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 offerings are available when I join the HRFN community?
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 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 for a 12-month period, 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. Fill out this form to submit a job.
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.
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.
This interactive site provides an overview of human rights grantmaking by region, issue, population, and strategy. The findings are based on annual research by Human Rights Funders Network and Candid, in partnership with Ariadne and Prospera.
Discover what funders are most likely to support, learn about their interests and perspectives, and gain the knowledge you need to find additional resources.
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.
