Financing opportunities

Bookmark this page and check back here monthly for updates and new funding opportunities.

Some programs listed require a UK, USA, or European partner. Contact us if you have eligible projects and we can assess a joint submission, or recommend other eligible partners.

If you are a funding partner, reach out here.

Global opportunities

Empowering Partnerships: Ideas Fund

Supporting pilot initiatives that aim to create sustainable solutions to persistent challenges. 

Funding for financial capability, employability or nature-focused solutions.

The angle for digital divide can focus on how employment and financial pathways are opened up from internet connectivity.

Deadline: May 7 2026

Grant amount: £80,000


Education Opportunity International Fund

Improving access to education, including digitalising education and schools.

Deadline: Apr 20 2026

Grant amount: Up to £60,000

Requires a UK charity partner. Talk to us.


Grants to foster community philanthropy

Specific grant making to establish power and economic activities within hyper local communities. A strong fit for community WiFi and telecom solutions, a speciality subject for unconnected.org. Should be an NGO, community group or other grassroots organisation. Talk to us

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: Up to $20,000 per project


Community-Centered Connectivity Grant Program

Community-centered connectivity is when connectivity solutions are built for, with, or by local communities themselves. These solutions are not imposed from outside but instead designed with direct involvement from the people who will use and maintain them. They often emerge in places where other models have failed.

Internet Society Foundation are a major funder of unconnected.org. Talk to us. to support your application.

Deadline: May 7 2026

Catalyst Track: Up to USD $50,000 to connect 1 community

Scaling Track: Up to USD $200,000 for multiple communities

Requires an NGO partner. Talk to us.


Zayed Sustainability Prize

Recognises and rewards small to medium sized enterprises and nonprofit organisations for impactful, innovative, and inspiring sustainable solutions.

Deadline: June 2026

Grant amount: Up to US$1m


Gilchrist Educational Trust

Funds projects enhancing education and also equipment such as installing internet connectivity into a school. Focuses on small projects,1 school at a time.

A UK non-profit must lead the application. Talk to us

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: Up to GBP£4,000


Overseas Aid for Humanitarian Causes

State of Guernsey funds charities undertaking development and humanitarian work in the world's least developed countries.

Requires a UK non-profit to apply. Talk to us

Deadline: Apr 17 2026

Grant amount: GBP£60,000 single year


Empowering Early-Stage Social Impact Organizations

Available to for-profit and non-profits to scale social enterprises working on innovative, solutions to critical social challenges such a bridging the digital divide. Prefer Africa, Europe, India, and USA.

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: Varies


Equitable access to connectivity

For projects that:

  • Facilitate affordable connectivity

  • Facilitate higher levels of digital literacy

  • Facilitate privacy and safe internet

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: Varies

48 percent are a partner of unconnected.org. Talk to us.


Equitable access to connectivity

Support practical, community-led solutions with clear learnings for the public good.

  • Internet provision, education, blockchain

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: Varies

GSR Foundation are a partner of unconnected.org. Talk to us.


Education, peace & development

Supports projects that promote education including school connectivity, international friendship and the advancement of world peace and development.

Requires a UK non-profit to apply and required 50% match funding. Talk to us

Deadline: if under £50,000 monthly, rolling applications. September deadlines for applications over £50,000.


Education, peace & development

Supports education and medical related projects globally. They seek to address better access to essential resources that may be preventing people from advancing their economic position. Requires a US 501c3 partner. Talk to us

Deadline: Ongoing

Funding amount: US$250,000


Support innovation life cycle stages

To catalyze innovation and impact by supporting early-stage startups and nonprofits that are building solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Deadline: Ongoing

Funding amount: Varies depending on the stage of development of the innovation being introduced by the applicant. For example €50,000 for Pilot Preparation and €4m for Scale Up.


Funding to support innovation life cycle stages

Gives grants to NGOs and communities to three impact areas: education access, environmental sustainability and secure livelihoods.

Deadline: Ongoing

Funding amount: US$50,000 - US$100,000

Requires an NGO partner. Talk to us


SEED Grants and THRIVE Grants

Welcome applications from NGOs from any region worldwide including areas o focus on Technology and Innovation for Social Good. This grant cycle empowers grassroots initiatives and strengthens the capacity of people. Targets small NGOs.

