Human Rights Funders Network

Climate Justice

Climate justice and racial justice are deeply interconnected. We will encourage funders to collaborate with Global South and climate justice funders to push human rights philanthropy towards climate action. We believe in centering Indigenous communities and other land defenders, and that we must shift towards systems that regenerate rather than destroy. This area of work is likely to be developed and expanded in 2023-2024.

ReportS, Publications & stories

The climate crisis needs a feminist response, not a military one (Yifat Susskind, MADRE)
Closing Civil Society Space: What Environmental Funders Need to Know (Funders' Initiative for Civil Society)
Community-Led, Human Rights-Based Solutions to Climate-Forced Displacement: A guide for funders (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee)
What The Water Brings: Lessons on Funding Young Feminist Activism on Climate and Environmental Justice (FRIDA)

Global Funding Ecosystem

We are deepening global solidarity and action, because working across geographies will only strengthen the funding ecosystem. We will expressly increase involvement from Global East and South funders as well as underrepresented regions like the Middle East and East Africa. We will also look at new funding trends, such as donor advised funds, tech-fueled giving, and the presence of government funders, and consider most effective strategies for transnational solidarity among funders.

Reports, Publications and Stories

Human Rights Funding Principles Offer a Road Map to Strengthen Philanthropy (Lesley Carson, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund )
Reversing the trend: The time is now to fund disability rights (Lorraine Wapling, Arlene Wilson-Grant, and Aapurv Jain, Disability Rights Fund/ the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund)
Understanding the Global South: Key philanthropic trends, challenges and opportunities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America (IEFG and Elevate Children Funders Group)
Fund 101: What Is Flexible Funding? (The Fund for Global Human Rights)

Human Rights Defenders & Closing Civic Space

Protecting Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) and defending against threats to civic space are fundamental to advancing human rights. We will continue both of these efforts by bringing together a future-looking approach, an analysis of closing civic space, and HRDs in ways that enable funders to engage with each other. This approach will challenge us to see the intersections between HRDs and civic space, as well as other interlinked issues. We are also designing learning journeys to collectively build a more resilient approach to funding in -- and before -- human rights crises.

Reports, Publications & Stories

Freedom in the World 2022: The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule (Sarah Repucci and Amy Slipowitz, Freedom House)
Rethinking civic space in an age of intersectional crises: a briefing for funders (Funders' Initiative for Civil Society)
Funding for Ukraine: An Incomplete Response (Rachel Thomas, HRFN)
Checking our donor agenda at the door? What is the role for funders in closing civil society contexts? (Sophia Sakhanberidze, Mama Cash)

Intersectionality

It is imperative for funders to support intersectional, cross-issue, and cross-movement work. Yet, our analysis of the human rights funding landscape shows that most grant funding remains siloed. We will develop research to explore human rights funders’ intersectional approaches and shed light on which populations and issues overlap the most and least. We will identify and promote models for powerful intersectional grantmaking, and push for more funding for intersectional movements.

Reports, Publications & Stories

Vibrant Yet Under-Resourced: The State Of Lesbian, Bisexual, And Queer Movements (Mama Cash and Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice)
What can funders consider when responding to COVID-19? (Solome Lemma, Thousand Currents)
Sisterhood Feminist Principles of Philanthropy (Urgent Actions Funds)

Racial Justice

Racial justice funding on a global scale requires new forms of analysis and deep and heartfelt communities of practice. We will partner with racial justice movements and funders to research funding trends and co-create a learning group. We will develop a collaborative analysis of global race and ethnicity issues, incorporating anti-blackness, colonization, caste, colorism, and other sites of movements for racial justice, to guide how members act and fund.

Reports, Publications & Stories

The Dire State of Funding for Black Feminist Movements — and What Donors Can Do About It (Hakima Abbas, Black Feminist Fund and Kellea Miller, HRFN)
It’s time for funders to debrahminise philanthropy (Prachi Patankar, Foundation for a Just Society)
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Grant Making: A Guide for Reflection and Learning (Open Society Foundations)
A Time to Celebrate and to Recommit (Foundation for a Just Society)

Contact Us

Our Vision

We envision a peaceful future where rights are protected and upheld, the planet is cared for, and all people can live and love with dignity.

We believe in co-creating an ethical resourcing community that innovates with heart and shifts power and money in support of human rights.

