Small-Scale, High-Impact Firmware Contributions 2026/1

The Open-Source Firmware Foundation is calling for small-scale, high-impact proposals that help grow and strengthen the open-source firmware ecosystem.

We're looking to support contributions that improve transparency, auditability, security, interoperability, and sustainability in firmware. Whether you're developing new features, improving tooling, writing documentation, or researching real-world issues—if your work supports the open-source firmware space, we want to hear from you.

This call is not tied to pre-allocated funding, but we aim to fund selected proposals in the range of 1,000 EUR to 7,500 EUR.

What We're Looking For

We encourage proposals that focus on (but are not limited to):

• Development work on core firmware projects
• Enhancements to testing frameworks, tooling, or CI/CD pipelines
• Security and compliance (e.g., SBOM, reproducibility, Secure Boot)
• Developer experience, documentation, or onboarding improvements
• Practical research with implementation outcomes

Eligibility

This call is open to:

• Individual developers and maintainers
• Small teams and organizations
• Students and researchers
• Anyone contributing to open source firmware projects

How to Apply

Send your proposal to cfp+2026oc2@osfw.foundation including:

1. Project Description: What you want to build or improve (max 500 words)
2. Impact: Why it matters to the open source firmware ecosystem
3. Timeline: Estimated completion timeframe
4. Budget: Requested funding amount and how it will be used
5. Background: Brief introduction of yourself or your team

We review proposals on a rolling basis and aim to respond within 2-3 weeks.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Technical merit and feasibility
• Potential impact on the open source firmware ecosystem
• Alignment with OSFF mission and values
• Clarity and completeness of the proposal
• Track record and capability of the applicant

Questions?

If you have any questions about this funding call, please reach out to cfp+2026oc2@osfw.foundation.