Who it is for
Organizations working on digital payments regulation, financial access policy, or open infrastructure governance, including:
- Civil society organizations
- Policy researchers
- Think tanks
- Academic institutions
Policy Activation Grant
Funding the advocacy, research, and coalition-building that shapes the regulatory environment for open financial systems Grant will open later in 2026 or early 2027
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Why Policy Matters for Open Payments
Open payments infrastructure needs public policy behind it. Without regulatory environments that support interoperability, proportionate fee structures, and open standards, the technology alone cannot create lasting change. The Policy Activation Grant funds civil society organisations and academic research institutions to engage credibly in policy processes, with the explicit goal of advancing digital public infrastructure and expanding access to digital financial services for populations that have been systematically excluded.
This is not a grant program administered through an open call. The Interledger Foundation monitors regulatory and legislative developments, tracks civil society organisations active in relevant policy spaces, and identifies where philanthropic investment could be genuinely catalytic. When a promising opportunity is identified, we initiate direct outreach.
At a Glance
What it supports
- Regulatory engagement
- Community voice
- Open standards and interoperability advocacy
- Human-rights-centred payment policy
How it works
- Grants are awarded by direct outreach from ILF, not through an open call.
- Prospective grantees are invited into a collaborative proposal development process.
Grantmaking priorities
The Interledger Foundation concentrates its policy grantmaking on four areas where investment has the greatest potential to shape the regulatory and institutional conditions for open payment systems:
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Regulatory engagement
High-quality research, formal submissions, and structured dialogue with regulatory bodies to advance informed governance of open payment protocols. This includes technical assistance to regulators, contributions to public consultation processes, and development of evidence-based policy frameworks that reflect the needs of underserved communities.
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Community voice and accountability
Meaningful participation in digital financial systems requires that the communities most affected by exclusion have genuine representation in the policy processes that govern their financial lives. We fund organisations with the trust, relationships, and analytical capacity to translate community experience into credible policy evidence, and to hold institutions accountable.
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Open standards and interoperability
The concentration of payment infrastructure in the hands of a small number of proprietary platforms poses systemic risks to competition, access, and resilience. We invest in advocacy for open standards at national payments councils, multilateral forums, and international standard-setting bodies.
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Human rights by design
Payment infrastructure makes consequential decisions about who can participate in economic life. We support organisations that bring a rigorous human rights framework to payment system design, including privacy protections, non-discrimination requirements, due process, and access to effective remedy.
Impact Stories
The initial Policy Activation cohort comprises three organisations selected for the strategic significance of their policy work, the depth of their community relationships, and their capacity to contribute to a more equitable global payment system:
- Alliance of Digital Finance and Fintech Associations, South Africa
- ARTICLE 19, United Kingdom
- Center for Technology and Society, Fundacao Getulio Vargas Law School, Brazil
Policy Activation Grant FAQ
What do we look for in grantees?
When assessing potential partners, we consider:
- Proximity to affected communities: direct relationships with populations whose financial access and rights are at stake
- Strategic policy awareness: sophisticated understanding of the regulatory landscape and where advocacy can shift institutional positions
- Technical engagement capacity: sufficient familiarity with payment systems and open protocols to engage substantively in technical policy processes
- Human rights analytical framework: a demonstrated commitment to analysing payment policy through internationally recognised human rights standards
- Collaborative orientation: willingness to work in genuine partnership with the Foundation and with other grantees, sharing learning and contributing to collective analysis
Is this grant program open for applications?
No. Grants are awarded through direct outreach by the Interledger Foundation. We do not accept unsolicited proposals, though organisations may introduce their work via email.
Does ILF engage in lobbying?
No. ILF does not engage in lobbying, does not endorse political candidates or parties, and does not make contributions to campaigns or other political activities. Our policy work focuses on advocacy, standards, and evidence-based policy engagement.
Can government agencies apply?
Government agencies are not the primary audience for this program. The grant is designed for civil society organisations and academic research institutions. Government agencies and multilaterals interested in collaboration should explore other engagement routes via the Policy and Advocacy page.
Are grants currently being awarded?
The initial cohort is active. Whether additional grants will be awarded in 2026 is subject to strategic review. Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed.
All you need to know about the Policy Activation grant.
Although applications for this grant are currently closed, these FAQs still cover all the essentials should you be interested in a future round of funding. Sign up for grant alerts to be the first to know when it re-opens.
How We Fund
Check out our Grantmaking FAQs to know our approach and expectations across all our grants. For additional clarifications, reach out to programteam@interledger.org.