Family Online Safety Institute

What Family Online Safety Institute does

Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is an international 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., founded in 2007 by Stephen Balkam. The organization's mission is to make the online world safer for kids and their families through a 'Three Pillars' framework spanning Policy, Practice, and Parenting. Its operating model is event-driven and research-led rather than technology-based: FOSI convenes industry, government, and civil society through flagship gatherings including the Annual Conference, European Forum (Brussels), and FOSI Briefs the Hill/States policy briefings, while producing research via a bi-annual Online Safety Survey fielded with Ipsos across the U.S. and Australia.

FOSI's core product surface consists of three programs (Digital Parents Program, Digital Citizens Program in partnership with Discovery Education, and the Fellows Program) supported by a library of free downloadable resources — 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting, Family Online Safety Agreements for different age groups, platform-specific guides (YouTube, Roblox), media literacy toolkits, the Moms Off Mute podcast, and the Family Smart Start smartphone onboarding program co-developed with SWGfL. Recent product expansion includes Age Assurance Working Group outputs and AI-focused white papers such as 'Testing OpenAI Parental Controls.'

The organization is funded primarily through tiered corporate membership dues ($15K trade association, $20K small business, $40K corporate with 100+ employees) from a 30+ member coalition that includes Apple, Google, TikTok, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, Verizon, Disney, Roblox, OpenAI, and Anthropic, supplemented by donations and grants. The team is approximately 15 full-time staff including the Founder & CEO, COO & Head of Industry Engagement, Director of Research & Programs, Policy Director, State Policy Lead, and various specialists, fellows, and consultants.

Name

Family Online Safety Institute

Legal name

Family Online Safety Institute

Website

https://fosi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Safety Advocacy & Research

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Professional Organizations (81392), Other Similar Organizations (except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations) (81399)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

UGC Moderation, Trust & Safety Platforms (MPACABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity) (MPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Online safety advocacy
• Digital parenting resources
• Family safety research
• Digital citizenship education
• Internet policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from technology, Internet, IoT, and telecommunications companies. Three tiers: Trade Association ($15,000), Small Business under 100 employees ($20,000), Corporate over 100 employees ($40,000). Membership provides access to events, resources, working groups, and a seat on the Members Group.
2. Donations and Grants: The organization accepts donations to support their work keeping families safe online. EIN: 82-2774079, registered 501(c)(3) organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FOSI is an international nonprofit that delivers online safety research, policy advocacy, and educational programs for families and children. Its core offerings include the Digital Parents Program (digital parenting guides, safety agreements, media literacy resources), the Digital Citizens Program (community workshops and school-based digital citizenship content via Discovery Education), the Fellows Program (research fellowships), the bi-annual Online Safety Survey with Ipsos, white papers and policy briefs, and signature events (Annual Conference, European Forum, FOSI Briefs the Hill/States). The organization serves 30+ corporate members, parents, educators, and policymakers.

Product overview

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is an international non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI operates as a research, education, and advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of three core programs: the Digital Parents Program providing expert-backed online safety resources and guidance; the Digital Citizens Program offering educational content through partnership with Discovery Education; and the Fellows Program cultivating thought leadership through research fellowships. Supporting these programs, FOSI conducts the bi-annual Online Safety Survey in partnership with Ipsos, publishes white papers and policy briefs, organizes signature events including the Annual Conference (celebrating 20 years in 2026), European Forum, and FOSI Briefs the Hill/States policy events, and maintains an Age Assurance Working Group. The organization produces practical digital parenting tools including the 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting guide, customizable Family Online Safety Agreements for different age groups, platform-specific guides (YouTube, Roblox), media literacy resources, and safety checklists. FOSI also produces the Moms Off Mute podcast and develops special initiatives like Family Smart Start (with SWGfL) for first-smartphone guidance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Parents Program: Program helping families navigate the digital world with confidence through expert-backed support and practical guidance
• Digital Citizens Program
• Fellows Program
• Community Technology Fellows Program

