ISOC Foundation Common Good Cyber Fund 2026 ($300K)

Cybersecurity threats are escalating worldwide, and nonprofit organizations working to protect vulnerable communities, journalists, and civil society groups online often lack the resources to keep pace. The Internet Society Foundation has opened the 2026 call for its Common Good Cyber Fund (CGCF), a major grant programme designed to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure and services for at-risk digital actors around the world. For Nigerian nonprofits, civil society organizations, and tech-for-good initiatives working in digital safety, this represents a rare chance to secure significant multi-year funding from an internationally respected foundation.

The fund is not a small seed grant. It is a substantial, multi-year investment aimed at organizations that already have some track record in cybersecurity work and are ready to scale their impact. With a global applicant pool and a strong emphasis on supporting organizations in underserved regions, Nigerian nonprofits with the right focus and documentation stand a genuine chance of being considered.

About the Programme

The Common Good Cyber Fund was launched in 2025 by the Internet Society Foundation in close collaboration with the Common Good Cyber Ecosystem Committee, drawing support from a coalition of governmental and philanthropic funders. Its purpose is to sustain the digital public infrastructure that keeps the internet safer for everyone, particularly civil society organizations, journalists, human rights defenders, and other high-risk users who are frequently targeted by cyberattacks but lack the resources to defend themselves.

For 2026, the Foundation has committed to awarding at least USD $3.5 million across the grant cycle, with a global call for applications running from June 23 to August 4, 2026. The fund supports three core objectives: maintaining critical cybersecurity infrastructure that underpins the safety of the internet, delivering scalable support that protects users from digital harm and state-directed attacks, and advancing safer internet practices among vulnerable groups. Organizations working on gender equity and combating technology-facilitated gender-based violence receive additional priority consideration during review.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a registered nonprofit organization, either a U.S. 501(c)(3) or an equivalent nonprofit structure recognized in the applicant’s home country
• Must possess an official bank account capable of legally receiving funds from a U.S.-based foundation
• Organizational mission and programme work must directly align with cybersecurity infrastructure, digital safety, or protection of high-risk internet users
• Priority is given to organizations based in the “global majority” (including Africa, Asia, and Latin America) or organizations with the capacity to regrant funds to smaller organizations within underserved regions, which is good news for eligible Nigerian applicants
• Applicants should be able to provide two years of national tax returns and audited financial statements
• Organizations must be able to submit governing documents such as articles of incorporation, a charter, or bylaws
• Preference is given to organizations that can demonstrate institutional funding history and clear governance structures

What You’ll Get

• Multi-year grants ranging from USD $100,000 to USD $300,000 per organization
• Two-year funding cycles that support long-term planning rather than short-term project bursts
• Access to a global network of cybersecurity funders and the Common Good Cyber Ecosystem Committee
• Support resources including an application guide, an evaluation framework, and recorded information sessions to help applicants prepare strong submissions
• Recognition as part of a global effort to strengthen internet safety, which can help open doors to further partnerships and funding

Key Details at a Glance

• Organizer: Internet Society Foundation, in partnership with the Common Good Cyber Ecosystem Committee
• Grant amount: USD $100,000 to $300,000 per award, over two years
• Total 2026 pool: At least USD $3.5 million
• Eligible applicants: Nonprofit organizations worldwide, including Nigeria, with priority for organizations in the global majority
• Application opens: June 23, 2026
• Application deadline: August 4, 2026 (21:00 UTC)
• Application platform: Fluxx grants management system

How to Apply

Interested Nigerian nonprofits and civil society organizations working in cybersecurity should begin preparing their documentation now, as the application requires an operational budget, tax identification documents, governing documents, a list of institutional funders, and two years of audited financial statements. Applicants must register on the Foundation’s Fluxx platform at least 24 hours before the deadline, so early registration is strongly advised to avoid last-minute technical issues.

To review the full eligibility guidelines and begin your application, visit the official Common Good Cyber Fund page and apply directly through the Fluxx portal at isocfoundation.fluxx.io. Applications must be fully submitted before the August 4, 2026 deadline.

You can read more about the programme here: https://www.isocfoundation.org/

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