A multi-stakeholder initiative to collectively fund, govern, and advance the web platform — including the first independent, community-driven web engine.
The web runs on three engines, each controlled by a single US company. The web's evolution is shaped by its gatekeepers — not users, governments, publishers, or the broader industry. The result: slow to change, serving only the largest common denominator, and failing those at the edges who need it most.
The engine-makers have no structural incentive to share power, and true engine diversity remains out of reach.
A non-profit foundation that pools resources from across the web's stakeholder community to fund three streams of work:
Fund features, fixes, and standards work in today's engines — giving stakeholders collective voice and leverage.
Accelerate a fourth major engine — collectively funded and governed — starting with Servo, while exploring alternative approaches.
Fund research into the longer-term future of browsers — new architectures, capabilities, and paradigms beyond what today's engines support.
What it does not do: build software directly or create new standards. It funds and coordinates the people who do.
€600K over three years (€200K/year), fully grant-funded. Split in thirds: staff, operations/events, and grants. Member dues begin year two; by year three the foundation is self-sustaining.
Target funding: €600K over three years (€200K/year), allocated in equal thirds:
| Category | Annual | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Staff (Executive Director, Program Coordinator) | €67K | 33% |
| Operations & events (legal, accounting, infrastructure, annual summit, quarterly reviews) | €67K | 33% |
| Grants & commissions (engine work, standards contributions, R&D) | €67K | 33% |
| Total | €200K | 100% |
Staff costs cover the two core roles that make the foundation operational: an Executive Director to lead strategy, stakeholder relationships, and fundraising, and a Program Coordinator to manage funded work, organize events, and handle day-to-day operations. The remaining two-thirds flow directly into the foundation's mission — operations and convenings that bring stakeholders together, and grants to implementers and researchers advancing the web platform.
The €200K/year bootstrap budget is fully covered by grant funding (EU programs, philanthropic foundations) for the entire three-year establishment period. This is not a declining subsidy — the full baseline is secured upfront so the foundation can focus on building, not fundraising.
Member dues collected during this period are additive. They expand the foundation's capacity beyond the baseline — funding additional grants, events, or staff as the coalition grows. The goal is not to backfill the bootstrap budget with member income, but to build a parallel revenue stream that is ready to sustain the foundation independently when the three-year grant period ends.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap grants | €200K | €200K | €200K | — |
| Member dues (additive) | — | €80K | €150K | €200K+ |
| Total capacity | €200K | €280K | €350K | €200K+ |
Membership is tiered to ensure broad participation:
As the foundation demonstrates value through funded work, dues become self-reinforcing: members see direct returns through prioritized features and fixes, which attracts new members. By the end of year three, the member base is large enough to sustain baseline operations independently — and the foundation transitions from grant-funded to member-sustained without a gap.