New Cyber Fund Boosts Security for Non-Profits
▼ Summary
– The Common Good Cyber Fund has been launched to support non-profits providing essential cybersecurity services for public benefit, initiated by the global Common Good Cyber initiative.
– The UK and Canada governments are joint investors in the fund, with G7 leaders endorsing similar initiatives to counter transnational repression threats.
– The fund will focus on securing core digital infrastructure (e.g., DNS, routing) and offering cybersecurity aid like training and tools to high-risk groups.
– Managed by the Internet Society with an expert advisory board, the fund aims to enhance nonprofit resilience and promote security best practices for all internet users.
– Common Good Cyber, comprising seven non-profits, addresses threats like surveillance and harassment faced by civil society, with a new mapping database launched in March 2025 to aid NGOs.
A groundbreaking cybersecurity initiative has emerged to strengthen digital defenses for non-profits serving the public interest. The newly launched Common Good Cyber Fund provides vital support to organizations delivering essential cybersecurity services that benefit society at large. This innovative funding mechanism represents a collaborative effort to safeguard critical online infrastructure and protect vulnerable groups from escalating digital threats.
Backed by governments from the UK and Canada, the fund operates under the umbrella of Common Good Cyber, a global initiative dedicated to sustaining cybersecurity efforts that serve the broader internet community. During the recent G7 Summit, leaders pledged support for such programs, recognizing their role in combating transnational repression and safeguarding civil society.
The fund prioritizes non-profits engaged in high-impact cybersecurity work, including:
- Securing foundational internet infrastructure like DNS systems, routing protocols, and threat intelligence networks
- Providing cybersecurity assistance to at-risk organizations through training, incident response, and accessible security tools
Philip Reitinger of the Global Cyber Alliance, one of the initiative’s key partners, emphasized the fund’s significance: “This effort strengthens the entire digital ecosystem by supporting nonprofits that often operate with limited resources. Their work directly enhances security for human rights defenders, journalists, and other vulnerable groups facing sophisticated online threats.”
Managed by the Internet Society, the fund will distribute grants with guidance from an expert advisory board. Detailed application guidelines and selection criteria will be announced in the coming months.
A Coalition Addressing Urgent Cyber Risks Seven leading cybersecurity nonprofits form the backbone of Common Good Cyber, including the CyberPeace Institute, FIRST, and the Shadowserver Foundation. Together, they aim to counter the growing misuse of cyber tools for surveillance, harassment, and physical targeting, particularly against civil society organizations.
Earlier this year, the alliance introduced a resource-mapping database to help NGOs and high-risk individuals locate cybersecurity assistance. Wendy Nather of 1Password praised the fund’s launch at a recent industry event, noting, “This is a crucial step toward sustaining the nonprofits that underpin our collective security. But we must also extend support to non-technical charities, many provide life-saving services yet lack basic cyber protections.”
Her remarks highlight an often-overlooked reality: organizations addressing humanitarian crises, poverty, and human trafficking frequently become cyberattack targets despite having minimal security resources. Strengthening their defenses could mean the difference between life and death for those they serve.
As digital threats grow more pervasive, initiatives like the Common Good Cyber Fund demonstrate how strategic investments can create ripple effects, protecting not just individual organizations, but the very fabric of a secure and open internet.
(Source: InfoSecurity)
