The Mozilla Foundation is launching an award program specifically focused on supporting open source and free software, with an initial allocation for the program to be $1,000,000. According to Mitchell Baker, Executive Chairwoman, Mozilla Foundation, the Mozilla Open Source Support program encompasses both: a) a "give back" element for open source and free software projects that Mozilla relies on; and b) a "give forward" component for supporting other projects where financial resources from Mozilla can make the entire community more successful.

The Mozilla Open Source Support program will also encompass a component supporting increased attention to the security of open source and free software programs.

The program will start immediately implementing the "give back" component for open source and free software projects on which Mozilla relies.

"Our goal is to identify up to 10 projects we rely on and can fund in a thoughtful, meaningful way by December 12th," Baker added.

Baker will take input on the design of the program for a week and then will finalize the terms for the first set of awards. You can send suggestions to the Mozilla Open Source Support mailing list; you can subscribe here.