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 granting 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. 

To stay informed as the details unfold, sign up for the Common Good Cyber mailing list.

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.

Common Good Cyber Secretariat Statements of Support

Global Cyber Alliance (GCA): Leads the Secretariat and the Common Good Cyber Fund’s Strategic Advisory Committee. The Global Cyber Alliance works with communities to improve the Internet and help people and organizations be more secure online. (See statement of support included above.)

Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA): Facilitates threat intelligence sharing among cybersecurity providers. “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

CyberPeace Institute (CPI): Works to deliver digital security training and incident response to organizations working with vulnerable groups combined with investigations of digital threats facing these stakeholders. “Less than a year ago, in The Hague, the leaders of major civil society organizations made a compelling call in response to widespread cyberattacks. The creation of the Common Good Cyber Fund is an answer to this call, establishing a community of donors to support and defend those who protect us.” – Stéphane Duguin, CEO, CyberPeace Institute

Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE): The GFCE is a global, multi-stakeholder platform of 263 members/partners aiming to enhance international Cyber Capacity Building (CCB), and to strengthen cyber resilience of nations while empowering thriving digital economies. “Using a regional approach, governments in need of support are enabled to gain relevant expertise, to build a relevant international network, and to strengthen a demand-driven CCB approach. The GFCE strongly supports the creation of the Common Good Cyber Fund, given the pivotal role of so many nonprofits providing awareness, expertise, and implementation throughout the world. To sustain their ongoing impact on millions of people, safeguarding adequate and long-term funding is of crucial importance.” – Wouter Veenstra, Manager Global Outreach and Partnerships, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise 

Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST): Enhances incident response coordination by leveraging expertise at the regional level and community building. “FIRST believes in a strong, diverse cybersecurity ecosystem, able to bring together communities and stakeholders from around the world to make the Internet a safe place for all. Too often our efforts are restricted by our lack of consistent, long term funding. The creation of the Common Good Cyber Fund will provide the support to enable the community to deliver on this vision.” – Chris Gibson, CEO/Executive Director, Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, Inc.

Institute for Security and Technology (IST): Coordinates cross-sector efforts to advance the future of digital security via tailored cybersecurity guidance and resources; clarification of and advocacy for incentives; operational collaboration with industry; and protection of specific “target rich, cyber poor” sectors like K-12 schools and local water, power, and healthcare facilities. “Cybersecurity is a bedrock of our modern, digitally-enabled economies. Too often, however, the nonprofits dedicated to safeguarding and boosting our collective cybersecurity operate on razor-thin budgets and short-term funding. The Common Good Cyber Fund will provide mission-critical support to the nonprofits who make cybersecurity available to the most vulnerable entities in our society and facilitate the most essential functions of the Internet.” – Megan Stifel, Chief Strategy Officer, Institute for Security and Technology

Shadowserver Foundation:  Collects and analyzes cyber threat data at Internet-scale, then distributes free daily network remediation reports to help 9,000+ organizations and 201 National CSIRTs (Computer Security Incident Response Teams) covering 175 countries secure their networks. “The creation of the Common Good Cyber Fund marks a significant milestone in global Internet security. This Fund will help ensure that critically important, yet severely underfunded, nonprofit cybersecurity organizations can continue providing essential tools and services free-of-charge to organizations around the world—including to those most vulnerable who are highly targeted but often lack the capacity to adequately defend themselves from cyber-attacks.” – Piotr Kijewski, CEO, The Shadowserver Foundation