ILF Grant Opportunities
At the Interledger Foundation, we believe in open, interoperable payment solutions as a key driver to digital financial inclusion. The Interledger Foundation is the steward of Interledger, a suite of Open Standards designed to enable seamless payments across different currencies and economic systems.
Through our grant-making, we support the adoption of Interledger to increase access to digital financial services for the 1.4 billion people currently excluded. To this end, we support organizations and individuals that seek to advocate for, innovate with, and build with Interledger to empower and enable access to underserved and vulnerable communities. To date, Interledger Foundation has issued some 188 grants across 40 countries valued at US$18 million to organizations interested in building with Interledger and individuals advocating for an expansion of equitable and inclusive open-source communities.
Below are our core grant program offerings, available at various times throughout the year. Visit the ILF Website for details on the opportunities as they open.
Build with Interledger (Financial Services)
Our ILP Digital Financial Services Grant program accepts applications twice per year. Interested fintech and innovative organizations seeking to eliminate financial roadblocks and explore interoperable payments to benefit underserved and underrepresented communities may apply to develop financial services that will become a node in the Interledger Network (Enabled track, US$250,000) or to expand payment options incorporating open payments APIs (Unlocked track, US$150,000).
There will be at least two Call for Proposals in 2025. The first cycle is now open and accepting applications up to Friday, April 4, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET). The second CFP will launch in July 2025.
Please review the 2025 Application Guide for details on the requirements, key focus, and details concerning this grant opportunity.
Learn more about the Digital Financial Services Grant
Shape the Next Generation of Leaders (Education)
Universities and tertiary institutions worldwide can access up to USD 50,000 to execute forward-thinking initiatives geared towards inspiring students to be empowered, build innovative solutions, and be equipped to access careers in open payments technology. Interested universities must ensure the proposed 12-month initiative aligns with their undergraduate or graduate departments of computer science, information technology, business, sustainable development, or related fields.
ILF is now accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) from interested universities up to Friday, October 3, 2025 at 11:59pm (ET). Applications received will be reviewed on an ongoing basis during the grant window. Please review the 2025 LOI Application Guide for additional details about this opportunity.
Learn more about the NextGen Higher Education Grant
Become an Advocate (Ambassadorship)
Are you interested in researching new pathways, advancing standards and open-source technologies, activating communities, and promoting accessibility that will expand our ecosystem, reduce disparities, and fortify our collective impact toward a digitally and financially inclusive society?
The Call for Ambassadors is now closed. For more details on the program, preview the Application Guide.
Should you have any inquiries, feel free to email the program team.
