Surge and Sustain Fund
Forecasted
Surge and Sustain Fund supports operators of large-scale open-source circumvention tools with server infrastructure costs to help people in highly censored countries access the uncensored internet.
This grant was recently updated
Applications are now closed, replacing the October 15, 2026 deadline and application link. OTF now says it accepts applications once or twice per year and lists the most recent window as September 17–October 15, 2026, rather than the previously listed September 15 opening.
Funder: Open Technology Fund
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2027 (Concept Note deadline)
Funding Amounts: Monthly reimbursement per verified active user, subject to contract-specific monthly ceilings
Summary: Supports server infrastructure for established, large-scale open-source circumvention tools serving users in highly censored countries.
Key Information: Infrastructure-only support; staff time and technology development are not covered.
Description
The Open Technology Fund’s Surge and Sustain Fund supports the user-carrying costs of established, large-scale circumvention technologies, including VPNs. It aims to help tens of millions of people securely and reliably access the uncensored internet, prioritizing China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, Russia, and other closed information environments. Applicants may propose additional repressive information environments where they have substantial user bases.
The fund supports open-source tools with a documented record of operating under severe blocking and adapting to increasingly sophisticated censorship. Its priorities include sustained service, resilient fallback strategies, infrastructure that scales rapidly during usage surges, and cost-effective delivery. Security, privacy, usability, and collaboration across the circumvention and internet freedom community also guide selection.
