Cesium Ecosystem Grants

Cesium Ecosystem Grants is sponsored by Cesium. These grants support individuals and organizations with noteworthy ideas to impact the 3D geospatial ecosystem. Projects should be open source, increase interoperability, or expand geospatial in the classroom.

Cesium Ecosystem Grants – Cesium Every day we are inspired by how the 3D geospatial community is using Cesium for innovation and collaboration. Cesium Ecosystem Grants are Cesium’s commitment to help the 3D geospatial ecosystem address common challenges and opportunities through open source contributions, game-changing collaborations, and educational advancement. The next application cycle opens summer 2026.

Cesium Ecosystem Grants are non-dilutive and unrestricted financial gifts that promote impactful contributions to 3D geospatial through projects that are open source, are interoperable, and lower the barrier to entry. Grants are open to early-stage startups, educators, innovators, and students who are ready to grow the ecosystem.

Open source contributions Contribute new components to open source projects that enhance features, compatibility, and collaboration. Contribution to interoperability Expand how the 3D geospatial ecosystem is interconnected through new plugins, interoperable open standards, and integrations. Geospatial in the classroom Academic curriculum development for educators or innovative student projects.

Projects that contribute to a greater good. Frequently asked questions What are Cesium Ecosystem Grants? Cesium Ecosystem Grants are a commitment from Cesium to support and diversify its ecosystem.

Financial grants will be given to individuals and organizations that submit noteworthy ideas poised to make an impact on the 3D geospatial ecosystem at large. Applicants should prove their project is open source, increases interoperability, or expands geospatial in the classroom. Awards are unrestricted grants of $5,000-$50,000.

Individuals will not be eligible for more than $15,000. Grants are for anyone—regardless of demographic, institution, or industry—with a goal to advance 3D geospatial in a collaborative and open ecosystem.

Key submission topics for Ecosystem Grants include, but are not limited to: Open source contributions—to Cesium, projects built on or connected to Cesium, or projects in the 3D geospatial ecosystem; Contribution to interoperability—open standards, multi-project integrations, documentation, tutorials, open data, etc; Geospatial in the classroom—academic curriculum development for educators; and Cesium for good—climate change, impact reporting, etc. You must be able to describe the impact these grants will have.

Watch the webinar and check out the grant recipient directory here for an understanding of successful applications. What stage does my project/program need to be in? Anywhere from ideation to in process.

What criteria do you use to select grant recipients? Impact: The project has a clear impact beyond the grantee with specific deliverables and next steps. Innovation: The project explores and builds the 3D geospatial ecosystem in creative and original ways.

Viability: Project is realistic and achievable. Your needs and plan are clear with the correct team and infrastructure to achieve stated project deliverables. Ecosystem inclusion: Grant will promote increased diversity of the 3D geospatial ecosystem.

Ecosystem built on openness: Applications made in the spirit of commitment to openness will be favored. Can I talk to someone about my idea/application? We will hold periodic webinars, but because of the volume of applications we cannot answer individual pre-application questions at this time.

Once your application has been received, we may reach out with clarifying questions. Contact grants@cesium. com with issues.

I've submitted my application. What's next? Applications will be reviewed by an internal committee.

We will follow up with questions, clarifications, or modifications if needed. If my project is chosen to receive a grant, when do I get my grant money? You will submit a timeline with your application including deliverables.

Grant money will be distributed 50% at grant start and 50% when it is agreed you have hit your deliverables. If I become a grant recipient, are there any additional benefits that come with that? Yes, the goal of Cesium Ecosystem Grants is to fully welcome you into the ecosystem.

Our relationship will last beyond the final payment. Grantees will be featured on the Cesium website and receive a badge to use on their online presence. Opportunities for continued engagement with Cesium include access to the Cesium team, joint communications, and joint business development.

There is an opportunity in the application process to describe your needs beyond funding; please let us know. Why was my application denied? Cesium reserves the right to reject an application for any reason.

Hard grant restrictions are United States sanctioned entities (found here ) and applicants under the age of 18. Does a project need to be open source to receive grant funding? Open and interoperable is at the heart of Cesium, so that is preferred but not required.

Does Cesium own grant-funded IP? No. You retain IP and ownership over your work. How often can I apply for funding?

If you have an open grant, you must wait until your grant is complete before reapplying. Please do not submit more than one application at a time; multiples will be ignored. Denied applicants are asked to not reapply unless they have a significantly different application.

Note that a denied application will not negatively impact future consideration. Is my non-Cesium project eligible? Yes, grants are meant to positively impact the 3D geospatial ecosystem.

Will you fund a project in a college or university? If it’s aligned to the what and the why of Cesium Ecosystem Grants, yes, we will. University systems should note that Cesium Ecosystem Grants are not “research grants” but rather are gifts and thus are not subject to overhead or F&A costs.

Watch the recording of the Ecosystem Grants webinar. Not ready for a grant? Get Cesium Certified.

The Cesium Certified Developer program recognizes the technical expertise of developers who build on the Cesium platform and grows the ecosystem to enable even better geospatial applications.