We commit to transforming systems of oppression by uplifting voices from the Global South and East and those leading social change; centering racial justice; and celebrating all forms of justice, including at the intersections of race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, disability, climate, digital security, economic and migrant rights, and beyond.

Our Mission

We are a network of funders from the Global South, East, and North dedicated to resourcing human rights action around the world. We use research, community building, advocacy, and communications to advance open philanthropy, in which funding is abundant, justice-centered, open in knowledge and power, and informed by movements. We strive to create a field of funding that is accountable to progressive movements, unequivocally anti-racist, and responsive to intersecting forms of injustice.

Our Values

Accountability: We believe funders must be accountable to one another, to movements, and to the planet. Our network is a place for mutual accountability, learning, and unlearning.
Power Sharing: We promote new forms of decision-making in philanthropy and build collaborations based on trust. We strategize to move money and power to those leading social change.
Movement Centering: We model and promote a funding field that meaningfully centers and uplifts organizers and their movements, particularly Black, Indigenous, and other historically oppressed communities.
Open Knowledge: Open information, data, and knowledge are essential for innovation, participation, and impact. Philanthropy has operated behind closed doors for too long. It is time for substantial transformation.
Racial Justice and Intersectionality: We strive to be justice-oriented, decolonial, and anti-racist, working at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities, as well as other living beings and nature.
Collective Care: Care and wellness are political and matters of justice. We practice and uplift holistic protection, digital security, and the full range of care required to live with dignity.

HRFN STRATEGY: open philanthropy

Since our founding in 1994, HRFN has been a place for funders to take risks, debate, and push the field of philanthropy. In the wake of a global pandemic and world-wide uprisings, we’ve been called on to ask: What role can and should HRFN play to meet the moment? What is most needed to advance resourcing and support human rights globally?

Out of a year-long process, we crafted HRFN’s Strategy 2021-2025: Toward Open Philanthropy.

This strategy honors HRFN’s legacy while also embracing a future-looking approach. It crafts an HRFN that holds a sense of radical possibility at our core and works with joy and love.

Our new mission and vision reflect the input of members, advisors, and movements. Our strategic framework, open philanthropy, is an offering and a hope. Our work continues to bring hard-hitting analysis to inform and guide the field. And our priority areas hone our work, even as we ardently support all areas of human rights.

our STORY

For nearly 30 years, Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) has brought funders together to collaborate, strategize, and advance the field of human rights grantmaking. Formerly known as the International Human Rights Funders Group (IHRFG), HRFN was founded in 1994 by a small group of human rights grantmakers who wanted to share their strategies and what they were learning, discuss field-wide trends, and collaborate.

Since our inception, our community has grown into a global network of almost 450 institutions across 70 countries committed to advancing human rights through open philanthropy. Our membership includes more than 1,800 staff, consultants, and trustees of private, corporate, and public foundations, community giving programs, women’s funds, and philanthropic advocacy and support organizations.

We are grateful for the leadership and dedication of those who have shaped HRFN’s vision and work, including coordinators, Anna Nygaard-Yelk, Mona Younis, and Andrew Park, and past executive directors:

Michael Hirschorn
Catherine Hyde Townsend
Mona Chun

Grantseekers Resources

HRFN does not provide grants and we are not able to connect organizations to specific funders. We know that it can be challenging to raise funds and that human rights activists undertake difficult and sometimes dangerous work. We hope grantseekers find these resources helpful.

Advancing Human Rights Research Hub

Part of Human Rights Funders Network and Candid’s Advancing Human Rights research, this interactive site shows top funders and provides an overview of grantmaking by region, issue, population, and strategy.
Digital First Aid Kit

A self-assessment guide for digital emergencies developed by Hivos, Digital Defenders Partnership, EFF, Global Voices, Front Line Defenders, Internews, Freedom House, Access, Qurium, CIRCL, IWPR and Open Technology Fund.
Directory of Emergency and Rapid Response Grants

Information on funders who make emergency and rapid response grants, primarily for human rights defenders. HRFN’s Human Rights Defenders Working Group compiled this guide.
Directory of Rest and Respite Resources

Information on organizations that can provide temporary shelter, wellbeing support and other forms of assistance to human rights defenders.
Foundation Center

Discover what funders are most likely to support, learn about their interests and perspectives, and gain the knowledge you need to find additional resources.
FundsforNGOS

An online resource that includes listings of the latest grant funding opportunities for NGOs and individuals.
GlobalGiving

An online platform that enables NGOs anywhere in the world to raise funds for their projects. GlobalGiving provides fundraising training and support and may offer to match the funds you raise through the site.

