A nonprofit that raised funds for .meow through Kickstarter has selected its backend provider.
dotMeow Foundation, a Belgian nonprofit focused on fostering social inclusion, strengthening community ties, and empowering LGBTQIA+ people, announced that it has chosen CORE as the registry service provider for the .meow top-level domain. The foundation previously raised €122,000 via a Kickstarter campaign to support its application and initial launch activities, making the project one of the rare new generic top-level domain (gTLD) efforts funded through crowdfunding.
The transparency that comes with crowdfunding has allowed supporters and observers to follow the application and launch process closely. The foundation has been sharing regular updates about the application progress, operational plans, and the practical challenges of turning a crowdfunded initiative into a fully operational internet registry. Selecting a backend provider is a key milestone in that roadmap: the registry service provider will supply the technical infrastructure required to run the namespace, including zone management, DNS services, and the operational procedures needed to ensure reliable, secure resolution of .meow domains.
dotMeow Foundation has also been accepted into ICANN’s Applicant Support Program, which reduces the application fee by 75% and provides lower fees for the first three years of operation. While that support is significant, the foundation reports that additional financing has been necessary to cover upfront expenses and to bridge timing gaps between fundraising and fees. The board has provided loans to the entity to help get the domain off the ground, and the organization continues to manage the practicalities of converting crowdfunding receipts into the formal financial documentation ICANN requires.
One ongoing challenge is the tax and accounting complexity associated with crowdfunding. The foundation noted that contributions collected through Kickstarter create specific bookkeeping and reporting obligations, which must be reconciled and documented to satisfy ICANN’s financial verification processes. Preparing audited statements, expense tracking, and proof of available funds can be more time-consuming for a project funded by many individual backers than for one financed by a single donor or institutional grant.
Operating from Belgium introduces additional regulatory considerations. Because Belgium has implemented the NIS2 cybersecurity directive without a small-operator exemption, registry operators based there must ensure compliance regardless of their size. The foundation is preparing to meet NIS2 requirements through delegation, developing processes and contractual arrangements that will align with the directive’s security and incident-reporting expectations. This includes establishing clear roles and responsibilities with the chosen registry service provider and documenting technical and organizational measures designed to protect the registry’s infrastructure.
Beyond compliance and financing, the foundation is also working on governance, community outreach, and the policies that will guide the .meow namespace. As a nonprofit with a social mission, dotMeow aims to balance accessibility with safeguards that reflect its commitment to inclusion and safety for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies. That means setting registration policies, dispute resolution procedures, and acceptable-use rules that support its stated goals while also meeting ICANN’s operational and technical criteria.
The selection of CORE marks a concrete step forward in the transition from concept to operation. With a registry service provider in place, dotMeow can advance the technical planning required for delegation and begin coordinating the remaining administrative, financial, and compliance tasks. The foundation’s updates will likely continue to clarify timelines and next steps as it works toward delegation and public availability of .meow domain names.