A Community Grants Programme has been established to assist ISOC chapters and members specifically in projects that will:
- Advance ISOC's mission and goals specifically those aligned with ISOC Major Strategic Initiatives
- Serve the Chapters’ communities
- Nurture collaborative work among Chapters/Individual Members
- Enhance and utilize knowledge sharing in the global internet community and
- Encourage Chapters’ sustainability and relevance.
Scope
This Community Grants Programme is open to the creativity and
imagination of the ISOC Community. The only parameters of the Program
are the Criteria. The selection Committee favors Projects that strengthen and support the health of the Internet
as well as Projects that further support ISOC's mission, goals, and Strategic Initiatives.
Eligibility
Persons and entities entitled to apply for funds are only those
chapters and individual members of the Internet Society who are in good
standing as of the date of application and who remain in such standing
throughout the funding schedule of their project proposal, should it be
accepted for funding. Current Chapter applicants who are previous
Community Grants award recipients and currently have a project underway
must have met all financial and reporting requirements for that past
award. Otherwise, the current Chapter application will not be
considered. Previous Community Grants
recipients awarded as Individual Members (instead of a Chapter award)
may not have more than one ISOC-funded project open at one time. In
order for a current application from an Individual Member to be
considered, any previous non-Chapter projects must be completed in full
with appropriate reporting submitted.
Funding
The amount of funding set aside by the ISOC Board each year will be
announced after it is approved by the Board. The announcement will be
made in the ISOC monthly newsletter, in mailings to various ISOC
constituencies (e.g. ISOC Members and ISOC Chapters' delegates) as well
as being posted on the ISOC website.
For the upcoming May 2011 cycle: Any one Project may be eligible for an award of up to US $10,000.
ISOC will not fund the entire cost of the Project. At least 25% of the
total budget for the Project must be contributed from other sources.
This contribution can include cash contributions or in-kind donations.
In general, in- kind donations demonstrate a strong collaboration with
partner organizations and are preferred over cash contributions. In-kind
sources of funding are accepted, provided they are from other sources,
rather than from the applicants themselves. Wherever possible,
applicants should provide documentation to substantiate the
contributions from other sources. See the Budget Template:
Excel format (XLS) or Open office format (ODS) for more details.
The Community Grants Programme will operate with funds being
dispersed in two stages as the project progresses. It is, however,
understood that some Projects may not be able to begin until some
funding has been released and the Committee will take that into account
as warranted. Confirmation of payment, receipts as appropriate, or
other evidence of the use of funds is required as part of the reporting process.
All reasonable efforts will be undertaken to transfer funds in a manner
so as to legally and appropriately diminish the potential effect of
government or banking charges.
Schedule
The amount set aside by the Board for funding each year is divided into two funding periods of equal size.
The awards announcement dates are approximate and depend in part on the number and complexity of the applications.
Unsuccessful applications for funding will not be carried forward
for consideration under subsequent funding periods. Applicants may
however reapply.
Approval Process
The Community Grants Programme Committee has been established by the
Board to review and act upon requests for funding. The Committee will
be chaired by the ISOC Sponsored Programs & Grants Manager or other
designee of the ISOC CEO, who will be assisted by other ISOC staff and
invited experts as needed. The Committee will include up to two other
ISOC staff members as chosen by the ISOC CEO and members of the Board
of Trustees as appointed by the Board of Trustees from time to time
(the Board will assign at least three such members and these members may
be any member of the Board of Trustees).
The Committee may seek expert assistance but voting on proposals
will only be conducted by the Committee itself. The approval process
will normally be guided by a series of preferences that are detailed
under the Criteria.
Monitoring/Program Evaluation
The Project Leader of any funded project is required to make interim
status reports to the Committee. Deadlines for the interim reports
will be established by the Committee, based on the duration of the
awarded project. Reports must detail the following:
- Use of funds
- Performance to date against the goals of the project
- Outcomes achieved
- Lessons learned
- Other relevant information
A final report is required no later than 30 days after the conclusion of a Project.
Written and Financial reporting guidelines may be found here.
Questions regarding any aspects of Project Funding should be addressed to projects@isoc.org.
Committee Action
It is understood that questions will arise that are not specifically
addressed by these provisions and in such cases the Committee is
expected to exercise its best judgment and prudence to achieve the aims
of this ISOC Initiative and report to the Board annually on any matters
for which the Committee seeks clarification.
IPR - Note Well
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), if any, arising from the Project
funded under this Initiative or otherwise by ISOC will reside in a
'commons' area for the unrestricted use, benefit and welfare of Internet
users worldwide. If such an arrangement is not feasible then ISOC
(including all its past and present members, chapters, officers,
trustees, volunteers and employees) will not have less than a free,
perpetual and irrevocable license to use, develop, distribute and
exploit all such IPR as and how it/they so desire.