By connecting the world, working with others, and advocating for equal access to the Internet, the Internet Society strives to make the world a better place.

At the foundation of our work are a vision and a mission.

Vision

The Internet is for everyone.

Mission

To promote the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet for the benefit of all people throughout the world.

To help achieve our mission, the Internet Society:

• Facilitates open development of standards, protocols, administration, and the technical infrastructure of the Internet.
• Supports education in developing countries specifically, and wherever the need exists.
• Promotes professional development and builds community to foster participation and leadership in areas important to the evolution of the Internet.
• Provides reliable information about the Internet.
• Provides forums for discussion of issues that affect Internet evolution, development and use in technical, commercial, societal, and other contexts.
• Fosters an environment for international cooperation, community, and a culture that enables self-governance to work.
• Serves as a focal point for cooperative efforts to promote the Internet as a positive tool to benefit all people throughout the world.
• Provides management and coordination for on-strategy initiatives and outreach efforts in humanitarian, educational, societal, and other contexts.

With these strategic underpinnings in place, the Internet Society has identified and undertaken a number of projects to demonstrate its commitment to the mission. Many of these have been initiated by Chapters or as a result of individual and organisational member desires. Others have been undertaken through the efforts of the Trustees, and Internet Society staff in Reston, Geneva, and around the globe.