Community Voices Blog
This is a space for all members to share their insights on topics related to human rights and grantmaking.
Displaying All Posts (158)
The SDGs acknowledge rights in ways that their predecessor, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), neglected to do. But in what way – and how does philanthropy align?
Human rights are going to continue being a key part of our global culture, today more than ever we need to make them a local reality. Integration needs to be the new international standard.
April 25, 2017
Collective Power of Inclusion
Originally published on the Disability Rights Fund blog on April 10, 2017, Catherine Hyde Townsend of Wellspring Advisors reflects on the challenges and opportunities for supporting women and girls with disabilities. In September of last year, thousands of women gathered in Bahia, Brazil for AWID’s women’s rights forum to celebrate the collective power of women… Read more
April 7, 2017
Closing of Environmental Civil Society Space: Strategies for Support on the Frontlines
Peter Kostishack of Global Greengrants Fund reflects on the anniversary of Berta Cáceres’ murder and shares effective strategies for supporting environmental rights defenders on the frontlines. The 2016 murder of Honduran river-protection activist, Berta Caceres, received international media attention, but her story is only the tip of the iceberg. Other appalling cases include the murders… Read more
April 6, 2017
Fighting West Africa’s Ebola Outbreak: What Lessons Can Human Rights Funders Learn from the Response?
John M Kabia, Program Officer for West Africa at the Fund for Global Human Rights, shares lessons for human rights funders following the experiences of local civil society and human rights organizations during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It’s been over a year since the WHO officially declared the end of the Ebola… Read more
March 27, 2017
How “Advancing Human Rights” Can – and Can’t – Support Academic Research
Merrill Sovner of the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, discusses the divide between philanthropy practice and scholarship in light of IHRFG and Foundation Center’s latest Advancing Human Rights research. The International Human Rights Funders Group and Foundation Center recently published Advancing Human Rights: Update on… Read more
February 15, 2017
What Surprises Me about Human Rights Grantmaking
Melinda Fine of TCC Group, reflects on IHRFG and Foundation Center’s latest key findings report, Advancing Human Rights: Update on Global Foundation Grantmaking, and its implications for the field of human rights philanthropy. When your job centers on helping funders assess needs, devise strategies, and manage and evaluate their grantmaking, you wish that every field… Read more
February 8, 2017
The World is Upside-Down. What are Human Rights Funders Doing to Turn it Over?
Carla López C. of Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres (FCAM) reflects on the growing visibility and vital role of Global South and East funders in advancing human rights – and the importance of collaboration. What can Global South and East funders teach peer funders based in the Global North about sustaining intersectional social justice movements?
January 27, 2017
Why Every Funder Should Consider Participatory Grantmaking
Originally published on Foundation Center’s GrantCraft, Katy Love of the Wikimedia Foundation and Kelly Buhles of RSF Social Finance discuss the strengths, challenges, and opportunities of the participatory grantmkaing process. Ever heard of participatory grantmaking? It is a philanthropic approach that engages constituencies in the grantmaking process. A group of participatory grantmakers are currently joining… Read more
January 12, 2017
On the Scene at IHRFG in 2016
Even though most of us are glad that 2016 is over, we’re thankful for all of the positive energy, great ideas, and enthusiastic collaboration of our members. Last year, IHRFG members wrote 30 blog posts, organized 28 conference sessions, gave 12 lightning talks, and participated in 21 webinars. Here’s a quick run-down of what IHRFG… Read more