The Internet Society (ISOC) and Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), on behalf of the Common Good Cyber secretariat, today announce the launch of the Common Good Cyber Fund, an initiative to strengthen global cybersecurity by supporting nonprofits that deliver core cybersecurity services that protect civil society actors at high risk and the Internet as a whole. This first-of-its-kind effort to fund cybersecurity for the common good—for everyone, including those at the greatest risk of intimidation, harassment, harm and coercion—has the potential to fundamentally improve cybersecurity for billions of people around the world. The Common Good Cyber secretariat members working to address this challenge are: Global Cyber Alliance, Cyber Threat Alliance, CyberPeace Institute, Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, Institute for Security and Technology, and Shadowserver Foundation.
In a Joint Statement Between the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister of Canada on June 15, 2025, the Prime Ministers announced that they would both invest in the Joint Canada-UK Common Good Cyber Fund. On June 17, during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Alberta, Canada, all the G7 Leaders announced that they would support initiatives like the Canada-UK Common Good Cyber Fund to aid members of civil society who are actively working to counter the threat of transnational repression. See G7 Leaders’ Statement on Transnational Repression.
Despite serving as a critical frontline defense for the security of the Internet, nonprofits working in cybersecurity remain severely underfunded—exposing millions of users, including journalists, human rights defenders, and other civil society groups to heightened risks of digital transnational repression involving the misuse of cyber capabilities to conduct surveillance, track individuals, and facilitate physical targeting. This underfunding also leaves the wider public exposed to increasingly frequent and sophisticated cyber threats.
“Common Good Cyber represents a pivotal step toward a stronger, more inclusive cybersecurity ecosystem. By increasing the resilience and long-term sustainability of nonprofits working in cybersecurity, improving access to trusted services for civil society organizations and human rights defenders, and encouraging greater adoption of best practices and security-by-design principles, the Common Good Cyber Fund ultimately helps protect and empower all Internet users,” said Philip Reitinger, President and CEO of the Global Cyber Alliance.
The fund will support nonprofits that:
- Maintain and secure core digital infrastructure, including DNS, routing, and threat intelligence systems for the public good;
- Deliver cybersecurity assistance to high-risk actors through training, rapid incident response, and free-to-use tools
These future beneficiaries support the Internet by enabling secure operations and supplying global threat intelligence. They shield civil society from cyber threats through direct, expert intervention and elevate the security baseline for the entire ecosystem by supporting the “invisible infrastructure” on which civil society depends.
The Fund will operate through a collaborative structure. The Internet Society will manage the Fund, and an expert advisory board will provide strategic guidance on developing grating programs for the Fund. Acting on behalf of the Common Good Cyber secretariat, the Global Cyber Alliance will lead the Fund’s Strategic Advisory Committee and, with the other secretariat members, engage in educational advocacy and outreach within the broader cybersecurity ecosystem.
“By supporting nonprofits’ charitable and educational work in cybersecurity, we’re providing critical financial support to those who help keep the Internet safe for everyone and promoting more inclusive access to a secure and trusted Internet,” said Sally Wentworth, President and CEO of the Internet Society.
The Common Good Cyber Fund is a global commitment to safeguard the digital frontlines, enabling local resilience and long-term digital sustainability. By supporting nonprofits advancing cybersecurity through tools, solutions, and platforms, the Fund builds a safer Internet that works for everyone, everywhere.
The Internet Society and the Global Cyber Alliance, on behalf of the Common Good Cyber secretariat, are finalizing details of the fund. More information about the funding, application process, selection criteria, and other key details will be shared in the coming months.
“Our global digital ecosystem depends on a wide range of nonprofit organizations with limited resources. The Common Good Cyber Fund creates a transparent mechanism to support this sector’s work and stabilize this critical element of the ecosystem.” – Michael Daniel, President & CEO, Cyber Threat Alliance
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About the Internet Society
Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society is a global charitable organisation working to ensure that the Internet is for everyone. Through its community of members, special interest groups, and 130+ chapters around the world, the organisation defends and promotes Internet policies and technologies that keep the Internet open, globally connected, and secure.