While human rights work on the ground has steadily increased, the funding for such activities has not. Concern about this gap prompted a number of US and European funders to explore ways to support human rights organizations and movements around the world.
At its January 2001 meeting, the International Human Rights Funders Group, a philanthropic association (affinity group) representing over eighty foundations and donors, created a committee to address the urgent need for resources for small human rights organizations worldwide. The committee developed a concept for the creation of an intermediary that would link funders with organizations in need of support. The concept was overwhelmingly endorsed by IHRFG at its July 2001 meeting and led to the creation of the Fund for Global Human Rights in 2002 with $1.6 million in initial seed money from Oak Foundation, Ruben and Elisabeth Rausing Trust, Moriah Fund, Ford Foundation, Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, The Philanthropic Collaborative, Anonymous, Open Society Institute, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Diamondston Foundation, and Global Greengrants, and two individuals.
By establishing the Fund for Global Human Rights, they sought to create opportunities for new funding and the exchange of ideas, strategies and mutual support among otherwise isolated human rights groups. Since grantmaking began in 2003, the Fund has disbursed over $8 million to over 200 human rights organizations in five regions of the world.
