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Democracy x AI Cohort is sponsored by Mozilla Foundation. Funds projects developing technologies that empower communities and push forward people-first AI for democracy and social good.
Official opportunity description and requirements excerpt:
APPLY NOW Democracy x AI Cohort | Mozilla Foundation Democracy x AI Cohort: Call for Proposals Inviting technologists building AI systems that strengthen democracy to apply Technology—and its place in our lives—has always tested and shaped democratic ideals. The printing press broke monopolies on information, fundamentally altering the architecture of power. The telegraph created high-speed networks that erased the barrier of distance, allowing discovery and dissent to travel across continents in an instant. Radio, television, and eventually the Internet brought voices from the margins into the public square as never before. But democratic progress is never a fixed win. It ebbs and flows—power recalibrates, adapting to new tools of influence. Today, AI is being used to flood information environments with synthetic content, automate surveillance of activists and organizers, and optimize platforms for engagement over truth. The result: people can't tell what's real, institutions are losing credibility, and shared understanding is fracturing. Current applications of AI aren't just failing democracy—they're actively undermining it. We are seeking to support working prototypes that prove AI can serve democracy. That's why we're launching the Mozilla Foundation Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort for 2026. Mozilla Foundation believes that better tech futures are possible—and we're proving it by investing in projects that will make them real. We back technologists that are building alternatives that work—tools that are open, transparent, and designed to serve everyone. We support technologies that give power back to people and communities, and we plant seeds of radical change by funding projects that push forward new tech paradigms. Mozilla Foundation’s Incubator is a catalyst for this movement. All too often, promising alternatives launch, but fail to bridge the “valley of death” between prototyping and sustainability. We help build a community around promising ideas, finding the right users, contributors, mentors, and funders to sustain the work of technologists without compromising their values. We call this “product-community fit.” Every sustainable alternative we help build becomes proof that technology can work differently. By helping viable alternatives reach their full potential, we change what's possible: one successful alternative at a time. This cohort: Democracy x AI We are 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? In particular, we are looking for: Systems that
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APPLY NOW Democracy x AI Cohort | Mozilla Foundation Democracy x AI Cohort: Call for Proposals Inviting technologists building AI systems that strengthen democracy to apply Technology—and its place in our lives—has always tested and shaped democratic ideals. The printing press broke monopolies on information, fundamentally altering the architecture of power.
The telegraph created high-speed networks that erased the barrier of distance, allowing discovery and dissent to travel across continents in an instant. Radio, television, and eventually the Internet brought voices from the margins into the public square as never before. But democratic progress is never a fixed win.
It ebbs and flows—power recalibrates, adapting to new tools of influence. Today, AI is being used to flood information environments with synthetic content, automate surveillance of activists and organizers, and optimize platforms for engagement over truth. The result: people can't tell what's real, institutions are losing credibility, and shared understanding is fracturing.
Current applications of AI aren't just failing democracy—they're actively undermining it. We are seeking to support working prototypes that prove AI can serve democracy. That's why we're launching the Mozilla Foundation Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort for 2026.
Mozilla Foundation believes that better tech futures are possible—and we're proving it by investing in projects that will make them real. We back technologists that are building alternatives that work—tools that are open, transparent, and designed to serve everyone. We support technologies that give power back to people and communities, and we plant seeds of radical change by funding projects that push forward new tech paradigms.
Mozilla Foundation’s Incubator is a catalyst for this movement. All too often, promising alternatives launch, but fail to bridge the “valley of death” between prototyping and sustainability. We help build a community around promising ideas, finding the right users, contributors, mentors, and funders to sustain the work of technologists without compromising their values.
We call this “product-community fit. ” Every sustainable alternative we help build becomes proof that technology can work differently. By helping viable alternatives reach their full potential, we change what's possible: one successful alternative at a time.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Teams and projects advancing responsible AI. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is March 16, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Application snapshot: target deadline March 16, 2026; published funding information Varies; eligibility guidance Teams and projects advancing responsible AI.
Use the official notice and source links for final requirements, attachment checklists, allowable costs, and submission instructions before applying.
This cohort: Democracy x AI We are 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? In particular, we are looking for: Systems that help people access quality information and that ensure diverse voices can be heard . Technologies that make government and institutional decision-making visible, trackable, and accountable to the people affected by those decisions .
