Human Rights Funders Network - Better Preparedness

Better Preparedness
Shaping the future of funding: from rapid response to long-term resilience
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From Launch to Leadership: Better Preparedness at the Clinton Global Initiative
In 2025, we return to CGI to share our impacts, bring lessons learned, and contribute our expertise in the Human Rights and Humanitarian Working Groups.
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Crisis Response in Action
Afghanistan
Funders moved from talk to action to sustain civil society through a prolonged crisis.

Georgia
BPI convened funders and activists to share lessons and prepare for Georgia’s authoritarian turn.

US
Over 100 funders rapidly coordinated against sudden threats to civil society and democracy.
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better preparedness: Funding Resilience

Better Preparedness responds to the urgent need for new approaches to funding civil society under threat.

Better Preparedness is a growing community of funders working to ensure that human rights movements and civil society organizations receive the resources they need during times of crisis and in heavily restricted civic spaces. It brings together funders from the human rights, peace and security, and humanitarian sectors with social movements to drive significant resources to the frontlines.

Civil society and human rights groups is facing unprecedented, intersecting crises: from wars and authoritarianism to climate crisis and democratic backsliding. Yet, billions of foundation dollars are failing to reach them, while billions more are needed to meet the rising tide of oppression and instability.

This urgency is growing: HRFN’s latest research warns of a projected decline in funding for global human rights movements, with instability in philanthropic support and cuts to foreign aid threatening the very infrastructure of civic spaces.

Better Preparedness exists to change this trajectory.

By building infrastructure for coordination, improving funding flows, and connecting diverse sectors, the initiative is pioneering a new way to fund resilience and crisis response, so movements can survive today’s crises and thrive tomorrow.

Shape the future of funding, from response to resilience. Join the community today.

Better Preparedness is hosted by Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN), in partnership with Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG). Learn more about HRFN, explore membership, or get involved. For more information about Better Preparedness, contact us at bpinfo@hrfn.org .

Check out the Playbook

Better Preparedness Strategy

Radically improve coordination around crisis through the Better Preparedness Crisis Coordination Playbook and a strong, mobilized community ready to take action.

Build the first-ever field-wide philanthropic infrastructure capable of acting at speed and scale. Learn and iterate in order to shift from crisis-to-crisis models to strategic, long-term global funding strategies across geographies.

Collaborate as an ecosystem to leverage philanthropy’s unique potential to listen to movements, support long-term resilience, and directly reach civil society in contexts where human rights are most heavily restricted.

Drive the transformative shifts needed to change the future of funding for crisis and closed civic spaces. Explore the Crisis Coordination Playbook today.

the CRISIS
COORDINATION playbook

Download the Playbook

Philanthropy is being called on to move resources where civil society is most under threat. The Crisis Coordination Playbook meets this call. Developed through a yearlong codesign process with over 40 foundations and in consultation with social movement partners, the Playbook is ready for action.

TIMELINE

Better Preparedness takes the guesswork out of funding in crisis. Our tools are tested by our community and ready to use today.

Coordination
Blueprint

A how-to guide for setting up coordination during a crisis.

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Suite
of Tools

Access tools: taxonomy of crisis, risk assessment, & after-action review.

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Better Preparedness
Community

Join Learning Labs, exchange lessons, and codesign funding solutions.

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Get Involved

Funders

Connect with peer funders, share strategies, and act together in times of crisis. Help shape a stronger, more resilient future for philanthropy.

HRFN or PSFG membership is strongly encouraged. Non-members are welcome to apply and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Join the Community of Practice

Civil Society

Civil society organizations are critical partners in this work. Stay informed to join open sessions, participate in movement consultations, and explore resources and events.

Learn more about civil society engagement in the Playbook.

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Curious? Participate in open spaces like Learning Labs and help shape strategies for the future. For more information, get in contact with us! bpinfo@hrfn.org

Frequently
Asked Questions

Wherever you sit, there is an entry point for you. From working with full institutional buy-in, to joining as a lone staff advocate, to coming from a legal or compliance team, there are tools for you.

View here

Explore events and latest resources on Better Preparedness

This initiative is first and foremost for human rights and peace and security foundations working in highly restricted civic space and/or in crisis contexts.

For questions or to express interest, please contact us at bpinfo@hrfn.org.