I am delighted to announce that the inaugural cycle of the ICANN Grant Program is now open for applications from eligible organizations from across the globe.
Today marks the opening of a 60-day application window. Applications can be submitted via the online application platform up until 20:00 UTC on 24 May 2024.
In this first cycle of the ICANN Grant Program up to $10 million in grants will be distributed for projects that are consistent with ICANN's mission and aligned with the objectives of the ICANN Grant Program. Applicants can seek awards between $50,000 and $500,000 in this first cycle for projects up to 24 months in duration. I encourage any organization interested in applying to review the program materials and review the Applicant Guide for more information on eligibility requirements and how to apply here.
The opening of the application window for the ICANN Grant Program is a significant moment and is the culmination of years of work across the ICANN community, Board, and ICANN organization (org). While up to $10 million is available in this first cycle, it is anticipated that the program will eventually distribute over $200 million throughout its lifetime. Together, we fully embraced the important task and responsibility of carefully designing a program to distribute this substantial amount of money. I had the privilege of witnessing the early evolution of the work to lay out the principles and recommendations for what we now know as the Grant Program. The care, creativity, and commitment of all involved is a credit to the ICANN multistakeholder model and I am very grateful to everyone who worked to bring this program to life.
While much work has taken place to bring us to this moment, more lies ahead. The next 60 days are crucial in ensuring we reach a wide breadth of diverse applicants from across the world. ICANN is continuing to promote the program through a dedicated awareness campaign. I ask that you amplify our efforts wherever possible in your networks by resharing our online content and engagement efforts. Please follow our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and WeChat and like, interact, and share content in your networks to spread the word.
The ICANN Grant Program is a unique opportunity to make a difference in the Internet ecosystem and to positively impact people around the world through creative and innovative solutions that further ICANN’s vision of a single, open, and globally interoperable Internet. I look forward to seeing the exciting new ideas it supports.