Technologies that protect and expand civic space where people can organize, engage, and build movements without fear of surveillance or repression. By supporting projects that embody and promote democratic principles, we hope to demonstrate that AI can be leveraged to create a strengthened democratic ecosystem, where technology helps advance mutual understanding, enable institutional accountability, and expand civic engagement.
Why Mozilla is investing in this space For decades, Mozilla has defended the Internet as a space for pluralism, participation, and shared power. Democracy and the open web share foundational principles: distributed authority, transparency, accountability to communities, and the conviction that more voices make systems stronger.
In the same way that Maria Farrel and Robin Berjon call to Rewild The Internet , democracy is in need of rewilding—people need more pathways for decentralized engagement under conditions that enable plurality and a shared reality. Similarly, Deb Chacra has shown us how our built environment shapes our lives, cultures, and societies , and argues for infrastructures of care.
Likewise, democracy’s infrastructure is being co-opted to fuel greater concentration of power, and we’re seeing its impact play out in our cultures and societies. Despite the challenges that we’re now seeing, we remain optimistic in the long term: we still believe that the Internet and related technologies can help people better understand the facts, the world, and each other.
But those technologies need to be identified, supported, and connected to a greater community before they can truly lead to a shift and help strengthen democratic processes and practices globally. That’s where Mozilla Foundation comes in, and why we are investing in technologists who are building AI systems that strengthen democratic practice.
We're not looking for tools that simply promote democratic values - we're looking for technologies that use AI to actively protect and promote democracy, tools that go beyond education and outreach to fundamentally improve democracy around the globe.
We invite 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. We're 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.
We want to see AI that helps build a better future by strengthening democratic practice around the world. We invite applications in three distinct categories, as follow. 1.
Enable better information Democracy requires shared reality. We need technologies that help people assess information quality and that ensure diverse voices can be heard. Systems that diversify information flows and help communities identify and amplify reliable sources through collective verification, reducing dependence on extractive platform monopolies.
Tools that enable trustworthy summaries of civic information and news. Information verification tools that work at scale across languages and contexts, enabling hybrid AI-human approaches or collective verification. Tools that reveal algorithmic influence and help people understand how their information is being shaped and filtered.
Identity verification systems that prevent bots and fake accounts while protecting privacy. Platforms that facilitate consensus-building across a divided public including the design of bridge-building algorithms. Conversational spaces that go beyond mere “Twitter clones” to bake democratic values into the design of technology and underlying protocols.
Success looks like: Communities have access to trustworthy information they can verify themselves. People can identify manipulation and propaganda. Diverse voices are heard.
Users understand how algorithms shape what they see and have agency to change it. 2. Build institutional transparency and accountability Democracy requires transparency about how power operates.
We need technologies that make government and institutional decision-making visible, trackable, and accountable to the people affected by those decisions. Government transparency systems that track decision-making and make it accessible—monitoring legislation, documenting how officials use authority, translating bureaucratic processes into plain language, and making parliamentary records searchable.
Public data infrastructure that makes government and corporate data accessible, analyzable, and actionable for advocacy and monitoring. Accountability mechanisms that connect government actions to their impacts on communities—showing how legislation affects populations, tracking promises against decisions, revealing conflicts of interest.
Deliberation platforms that help diverse communities discuss complex issues, build consensus, and navigate trade-offs at scale. Participatory decision-making tools that integrate public input directly into governance decisions, budgeting, and resource allocation. Community input systems that translate public voices into actionable insights for policymakers.
Success looks like: Citizens can track how power is used and hold decision-makers accountable. Government data is accessible to the people, and it is machine-readable and actionable for advocacy. Public officials operate with meaningful transparency about their decision-making.
Communities have real influence over decisions affecting them. Diverse voices participate in deliberation that shapes outcomes. 3.
Protect and expand civic space Democracy requires spaces where people can organize, engage, and build movements without fear of surveillance or repression. We need technologies that defend these spaces and expand access to civic participation for communities under threat. Systems that protect freedom of expression and association in digital spaces while reducing coordinated harassment and abuse.
Privacy-preserving coordination tools that enable secure communication and organizing for activists and communities under threat. Technologies that empower citizens to resist propaganda, polarization, and authoritarian control of information. Surveillance resistance infrastructure that helps communities maintain digital autonomy and defend the digital public sphere from authoritarian misuse.
Tools that expand access to civic education and resources for marginalized communities. Success looks like: Organizers and activists can coordinate safely despite surveillance or repression. Marginalized communities can participate in civic life without exposing themselves to harm.
