Digital Freedom Fund Strategic Litigation Grants

The Digital Freedom Fund (DFF) supports strategic litigation in Europe that contributes to advancing human rights related to the use of technology and/or engaged in digital spaces. 

The program aims to go beyond individual cases to bring about legislative, policy, or social change and increase the capacity of the digital rights community.

DFF funds not just digital rights organizations, but also movements working on racial, social, feminist, environmental, and economic justice.

Applications may be submitted by digital rights advocates (including NGOs and other entities pursuing a public interest objective), pro bono lawyers, and other litigators seeking to protect and advance digital rights in Europe.

Funding and support are provided not only to digital rights organisations, but also to movements and organisations working on digital rights within racial, social, feminist, queer, environmental, migrant rights, and economic justice contexts.

Grants cover litigation track support (from first instance to appeal), post-litigation activities (advocacy, enforcement), and pre-litigation research (evidence gathering, legal research).

Average litigation grant is 45,000 EUR, research grant is 25,000 EUR. Costs are evaluated based on cost-efficiency.

1) Litigation track support

• support for litigation of a case through multiple instances, from first instance through to the final appeal;

• may also include post-litigation activities, such as advocacy or enforcement activities following the judgment made in the final instance of litigation.

2) Pre-litigation support

• support for activities to prepare for already planned litigation, which may include legal research, evidence gathering, forum selection, or identifying claimants and project partners;

• does not include broad research or general scoping about unplanned litigation.

1. Complete an eligibility check on the online platform.

2. Upon approval, access the full application form.

3. Complete and submit the full application via Fluxx platform by the deadline.

In the application, the applicant must demonstrate that they have carefully considered and provided clear justification for the following:

• the concrete objectives of the litigation;
• a plan to embed the litigation in a broader strategy for change; which groups/communities are most affected by the digital rights issue and how they will be involved in a way that is not extractive or harmful;
• the best forum to litigate in order to achieve the pursued objectives;
• the possible instances of litigation that may be necessary to achieve the objective(s), including appeals and referrals to regional courts;
• how the litigation relates to other existing or planned activities on the subject matter—both litigation and otherwise—domestically and in Europe;
• why litigation is an appropriate tool to employ in this context.

Applications are evaluated by a Community Peer Group based on:

• strategic nature (impact beyond immediate parties);
• potential for systemic change;
• quality of implementation plan and risk analysis;
• involvement of affected communities;
• cost-efficiency.

• Eligibility check form.
• Full application form.
• Detailed project budget.

DFF has a Code of Conduct that reflects its core beliefs. All grant applicants and recipients are requested to review the Code of Conduct and are expected to acknowledge, respect, and accept it when engaging with DFF, including as grant recipients. A key principle of the Code of Conduct is that DFF will not tolerate sexist, racist, ageist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, religiously insensitive, or otherwise exclusionary behaviour.

Impact monitoring is included.

Compliance with Council of Europe criteria and the DFF Code of Conduct, which prohibits all forms of discrimination.