Whetstone Connectivity Fund
Getting our partners online affordably, consistently, and fast enough to do the work that matters.
Impact Centre for Policy Research Executive Director Andrew Munganga with his organisation's new Starlink terminal.
The Whetstone Connectivity Fund (WCF) is a new initiative designed to address a real challenge: many of our partners struggle to access affordable, consistent, and high-speed internet.
For partner organisations, this issue adds unnecessary friction to day-to-day activities, wastes countless man-hours, and increases costs. Fundamentally, slow and unreliable internet prevents partners from doing what they do best: effectively spreading the ideas of freedom in their home countries. But with the arrival of Starlink and its rollout to over 150 countries worldwide, a high-quality, low-cost solution now exists.
WCF grants are intended to support partners to set up a Starlink terminal and cover the costs of a one-year subscription. In doing so, we hope to directly expand their capacity to do more work online more efficiently, while relieving them of what is often one of the most persistent and frustrating challenges they face.
Moreover, Starlink has demonstrated its ability to help pro-liberty activists, educators, and dissidents circumvent censorship and communications blackouts imposed by authoritarian regimes, another critical concern for many of our partners.
14
Organisations Supported
10
Countries - 9 in Africa, 1 in Asia
$1,083
Average Grant Size
What a grant covers
A Connectivity Fund grant is deliberately simple. It pays for a Starlink terminal, delivery to the partner's offices, and a full year of unlimited service.
Terminal
$350 to $450, depending on the country
Unlimited subscription
$28 to $50 a month
Delivery
varies by country
Most grants fall between $800 and $1,100. That one grant is usually all it takes to provide organisations with high-speed internet for good.
This is what makes the fund unusually good value. Because a Starlink subscription costs about the same as, and often less than, the incumbent internet provider, partners can carry the monthly cost themselves once the terminal is paid for. The grant clears a one-off capital barrier and buys capacity that keeps running long after the first-year ends.
Who we support
We fund classical liberal think tanks and educational organisations whose work is held back by their internet connection. Applications are assessed on two things:
Capacity
Can the organisation put fast, reliable internet to work spreading the ideas of a free society, through research, publishing, training, campaigns, and public education?
Need
How slow, costly, or unreliable is the connection they have now, and how much is it hindering their day-to-day operations?
Fifteen times faster
When reflecting on the impact Starlink has had on their connectivity, their CEO had this to say" to "When reflecting on the impact Starlink had on his organisation's connectivity, Aimable Manirakiza, CEO of CDE-Great Lakes in Burundi, said
"If think tanks like mine gain access to Starlink, it would be a game changer for the liberty movement in the developing world."
Organisation for Liberty & Entrepreneurship's newly-installed Starlink on their offices in Yambio, South Sudan.
The inaugural round of grants
In March 2026, we were delighted to award the inaugural round of grants. We supported 14 organisations with connectivity grants in the first round and hope this will prove to be a game-changer for those partners for years to come. One recipient of WCF support said:
“The Starlink connectivity has enhanced our ability to conduct research, participate in virtual engagements, collaborate with regional and international partners, access knowledge resources, and improve the overall efficiency of our operations.”
Unfortunately Starlink is not yet available in some partner countries. As access to Starlink continues to expand, we will aim to raise additional funds to support our partners in those countries.
Support the Fund
If you would like to support the Whetstone Connectivity Fund or discuss its work further, please do get in touch.
Alexander Hammond, IATP
