At Causeartist, we are excited to share that the Interledger Foundation has announced the launch of its NextGen Higher Education Grant.

This initiative is designed to shape the leaders of tomorrow in the realm of digital financial inclusion.

With funding opportunities up to USD 50,000 for projects spanning up to 12 months, this grant aims to support innovative educational programs.

The Interledger Foundation is committed to fostering a talent pipeline of builders and advocates for inclusive digital financial systems.

By collaborating with higher education institutions, the foundation seeks to inspire and prepare the future workforce for roles in open-source, open-payment, and digital financial inclusion.

Goals and Objectives

The NextGen Higher Education Grant focuses on empowering educators to develop programs that expose students to emerging open payment technologies.

The foundation envisions partnerships that create diverse pathways for both undergraduate and graduate students, leading to a future where inclusive and interoperable payment networks are the norm.

Key Focus Areas

Projects supported by the grant should aim to:

• Enable Faculty Initiatives: Implement forward-thinking programs that promote digital financial literacy and inclusion.
• Increase Student Engagement: Enhance student interaction with open-payment technologies and digital financial inclusion, with a focus on the Interledger Protocol.
• Showcase Career Pathways: Highlight careers in open payments, open-source development, sustainable development, and fintech.

Eligibility and Application Process

Universities interested in applying must align their proposed initiatives with relevant departments such as computer science, information technology, business, sustainable development, or related fields.

The projects should be built on principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, supporting the Interledger Foundation's mission to create an empowering ecosystem for digital financial inclusion.

Interested universities need to submit an electronic Letter of Intent (LOI) via Submittable by July 11, 2024, at 11:59 pm (EDT). The submission window opens on May 30, 2024, at 12:00 am (EDT). The LOI should include:

• A 2-page PDF outlining the project’s objectives, intended impact, and estimated budget.
• A summary of the proposed program, including a description of activities such as course offerings or curriculum development.
• An indication of how the project will integrate the Interledger Protocol and engage with the ILF ecosystem.
• A focus on developing skills in open payment technologies, social impact, entrepreneurship, and international development research.

Get Involved

For more information on the NextGen Higher Education Grant and to learn about the pilot initiatives with Bowie State University and the University of Cape Town, visit the Interledger Foundation’s website.

You can also connect with the foundation through their Community Forum and Interledger Slack for additional details.

About The Interledger Foundation

Established in 2020, the Interledger Foundation is a U.S.-based global nonprofit grantmaking organization.

The foundation’s mission is to increase access to digital financial services by promoting the adoption of an open-source currency network powered by the Interledger Protocol (ILP), with a focus on working with underrepresented groups.