The Public Interest Technology Infrastructure Fund is a project of the New Venture Fund. As a fiscally sponsored project it is not required to disclose independent financial information or activities. Its funders include left-of-center grantmaking organizations, including the Ford Foundation and Pivotal Ventures, and it funnels grants to organizations that advocate for increased use of modern technology by government organizations. ^{1 2}

Background

The Public Interest Technology Infrastructure Fund is a grantmaking project of the New Venture Fund. It donates to left-of-center organizations that research how public policy can use or incorporate modern technology to accomplish its objectives. ^{3 4}

In addition to being a project of the New Venture Fund, the Public Interest Technology Infrastructure Fund receives funding from the Ford Foundation, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Pivotal Ventures, Schmidt Futures, and Siegel Family Endowment. It also works alongside its sister organization the Public Interest Technology University Network, which is a network of 48 colleges that gives grants to students to research how technology can be used in public policy and government processes. It receives funding from the Ford Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Mastercard Impact Fund, with support from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Raikes Foundation, Schmidt Futures and Siegel Family Endowment. ⁵

Grantmaking

The Federation of American Scientists lists the Public Interest Technology Infrastructure Fund as one of its donors. ⁶ Georgetown University’s Tech and Society Network states that its Tech and Society Public Service Fellowship was funded by the Federation of American Scientists, using grant funds from the Public Interest Technology Infrastructure fund. The fellowship is available to students who seek to use their “expertise in technology” to advocate for public policy. ²

The National Academy of Sciences lists the Public Interest Technology Infrastructure Fund as a sponsor of its Committee on Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation. The committee advocates for government agencies to utilize technology in additional ways in health and medicine. It claims that there is a lack of policy governing the use of, subsidizing, and implanting such technologies. ⁷

1. ^[1] “Public Interest Technology at SFE.” Siegel Family Endowment. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.siegelendowment.org/public-interest-technology/#:~:text=Public%20Interest%20Technology%20Infrastructure%20Fund,to%20societal%20problems%20and%20needs.
2. “Restoring and Advancing Federal Agencies.” Restoring and Advancing Federal Agencies | The Provost’s Blog. Georgetown University, October 12, 2022. https://blog.provost.georgetown.edu/restoring-and-advancing-federal-agencies/.
3. Werring, Eden. “Eden Werring.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenwerring.
4. Braun, Ken. “Ford Foundation’s Big Left Influence: The ‘Dark Money’ Arabella Network.” Capital Research Center. Capital Research Center, February 24, 2022. https://capitalresearch.org/article/ford-foundations-big-left-influence-part-4/.
5. “Public Interest Technology at SFE.” Siegel Family Endowment. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.siegelendowment.org/public-interest-technology/#:~:text=Public%20Interest%20Technology%20Infrastructure%20Fund,to%20societal%20problems%20and%20needs.
6. Fas. “Financials and Funding.” Federation Of American Scientists. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://fas.org/about-fas/financials-funding/.
7. “Creating a Framework for Emerging Science and Technology.” Nationalacademies.org. Accessed January 16, 2023. https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/creating-a-framework-for-emerging-science-technology-and-innovation-in-health-and-medicine.