TPAC registration just opened and we are opening applications for the Diversity Fund. We believe that more diversity means better representation, which leads to better and more inclusive design. We believe that more background, more use cases, more edge cases, lead to a better Web. More diversity also brings higher quality results. Our CEO blogged last June, giving the 2020 update on Diversity and Inclusion at W3C.

W3C has established again a TPAC Diversity Fund, sponsored by W3C Members Adobe, Samsung Electronics, Coil, Littleguy SL, Microsoft, TetraLogical, Siteimprove; and one anonymous individual sponsor. This year, for the first time W3C itself is contributing toward that Fund and we expect to continue contributing in subsequent years. It is a decision that W3C Management took last November. W3C is contributing $5,000 toward the 2020 Diversity Fund.

Diversity Fund applicants must be from a group that is under-represented in the Web community, and unable to participate in TPAC without financial help. A W3C account is required to proceed (request an account if you haven’t got one already). The application form has further information notably on what “under-represented” means, and applications are due by 27 September 2020 for determination on 5 October 2020.