Mozilla Opens $1M Democracy x AI Fund — Proposals Due March 16

The Mozilla Foundation is putting $1 million behind a bet that AI can strengthen democracy rather than erode it — and the application window closes in two weeks.

The Democracy x AI Cohort will fund 10 projects with initial grants of $50,000 each, plus 12 months of mentorship, peer collaboration, and access to Mozilla's network. The strongest performers will be invited to a second tier offering up to $250,000 and bespoke support for long-term sustainability.

What Mozilla Wants to Fund

The program targets three priority areas: tools that improve information quality and verification, platforms that increase institutional transparency and accountability, and technologies that protect civic space from surveillance and suppression.

"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," the foundation stated in its call for proposals.

Concrete examples include algorithmic accountability dashboards, privacy-preserving coordination tools, AI-powered fact verification systems, and platforms for democratic deliberation. The key requirement: applicants must have functioning technology with demonstrated traction, not just concepts or wireframes.

How to Apply

Initial project proposals are due March 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT. Finalists will be notified by April 2 and asked to submit full proposals by April 15. The cohort launches in June 2026.

Eligibility requires a committed team, a working product, and a commitment to open-source code or a documented path to open-sourcing. Applicants must be able to legally receive funds from a U.S. 501(c)(3).

Applications are evaluated on six dimensions: technical viability, problem clarity, impact potential, values alignment, sustainability potential, and theme fit.

Why This Round Matters

Mozilla's investment arrives as governments worldwide grapple with AI-generated disinformation, deepfakes targeting elections, and algorithmic amplification of polarizing content. The cohort is one of the few dedicated funding streams for civic-tech AI projects that don't require government affiliation or corporate partnership.

For teams building at the intersection of AI and democracy, this is a rare opportunity to secure both funding and structured support. Granted can help identify complementary funding sources to pair with Mozilla's cohort grants.

More in-depth analysis of civic AI funding opportunities is available on the Granted blog.