named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
AI for Climate Action
Initiative exploring and supporting community-centered AI tools developed by Global Majority groups to address climate justice
Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (CAT)
Tool and support framework helping social justice organizations assess and improve their digital security practices
Light-Touch Support
Provides accessible, low-barrier technical and strategic support to civil society organizations, particularly around elections, cybersecurity, and AI safety
Responsible Data Community
Global community of practice with over 1,200 members focused on ethical data use in advocacy and social justice work
User Experience & Discovery (UXD) Lab
Service provider for OTF conducting no-cost UX research to improve open source, privacy-preserving internet freedom tools used by activists
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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AI Governance and Ethical Research 1 activity
- Conducts community-centered research on responsible data governance, AI, and digital ecosystemsConducts research on responsible data governance, security, decision-making, and digital ecosystems using interviews, desk research, surveys, and participatory methods, with a focus on Majority World and climate action contexts. Research initiatives include AI for Climate Action and explorations of alternative social media platforms, with project plans and findings shared publicly.
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Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
- Offers no-cost direct support programs for civil society organizations and activistsProvides a light-touch support program offering guidance, resources, and connections, as well as an intensive 3–6 month program delivering targeted research, matchmaking, and tailored recommendations to civil society organizations in Latin America and Africa.
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Data & Technology Capacity Building 1 activity
- Provides capacity-building support and consulting to civil society organizations on tech and data practicesOffers customized consulting, light-touch and intensive support programs, and UX research to improve technology and data practices, organizational security, and tool adoption for civil society organizations, particularly human rights defenders, climate advocates, and social justice organizers in the Majority World.
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Professional Field Knowledge Development 1 activity
- Stewards the Responsible Data Community and invests in community of practiceStewards the Responsible Data Community, a network of over 1,200 practitioners developing best practices for ethical data use in social justice work, and invests in facilitating and sustaining this community through events, resources, and collaboration.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Produces public-facing research outputs and educational content on tech and digital challengesShares research insights through an annual Deep Dive Week zine, a monthly Futures podcast, and Tips and How-To videos to support understanding of technology, data, and digital challenges in social justice contexts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.68M
Contributions & grants$3.62M98%
Program service revenue$57K2%
Investment income$160%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.54M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$255K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$3.20M
Cash$177K
Investments$0
Liabilities$76K
Net assets$3.12M
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +277.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILLIAN WILLIAMS | SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH | 40 | $102K |
board members · 5
- ELIZABETH EAGEN — SECRETARY
- ISABELA FERNANDES — TREASURER
- IVAN SIGAL — CHAIR
- JAC SM KEE — DIRECTOR
- LORI REGATIERI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 31
Who they work with
- Africa Partner — Civil society organisations and activists in Africa receive intensive support through the Matchbox program.
- Greenhost Partner — Hosts The Engine Room's servers and email, selected for its ethical and sustainable approach to privacy.
- Koumbit Partner — Provides server hosting to distribute and differentiate The Engine Room's technical infrastructure.
- La Propia Agencia Partner — Collaborated on the creation of illustrations and graphic elements for organizational materials.
- Latin America Partner — Civil society organisations and activists in Latin America receive intensive support through the Matchbox program.
- Mozilla Partner — Hosts open source etherpads used for collaborative note-taking during community calls.
- OTF Partner — Service provider for OTF’s User Experience & Discovery (UXD) Lab, conducting no-cost UX research for internet freedom tools.
- Open Society Foundations Funder — Provided support for a project exploring civil society responses to hostile information environments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Responsible Data Community Network — Stewards and facilitates the Responsible Data Community, a global network focused on ethical data practices in social justice work.
- Riseup Partner — Hosts open source etherpads used for collaborative note-taking during community calls.
- Youth Initiative Foundation Partner — Collaborated through the Matchbox partnership to map community resources and safe spaces for at-risk communities.
- climate advocates Partner — Supports climate advocates in the Majority World using data and technology for social change
- communautés Partner — Engages communities in research, data governance, and digital ecosystem reimagining
- communities Partner — Engages communities as central partners in research and digital transformation work
- communities Partner — Partners with communities to strengthen capacity and reimagine healthy digital ecosystems
- human rights defenders Partner — Collaborates with human rights defenders using data and technology for community change
- humanitarian organizations Partner — Collaborates with humanitarian organizations on responsible data practices and decision-making
- humanitarian organizations Partner — Partners with humanitarian organizations to advance responsible data practices and decision-making
- instituciones filantrópicas Partner — Colabora con instituciones filantrópicas en iniciativas de investigación y toma de decisiones
- instituições filantrópicas Partner — Partners with philanthropic institutions to support research and digital ecosystem transformation.
- institutions philanthropiques Partner — Collaborates with philanthropic institutions to support community-centered research and digital ecosystem transformation
- organisations humanitaires Partner — Works with humanitarian organizations to advance responsible data governance and decision-making
- organizaciones humanitarias Partner — Colabora con organizaciones humanitarias en investigación y gobernanza de datos
- organizações humanitárias Partner — Collaborates with humanitarian organizations to advance community-centered research and responsible data governance.
- partners and peers Partner — Collaborates with partners and peers to address technology and digital challenges for social good.
- philanthropic institutions Partner — Engages with philanthropic institutions to advance community-centered research and digital ecosystem health
- philanthropic institutions Partner — Works with philanthropic institutions to support community-centered research and digital ecosystem initiatives
- practitioners Partner — Collaborates with practitioners in research and digital ecosystem initiatives
- practitioners Partner — Engages with practitioners to advance community-centered research and responsible data governance
- praticiens Partner — Collaborates with practitioners to advance community-centered research and responsible data governance
+ 1 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collective Care and Resilience Buildingmethodology: collective_careBy shifting from individual responsibility to collective care in tech and data ethics, we build long-term resilience and transformative capacity in civil society, because shared agency, mutual support, and integrated wellbeing strengthen movements facing evolving threats.
- Community-Centered Research and Co-Designmethodology: community_centered_researchBy centering communities in research, technology design, and digital ecosystem development, we produce more just and effective social change, because community-led processes ensure that solutions are grounded in local knowledge, respect data sovereignty, and address self-defined needs.
- Equitable and Adaptive Partnership Modelsmethodology: adaptive_partnership_modelBy offering flexible, non-linear engagement models—from light-touch support to intensive collaboration—we increase accessibility and impact, because partnerships that adapt to partners' evolving needs and address power imbalances foster more effective and responsible tech and data practices.
- Responsible Data and Open Technology Practicesmethodology: responsible_data_practiceBy embedding responsible data practices—such as data minimization, lifecycle ethics, and open-source tools—into civil society work, we enhance security, transparency, and trust, because ethical infrastructure enables safer, more sustainable digital activism.