Communities maintain digital autonomy and resist authoritarian control. Civic spaces remain open for organizing, even under hostile conditions. What success looks like for this cohort Success for this cohort means projects achieve viability, communities experience democratic improvements, and the broader ecosystem shifts to support these alternatives.
Democratic impact: Projects create measurable improvements in civic participation, institutional transparency, information quality, or collective decision-making within their target communities. Project viability: Funded projects develop clear sustainability plans. They grow their user base, expand their supporter and partner network, and help demonstrate democratic alternatives.
Ecosystem change: New funders invest in AI and democracy. Policymakers and media recognize these approaches. Projects from diverse geographies demonstrate that democratic innovation is global.
As a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, the Mozilla Foundation is absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for elective public office, or taking any other actions which may favor one candidate over another. About the 2026 cohort experience We anticipate funding 10 projects at $50,000 each for 12 months of intensive support.
This is a Build Cohort. The focus is on developing your concept, improving product quality, clarifying user needs, building a foundation for sustainable growth, and connecting with potential supporters. In addition to project funding, you'll receive the following supports: Monthly cohort calls with peers facing similar challenges.
Expert mentorship from advisors who've navigated the problems you're facing—from AI accountability to sustainable business models to early-stage funding. 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 to discuss milestones, obstacles, and support needs. 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. Active participation in cohort calls, workshops, and other offerings.
A final public-facing report documenting your approach, learnings, and outcomes—designed to benefit the broader field. Follow-On Funding: The strongest projects may be invited to Tier II (Sustain Track) for additional funding ($250,000 per project) and bespoke support focused on securing follow-on funding and building sustainable models.
But participation in the Build Track is valuable on its own—not every project will or should continue. Eligibility: who should apply You should apply if you have: A working technology that people can actually use — not just an idea or wireframe. You've built something functional, even if it's at a very early stage, and you’re ready for what comes next.
A committed team who can execute over 12 months. If you are selected for this grant, you should be able to hit the ground running without having to do any significant hiring. 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. You'll share learnings publicly, make datasets available where appropriate, and document your process for others to learn from. You believe transparency and community stewardship will make your project stronger.
If you’re new to working open, we’ll provide you with the resources and experts to help you navigate things like licensing and creating on-ramps for participation to outside contributors. Be legally able to receive funds from Mozilla Foundation, a U. S.
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please carefully review Mozilla Foundation’s grant eligibility guidelines before submitting an application. Submit applications in English.
Translation tools are welcome. We evaluate your ideas, not your language quality. How we evaluate applications Every application is assessed across six criteria: Technical viability: Is this a functional technology with real momentum?
Does the team have the capacity to execute? Are the technical approach and scope appropriate for the problem, budget, and grant term? Problem/community clarity: Does the team have a clear understanding of the problem they're solving and who they're solving it for?
Is there evidence they're in dialogue with potential users? Are they pursuing a real need rather than a solution in search of a problem? Impact potential: Does this project have clear potential for charitable/public benefit?
Could this create meaningful change for the communities it serves? Does it address the cohort's theme in a compelling way? Values alignment: Does this project offer a technology that enables more transparency and agency for people?
Is the team committed to openness—whether through public code, shared learnings, open datasets, or transparent practices? Sustainability potential: Has the team started thinking about long-term viability? Is there a plausible path to sustainability that aligns with their values—whether that's revenue, community support, institutional partnerships, or something else?
Is the team open to exploring different models? Theme fit: Is the project likely to create measurable improvements in civic participation, institutional transparency, information quality, or collective decision-making within their target communities?
In addition to the above criteria, we conduct a holistic evaluation to ensure balanced representation across the cohort including geographic distribution, category selection, and technical approach. Applications are reviewed through a multi-stage process. The primary review occurs at the Initial Project Proposal stage, with only a small number of shortlisted applicants invited to submit a full application.
Initial Project Proposal Opens: February 12, 2026 Initial Project Proposal Deadline: March 16, 2026, 11:59pm PT Finalists Notified: April 2, 2026 Full Proposals Due: April 15, 2026 Selections Announced: June 1, 2026 Cohort Begins: 12 months beginning June 2026 Explore funding opportunities Responsible Computing Challenge Something went wrong and your signup wasn't completed. Please try again later. Please enter a valid email address.
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