the annual criteria and what grants are awarded. This Committee consists of the IFFOR Board Chairmen and Vice-Chair and four Policy Council members (http://iffor.org/policy-council).

IFFOR will provide funds to charities, organizations, groups, or individuals whose projects are consistent with the IFFOR Policy Goals.  These may be local, statewide, national or international in scope.

Examples of possible grantees and funded programs include:

  • Organizations that work directly with children and their access to the Internet
  • Organizations that develop parental control educational materials for a safer Internet
  • Programs that protect free expression rights as defined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
  • Peer-reviewed research that would eventually result in an improved Internet
  • Scholarships that allow students and researchers to attend professional conferences
  • Funds for internships for students in related areas

Eligibility Criteria

Grants may be awarded for a wide range of programs and causes, however, grants are only awarded to organizations, programs, or individuals that meet the following criteria:

  • Completed online application in English language
  • Project objective clearly falls within the scope of IFFOR Policy Goals
  • The project budget is complete and reasonable, including details of co-funding and local/partner contributions
  • If there are any supplemental sources of support already committed or anticipated for the project, they are clearly identified and any documentation that verifies those existing sources of support are included in the application
  • Project employs appropriate financial accounting procedures and provides accurate financial reporting

Not Eligible

  • Governmental entities and organizations
  • Hospitals, health care, schools, or disease research and education organizations
  • Not for use for operating budget, capital campaigns, multi-year grants, fundraising events, other re-granting organizations, or existing deficits

All grants are awarded at IFFOR’s sole discretion; there is no entitlement to receiving a grant, even if there are no other applicants.

In the event an application is eligible to receive a grant, in order to receive the grant, the applicant must enter into an IFFOR Grant Recipient Agreement that will allow IFFOR to publish the organization’s name, project, and other related information. This is a material pre-requisite of being awarded any IFFOR grant.

We welcome your grant application and appreciate the contribution you are making to the Internet community. If you have any questions as you complete this application, please contact IFFOR at GrantsProgram@iffor.org

Tips for a Successful Application

  • Demonstrate the intended tangible results whenever possible
  • Clearly communicate what is to be accomplished and how it will be accomplished
  • Request funding for a specific program or project
  • DON’T request funds for general operating budget, capital campaigns, multi-year grants, fundraising events, other re-granting organizations or existing deficits

Required Attachments

Please submit the following with your completed application:

  • If a charity or organization, documentation from the appropriate governmental agency that recognizes the organization as a registered charity.
    • A copy of your organizational documents (Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws)
    • A list of the names of your organization’s governing body (Officers and Board of Directors)
    • A set of financial statements and operating budgets for the organization for the most current fiscal year
  • A list of the major funding sources for your organization, program or project
  • A copy of the proposed budget for the program or project for which funds are requested
  • If for an internship or conference attendance, a copy of the program and related costs

Confidentiality:

  • IFFOR agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all applications and information submitted and will only share such information with the IFFOR Board and Grants Committee, as appropriate to Grants Award process.
  • IFFOR may elect to share aggregate information about the applicants upon the condition that IFFOR does not identify any individual applicant names, organizations, projects, or requests (for example, IFFOR may wish to share aggregate information about the number of applicants, the industries represented by the applicants, etc.)
  • For applicants who receive an IFFOR grant, IFFOR is allowed to publish the organization’s name, project, and other related information (but will not publish any information about the financial statements or operating budgets submitted along with the application).

 

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