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
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
Sackler Trust Social Impact Grants
Most appropriate them is access to education as well as supporting community organisations which promote social good.
Requires a UK non-profit to apply. Talk to us
Deadline: Ongoing
Grant amount: Varies
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
The .ORG Impact Awards
Recognizes and celebrate individuals and organizations that have a connection to a registered .ORG domain for their contributions, achievements and impact they have made in their communities.
Deadline: May 27 2026
Grant amount: US$40k
Research Grant Program
Supports innovative research that deepens the understanding of the Internet and its impact on society. This grant is for research, not connectivity, but partnerships with research firms that call study connectivity projects already completed or plannedwould fit the criteria well.
Internet Society Foundation are a major funder of unconnected.org. Talk to us. to support your application.
Deadline: May 22 2026
Grant amount: USD $500,000
Combating Oline Extremism
unconnected.org is seeking 2 consortia partners to jointly apply for this grant about protecting youth from online extremism, crime and abuse.
Requires an NGO to lead the application. Talk to us
Deadline: May 27 2026
Grant amount: €1,500,000
AWS Imagine Grant Program
Grant of cash, plus AWS products for projects that pilot and advance the use of AI or cloud technologies for good.
Deadline: Jun 12 2026
Funding amount: For AI pilot projects US$100,000 + US$50,000 AWS credits
For cloud pilot projects US$50,000 for + US$16,000 AWS credits
Requires a UKNGO to lead the application. Talk to us
IEEE Connecting the Unconnected Challenge
Seek solutions from start-ups, grassroots organizations, universities, or anyone else that is working to bridge this digital divide in innovative ways. Organized by the IEEE Future Networks Technical Community and other partners, the competition is looking for applications from early-stage projects that offer unique ways to increase broadband access and usage for unconnected or under-connected populations/geographies.
1. Innovative Technology Applications (TA) to increase Internet access or otherwise enable connectivity.
2. Innovative Business Models (BM) that result in increased affordability for Internet access.
3. Innovative programs that increase Community Enablement (CE), or the likelihood that populations choose to start using the Internet where previously they did not.
Deadline: Jun 19 2026
Funding amount: US$10,000
Cisco Impact Cash Grants
Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.
Focus on education, economic development and crisis response. Internet is crucial for all these areas.
Requires an NGO to lead the application. Talk to us
Deadline: Ongoing
Funding amount: US$100,000
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
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
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
The International Cooperation call
to reducing poverty and inequalities in countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America through social innovation initiatives that generate opportunities for the most vulnerable people and promote systemic change in local communities.
Must apply with a partner form a Spanish or Portuguese territory.
Deadline: May 20 2026
Grant amount: €50,000
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
Common Challenges and Mutual Exchange in Asia
This program targets countries and regions in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, including Japan. Its aim is to broaden the possibilities for the future that the next generation will take on by enabling people working to solve common challenges in Asia to gain new perspectives through mutual exchange and learning. A consortia of participants need to be from various countries. .
Deadline: May 30 2026
Grant amount: Yen 5m
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
The .ORG Impact Awards
Recognizes and celebrate individuals and organizations that have a connection to a registered .ORG domain for their contributions, achievements and impact they have made in their communities.
Deadline: May 27 2026
Grant amount: US$40k