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How do I become a member?

HRFN strives to build meaningful relationships with prospective members. Contact our team at community@hrfn.org to learn how to join!

Who are your members and how are they selected? / Are there any criteria for becoming part of the community?

HRFN members are grantmaking institutions or individual donors committed to advancing human rights. Membership is institutional, meaning any staff member can participate in HRFN members-only programs.

Institutions eligible for membership must:

Be an institution or individual who makes grants as a primary program area
Be one of the following type of institutions:
- Trust & Private foundation
- Corporate foundation
- Community foundation
- Public foundation
- Bilateral
- Individual donor
Have a human rights focus in its grantmaking
Not abuse human rights

Why should I become a member? / What are the benefits to joining the HRFN community?

Learn more about our offerings here.

Where do membership dues go?

Membership dues keep our global network running. They cover the costs of our systems, platforms, and staff, and support the organisation of events and our conference.

How do I know how much to pay in Membership dues? / What is the annual recommended contribution for members?

Dues are voluntary contributions made by our members that correspond to your annual grantmaking budget. View the list of contribution levels.

Can I pay my annual membership dues online by credit card?

Yes! HRFN accepts dues online by credit card. Contributions via bank account on this site are subject to a US$6,000 maximum. For bank account contributions above this amount, please use a bank transfer or send an email with the subject line "HRFN Contribution" to community@hrfn.org for alternate instructions.

What is the best way to introduce a prospective member to HRFN?

We’re excited to connect with the larger community! To introduce a prospective member, email community@hrfn.org.

When does my membership renew?

Membership duration is annual (January-December), and every member is asked to contribute dues based on their previous year’s annual grantmaking budget. Dues payments can be made at any time during the year, but the last day to make a payment is 3 January of the following year. Active members must have paid dues in the current and/or previous calendar year.

I'm ready to renew my membership. What do I need to do?

We’re excited that you want to renew your membership! Please reach out to our team and request a dues invoice via community@hrfn.org.

Can members use HRFN’s jobs board?

Yes! HRFN posts open positions with member organizations and supporters, and within our greater philanthropic and human rights community. To submit a job posting, please submit a form here.

How can I share my institution’s event with HRFN?

HRFN shares events hosted by members on the Community Events page. If you have an event you’d like us to add, please fill out this form.

I have an issue that isn’t covered here. Who can I reach out to?

For membership-related questions, please reach out to community@hrfn.org

About HRFN

Network Priorities

Our People

three decades of TRANSFORMING human rights philanthropy

Our Vision

Our Mission

Our Values

focus areas to TRANSFORM THE FIELD

Meet the team behind HRFN

Brenda Salas Neves

Debbie Zamd

Divina Lama

Kellea Miller

Rachel Thomas

Alda Salomão

Katy Love

Maitri Morarji (co-chair)

Maria Amália Souza

Monica Aleman Cunningham

Rachel Freed (co-chair)

Tracey Gurd

Climate Justice

ReportS, Publications & stories

Global Funding Ecosystem

Reports, Publications and Stories

Human Rights Defenders & Closing Civic Space

Reports, Publications & Stories

Intersectionality

Reports, Publications & Stories

Racial Justice

Reports, Publications & Stories

Contact Us

Our Vision

Our Mission

Our Values

HRFN STRATEGY: open philanthropy

our STORY

Grantseekers Resources

Advancing Human Rights Research Hub

Digital First Aid Kit

Directory of Emergency and Rapid Response Grants

Directory of Rest and Respite Resources

Foundation Center

FundsforNGOS

GlobalGiving

SUBMIT AN EVENT

Contact Info:

Event Information:

How do I become a member?

Who are your members and how are they selected? / Are there any criteria for becoming part of the community?

Why should I become a member? / What are the benefits to joining the HRFN community?

Where do membership dues go?

How do I know how much to pay in Membership dues? / What is the annual recommended contribution for members?

Can I pay my annual membership dues online by credit card?

What is the best way to introduce a prospective member to HRFN?

When does my membership renew?

I'm ready to renew my membership. What do I need to do?

Can members use HRFN’s jobs board?

How can I share my institution’s event with HRFN?

I have an issue that isn’t covered here. Who can I reach out to?

three decades of TRANSFORMING
human rights philanthropy

focus areas to
TRANSFORM THE FIELD