Stichting NLnet funds technical public-interest work that strengthens an open, secure, and resilient internet. It is especially interested in open standards, free and open-source software, privacy-preserving technologies, digital rights, open science, and open data, often backing infrastructure and protocol-level projects rather than direct service delivery. Its grants tend to support developers, researchers, and foundations building reusable open technology with broad ecosystem impact.
Makes modest-to-mid-sized competitive project grants, often through themed programs and open calls; funds technical development, hardening, review, and integration work for open technology projects worldwide.
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Lead with a clearly open, reusable technical contribution and explain how your work advances the open internet ecosystem. Show strong alignment with one of NLnet’s active themes, specify measurable deliverables, and emphasize open-source licensing, interoperability, security/privacy benefits, and realistic implementation milestones.
Current and upcoming funding from Stichting NLnet (NLnet Foundation) that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants should propose public-interest projects aligned with NLnet's objectives and funding themes. Specific eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria are provided through NLnet's funding information and application materials.
Deadline: Next deadline: November 3, 2026.
Who can apply: No categorical exclusions; proposals must align with the call and have research and development as primary objective; EU and associated-country applicants are prioritised when proposals are equal.
Deadline: Deadline on the 1st of every even month; current notice shows deadline August 1, 2026.
Who can apply: Open to all applicants with a good project proposal; projects must align with the NGI vision and call, have research and development as their primary objective, and meet any hard eligibility criteria such as a European dimension. Scientific outcomes must be open access and software/hardware must be released under a recognised open source license.
Deadline: Every two months a new call; bimonthly cycle.
Who can apply: Projects must align with the NGI vision and the specific call, have research and development as their primary objective, be written in English, and satisfy any hard eligibility criteria such as a European dimension. Scientific outcomes must be open access and software/hardware must be published under a recognised free and open source license.
Deadline: Deadline on the 3rd of every odd month; back-to-back open calls.
Who can apply: Must be in line with the NGI vision and the call applied for, have research and development as the primary objective, satisfy any call-specific hard eligibility criteria such as European dimension, and all scientific outcomes/software/hardware must be open access/open source.
Deadline: Continuous open calls; first-proposal size limits apply and larger follow-on proposals may be invited after successful completion of earlier work.
Who can apply: Must align with ELFA goals and the specific call, have research and development as the primary objective, and satisfy any hard eligibility criteria such as a European dimension. Scientific outcomes must be open access and software/hardware must be open source.
Deadline: Continuous open calls; deadline information is listed on the main information page.
Who can apply: Must align with CodeSupply goals and the specific call, have research and development as the primary objective, and satisfy any hard eligibility criteria such as a European dimension. Scientific outcomes must be open access and software/hardware must be open source.
Deadline: Continuous open calls; deadline information is listed on the main information page.
Who can apply: Projects should contribute to an open, resilient and trustworthy digital infrastructure. Results should be open source/open access as applicable.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.