Deadline: December 20, 2026

Grant amount: US$50,000

Requires an NGO partner. Talk to us.


The Oak Foundation Special Interests category

Best to submit via their International Human Rights or Zimbabwe programme. Oak Foundation provide grants to not-for-profit organisations that create help open internet expand to ensure equal access to information. Being connected is the first step.

Deadline: Ongoing, but must submit an Letter of Inquiry first

Funding amount: $900,000

Requires an NGO to lead the application. Talk to us


Middle East and Africa opportunities

Empower Her Nigeria

Specialised program to support female entreprenuers in Nigeria with low interest loans, mentoring, networking and more.

Deadline: Ongoing

Amount: Loans based on business plan

Other: Incubator program included


Technology Innovations Agency - South Africa

A range of funding instruments including loans and grants for commercialising existing ICT or developing new technology. Look also at the regular “Calls” for grants, such as those for technology for disaster prevention.

Deadline: Ongoing. Watch for “Calls”

Grant amount: Ranges


Small grants program for Kenya

Successful bids will need to focus on internet solutions that bring:

  • quality education

  • good health

  • good governance

  • food safety and agriculture

  • infrastructure

  • creation of a market environment‍ ‍

Deadline: Apr 30 2026

Grant amount: €10,000


Agritech, foodtech & climate tech

Katapult Africa aims to support impact startups operating on the continent, with a focus on agritech, foodtech, and climate tech solutions. This is an equity investment program. South Africa only.

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: $150,000-$500,000


The AEDIB Joint Innovation Facility (JIF)

The Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) is an Africa–Europe funding and collaboration mechanism designed to scale digitally enabled and commercially viable digital innovations through strong cross-border partnerships.

Requires an EU collaborator with an African lead organisation. Talk to us

Deadline: Apr 30 2026

Grant amount: Up to €200,000


Co Creation and Mastercard Foundation program

CcHUB in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation is calling for applications to EdTech Fellowship focused on supporting early-stage innovators developing inclusive, solutions that improve learning outcomes in Nigeria. Tech connectivity is included.

Nigeria only. Talk to us

Deadline: Apr 10 2026

Grant amount: Up to US$100,000 + accelerator


Urban impact grants

Support innovator partnerships that test a new pathway for urban impact. Includes a digital equity angle which could for example include connectivity for low income peri urban neighbourhoods.

Deadline: Apr 10 2026

Grant amount: $75,000


Americas opportunities

Yunus SB Patient Loans

Financially sustainable social-business entrepreneurs with the potential to scale their impact can receive patient loans and tailored growth support.

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: US$100,000 - $500,000 patient debt facility


Improving children’s lives

WK Kellogg foundation accepts application for Chiapas and Yucatan Peninsula to improve the lives of children from the use of technology and internet connectivity.

Deadline: Ongoing.

Grant amount: Can range for US$50,000 to US$5,000,000


Creating a global impact projects

The Foundation provides grants that contributes toward real employment including providing digital access that creates:

  • Jobs & vocational training.

  • Business-related education & training.

  • Entrepreneurial or business ventures viable in local communities

Must apply with an NGO. Talk to us

Deadline: May 9 2026

Grant amount: $100,000


Asian opportunities

MSME business fund - Philippines

The fund allows eligible MSMEs to borrow between P30,000 and P20 million, with loans payable over up to five years. For loans of up to P5 million, no collateral is required, and borrowers can enjoy a one-year grace period on both principal and interest payments.

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant amount: PHP 20m


Bridging the Digital Divide

Fund projects that help tackle the digital divide for disadvantaged people. Projects running for around 12 months are strongly encouraged. Must apply with NGO partner. Talk to us. Access Foundation are a long term partner of unconnected.org.

Deadline: Ongoing

Funding amount: £15,000 - £50,000


AI Startups Accelerator between Seed to Series A based in India

A three-month equity-free accelerator program for AI-first startups between Seed to Series A based in India, that are building core AI applications or agentic AI solutions.

Startups receive expert mentorship and support around AI, Cloud, Android, Web, Product, Design Leadership and Growth.

Deadline: Apr 19 2026

Grant amount: Accelerator benefits

India


Awards for Impact Innovation

Nikkei Asia Award to recognize impactful innovation originating in Asia that advances social and economic transformation.

Deadline: Jun 14 2026

Grant amount: Approx US$30k