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