The Office of Foundation Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the Mozilla Foundation.
- UCSC Contact: Caroline Rodriguez | caroline@ucsc.edu
- Funder: Mozilla Foundation
- Opportunity: Democracy x AI Cohort
- LOI Deadline: March 16, 2026
- Please join the Info Session on Thursday, March 5, at 8am PT. You can sign up here to take part.
Overview
Mozilla is looking for technologists who look at the current state of democracy and see opportunities to strengthen it. How might AI contribute to the online information ecosystem in a way that is transparent and accountable? How could technology be used to advance a shared understanding of facts? What new spaces might be built to help cultivate conversation and consensus rather than polarization?
Mozilla invites applications from technologists building working technologies with demonstrated traction—projects that have moved beyond prototype to something people are actually using, even if your community is still small.
Mozilla is specifically looking for projects that leverage AI as a core capability—not as an add-on, but as essential to achieving democratic impact at scale, across communities, or in ways that weren’t previously possible. Mozilla invites applications in three distinct categories:
- Enable better information
- Build institutional transparency and accountability
- Protect and expand civic space
Award Amount & Terms
- $50,000 over 12 months
- 10 projects funded
In addition to project funding, you’ll receive the following supports:
- Monthly cohort calls with peers facing similar challenges
- Expert mentorship from advisors
- Skills workshops tailored to what your cohort needs most (past topics: funding landscape navigation, impact measurement, pitch development)
- Network access to Mozilla’s global ecosystem of technologists, activists, and funders
- Regular 1:1 check-ins with Mozilla staff
- Incubator participants are also invited to participate in Mozilla Festival, where teams are often given the opportunity to pitch to potential funders, collaborators, and users
Eligibility
- US Based 501(c)(3) non profits
- Partnerships and collaborations between nonprofits and startups, consultants, and other technology experts are encouraged
You should apply if you have:
- A working technology that people can actually use — not just an idea or wireframe.
- A committed team who can execute over 12 months.
- A commitment to openness that will expand the impact of your work. At least some of your code is open source (e.g., you use an open core model, your codebase is closed but you publish open datasets, etc.) or you have a clear roadmap for open sourcing at least part of your codebase and will commit to doing so during the grant period.
Timeline
- March 16, 2026, 11:59pm PT Initial Project Proposal Deadline
- April 2, 2026 Finalists Notified
- April 15, 2026 Full Proposals Due
- June 1, 2026 Selections Announced
- June 2026 Cohort Begins: 12 months
Special Instructions
Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). For support developing your proposal, please send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu), and within the Arts, please contact Hannah Jasper (hannahjasper@ucsc.edu) to initiate notification and proposal support.
Call Sent: February 24, 2026
The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website: FR Calls for Funding.