Products and services

• Digital Parents Program Expert-backed support and practical guidance on online safety for families, providing digital parenting tools, webinars, guides, and year-round programming to help parents navigate the digital world with their children.
• Digital Citizens Program Provides kids, teens, and young adults with tools and knowledge to navigate the digital world safely through community events and educational resources. Delivered in partnership with Discovery Education's Digital Citizenship Initiative covering media literacy and digital safety.
• Fellows Program Fellowship program cultivating thought leadership, innovative research, and practical solutions to advance online safety through fellowship positions contributing research, policy recommendations, and educational resources.
• Online Safety Survey Bi-annual research survey conducted in partnership with Ipsos, assessing online safety trends, habits, and concerns among children ages 10-17 and parents. Currently fielded in the U.S. and Australia with 4,000+ respondents in Wave Four.
• FOSI Annual Conference Flagship annual gathering bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to discuss online safety. Celebrated 20th anniversary in 2026.
• FOSI European Forum Annual European event convening policymakers, regulators, researchers, industry leaders, and civil society to explore online safety regulation and digital wellbeing. Hosted in Brussels, Belgium in June 2026.
• FOSI Briefs the Hill and FOSI Briefs the States Policy-focused event series engaging U.S. federal legislators (Hill) and state-level policymakers (States, including Florida, California) on online safety research and policy developments.
• 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting Foundational guide providing seven practical steps to support parents in building healthy digital habits and open communication at home.
• Family Online Safety Agreement Customizable agreements for families with children of different ages (under 13 and teens 13+) to establish household rules for online safety, device use, and digital citizenship.
• Platform Guides (YouTube, Roblox, etc.) Comprehensive guides helping parents understand platforms including YouTube, Roblox, and social media. Created in collaboration with platform partners, covering supervised accounts, parental controls, and safety features.
• Moms Off Mute Podcast FOSI's digital parenting podcast hosted by Jordan Bivings Glover, featuring weekly conversations about raising children in today's digital world with practical, parent-centered perspectives.
• Family Smart Start Unboxing experience developed in partnership with SWGfL to help families navigate the safe setup of a child's first smartphone with open conversations around digital safety. Pilot program providing guidance for parents on setting up parental controls.
• Community Technology Fellows Program Program placing fellows in community centers to deliver digital citizenship workshops to youth, currently operating in Chicago, Austin, and Los Angeles.
• Age Assurance Working Group Cross-sector working group exploring practical age assurance solutions that protect children while upholding user privacy and rights, developing principles for proportionate, privacy-preserving age verification.
• Corporate Membership Program Tiered corporate membership program providing technology, Internet, IoT, and telecommunications companies access to events, resources, working groups, and a seat on the Members Group. Three tiers: Trade Association ($15,000), Small Business under 100 employees ($20,000), Corporate over 100 employees ($40,000) annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Survey of 4,000+ U.S. and Australian families reveals perception gaps between parents and children on digital activities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• Discovery EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI partners with Discovery Education to bring engaging digital citizenship content to students and educators through the Digital Citizenship Initiative. The partnership focuses on building foundational digital skills including media literacy, digital safety, understanding digital footprints, and scientific impact of technology on the brain.
• IpsoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI's Online Safety Survey is conducted in partnership with Ipsos. The bi-annual survey assesses the state of online safety trends, habits and concerns among kids aged 10-17 and their parents, currently fielded in the United States and Australia.
• SWGfLsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI partnered with SWGfL to develop Family Smart Start, an engaging unboxing experience designed to help families navigate the safe setup of a child's first smartphone with open conversations around digital safety.
• ThurstminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership during Pride Month 2025 to share practical online safety resources with LGBTQ+ young adults in local community spaces.
• 801 and Shaw's TavernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal venue partnerships to distribute LGBTQ+ online safety guides during Pride Month initiatives.
• Stanford University Social Media LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI partnered with Stanford University Social Media Lab and California Partner's Project to create A Parent's Guide to Digital Safety, a guidebook written specifically for parents of teens and preteens.
• 1PasswordsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI Guide to Cybersecurity with 1Password highlighting the importance of strong passwords, recognizing phishing, and family cybersecurity protection.
• RobloxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI Guide to Roblox created in collaboration with Roblox, providing comprehensive guidance on the platform's safety features, content filters, chat settings, and parental controls.
• The Digital Citizenship InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOSI partnered with The Digital Citizenship Initiative to expand reach through the Digital Citizens Program, offering tools to support families in raising safe, savvy digital citizens.
• Member Companies (30+)coreOthersFOSI's 30+ member companies include leading technology, telecommunications, social media, gaming, and cybersecurity companies including Apple, Google, TikTok, Roblox, Snap, Nintendo, Amazon, AT&T, Verizon, Microsoft, Netflix, Epic Games, Disney, Meta, Sony, and others. Members include ESRB, Qustodio, Bitdefender, OpenAI, Anthropic, and others.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Internet Watch Foundation (IWF): UK-based nonprofit tackling child sexual abuse imagery online through reporting, analysis, and policy engagement; a direct international peer in the online child-safety category that complements FOSI's European Forum work.
• Internet Matters: UK nonprofit (supported by BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk) providing online safety resources for parents and policymakers; directly comparable industry-funded, parent-focused online safety model in a different geography.
• Thorn: U.S. nonprofit building technology and policy solutions to combat child sexual exploitation online; comparable child-safety mission and direct engagement with platforms on safety tooling, though narrower in scope than FOSI.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): U.S. nonprofit operating the CyberTipline and leading policy advocacy on child online exploitation; comparable in mission (child safety online) and policy engagement with federal/state government, though focused on exploitation response rather than broad online safety.
• UK Safer Internet Centre: UK partnership organization (Internet Watch Foundation, Childnet International, SWGfL) coordinating online safety education, helpline, and policy work; comparable mission structure and one of FOSI's named partners (SWGfL co-developed Family Smart Start).
• Common Sense Media: Major U.S. nonprofit providing age-based media ratings, privacy evaluations, and digital citizenship curriculum for families and schools; directly comparable to FOSI's parent education and digital citizenship mission at significantly larger scale.
• Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT): U.S. nonprofit advocating for digital rights and engaging on online safety, privacy, and platform regulation policy; comparable policy advocacy structure and federal-level engagement, with stronger civil-liberties orientation than FOSI.
• ConnectSafely: U.S.-based nonprofit focused on online safety, digital literacy, and parenting resources; operates with a similar multi-stakeholder model engaging industry, government, and parents, and is a natural direct peer to FOSI in the family online safety space.

Broad incumbents

• CTIA – The Wireless Association: U.S. industry trade association for the wireless telecommunications sector (a FOSI member); comparable in being a member-funded, dues-tiered industry association engaging on policy, though focused on telecom carriers rather than online safety specifically.
• Internet Society (ISOC): Global nonprofit advocating for an open, secure, and accessible Internet; broader in scope than FOSI but operates a comparable membership-driven model and engages on internet policy internationally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fosi
• TikToktiktok.com/@fosi
• Xx.com/FOSI
• Facebookfacebook.com/FamOnlineSafety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-online-safety-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Family Online Safety Institute