Sunlight Foundation Offers Mini-grants to Increase Transparency of Government Information

January 10, 2008

Contact: Gabriela Schneider 202-742-1520 ext 236

WASHINGTON, DC - The Sunlight Foundation is announcing the availability of "mini-grants" of $1,000 to $5,000. These grants will fund original ideas, tools, Web sites, and bloggers that further the organization's mission of using the Internet to create a better, more dynamic relationship between members of Congress and the citizens they represent.

Sunlight encourages grant applications from local or regional nonprofit organizations and Web sites, from offshoots of national groups, from individuals and from informal groups of citizens.

"For bloggers or small organizations in need of technological upgrades, a grant of as little as $1,000 can make a significant difference," said Ellen Miller, executive director of the Sunlight Foundation. "We are always impressed by the practical innovations proposed by our grant seekers, and look forward to seeing how Sunlight's mini-grants stimulate creative solutions by citizens who want to create a more open and transparent Congress."

Applications for mini-grants will be judged on how closely they fit with Sunlight's mission of using technology to enable citizens to learn more about Congress and its activities in order to reduce corruption and ensure greater transparency in government. Projects will also be judged on their creativity, their likelihood of success and their ability to grow or be replicated. As a rule, Sunlight does not award grants for salaries or general overhead expenses, but does for technology upgrades. Grants are available to augment existing projects or to jumpstart new ones.

Applicants should submit their project proposals on the Foundation's Web site by January 1, 2008. Last year, Sunlight gave more than $1.6 million in grants.

The Sunlight Foundation supports, develops and deploys new Internet technologies to make information about Congress and the federal government more accessible to the American people. Through its projects and grant-making, Sunlight serves as a catalyst to create greater political transparency and to foster more openness and accountability in government.

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