Nabiha Syed Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation

Hello,

There’s a moment in every mission-driven organization when you have to choose between what’s safe — and what’s right.

We’ve just finished going over our finances for the first part of 2025. And we’re still trying to close the $3.55 million USD gap caused by U.S. government funding cuts. These cuts impacted two of Mozilla’s most important initiatives:

• Mozilla’s Responsible Computing Challenge has lost $2.5 million USD in funding. This program trains the next generation of technologists to build with ethics, not just efficiency.
• Mozilla Common Voice is expected to lose $1.05 million USD in funding. This is the world’s largest open-source voice dataset, helping technology understand everyone, no matter who they are, where they live, or how they speak.

We’ve already adjusted our programs to account for this loss in funding. But I wanted you to be aware of where we currently stand:

I gave the green light for both initiatives to continue, even without original funding. It’s a risk. But it’s one I believe is worth taking — because this work is too important to pause. And because I believe deeply in this community — in people like you — I know we can come together to make it possible to continue programs like these.

So far, 19,510 people have donated to defend Mozilla’s programs following these U.S. government cuts. Will you be the next? Please consider adding a €10 donation today to help close Mozilla’s funding gap and build a digital future that works for all of us.

The decisions we make right now will shape what’s possible in the months and years ahead — and whether we can meet this moment with the urgency and ambition it demands. That’s exactly why I am committed to continuing the Responsible Computing Challenge and Common Voice despite the loss of funding from the U.S. government.

Mozilla was built by people who believed in something better — not just for the internet, but for the world it touches everyday. This community is full of people who refuse to sit back and watch tech be shaped solely by profit, politics, or power.

That hasn’t changed. Even in the face of political interference and massive funding losses, we’re still here. Still building. Still fighting for a better internet.

The Mozilla community has a crucial role in shaping the future of technology. So today I am counting on people like you to help fill this funding gap. And that’s why I’m asking:

Can you add a donation of €10 to fill the gap left by these U.S. government funding cuts? Together we can power Mozilla’s programs to create a better internet for all of us.

Thank you for being part of this movement – and for everything you do for the internet.

Always yours,

Nabiha Syed
Executive Director
Mozilla