Surge and Sustain Fund
Surge and Sustain Fund supports operators of large-scale, open-source circumvention tools with server infrastructure to help people in highly censored countries securely access the uncensored internet.
Funder: Open Technology Fund
Due Dates: September 15, 2026 (Applications open) | September 28, 2026 (Questions) | October 15, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT (Concept Notes) | April 1, 2027 (Anticipated contract start)
Funding Amounts: Monthly reimbursement at an agreed per-user rate, subject to a contract-specific monthly ceiling
Summary: Supports server infrastructure for established, large-scale open-source circumvention tools serving users in highly censored countries.
Key Information: Only server infrastructure costs are eligible; staff time and technology development are excluded.
Description
The Open Technology Fund’s Surge and Sustain Fund supports established, large-scale, open-source circumvention technologies, including VPNs, that help people securely and reliably access the uncensored internet. Created in response to rising demand for these tools, the fund prioritizes users in China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, Russia, and other closed information environments.
The program seeks tools with a documented record of sustaining service under severe blocking and adapting to sophisticated censorship. Its priorities include infrastructure that can scale quickly as demand changes, cost-effective service, strong privacy and security practices, usability, and collaboration across the circumvention and internet freedom community. Support is tied to verified monthly active users in approved countries rather than technology development.
