Overview
The Fund for Global Human Rights is founded on the belief that securing basic freedoms worldwide requires effective frontline organizations challenging abuse wherever it occurs. Despite their importance, many on-the-ground human rights groups have woefully little access to the financial resources and support that would amplify their voices and increase their impact. The Fund for Global Human Rights was founded by a group of U.S. and Europe-based foundations in 2001 to respond to this funding gap.
The Fund seeks to increase the flow of financial resources to on-the-ground human rights organizations and to strengthen human rights movements and communities in countries around the world. Currently the Fund makes grants to human rights organizations based in sixteen countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Fund aims to provide funding for human rights organizations over the longer term. To that end, we maintain a long-term focus on specific countries and regions where we believe strategic grant-making can make a difference in advancing human rights protections over time. The Fund’s ultimate goal is to promote a strong, effective human rights community in every country around the world.
To do this, the Fund:
- Seeks and pools resources from donors—especially those new to human rights funding—around the world;
- Identifies and provides funding to local, national and regional human rights groups taking on critical issues in a growing number of countries;
- Creates ways and networks to bring often isolated activists together to exchange ideas and strategies;
- Engages human rights activists and funders around the world in developing its funding strategies.
In all its work, the Fund is led by a remarkable international board of directors, composed of human rights advocates and funders. The Fund’s board is chaired by Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and President of Ireland.
The Fund for Global Human Rights operates and accepts proposals in English, French, Spanish and Arabic. The Fund will have limited materials available in Thai beginning in June 2008.
Program Focus
Organizations requesting funding must be working to defend, protect or promote human rights. This work could include mobilizing popular opinion through human rights skills-building and organizing; exposing abuse through documentation; addressing violations through direct action, policy/legal reform and litigation; networking and coalition building to further the effectiveness of human rights work; and capacity building.
Request for Proposals
Organizations seeking grants from the Fund for Global Human Rights must download, complete, and return the forms available here. Eligibility requirements for grants are clearly outlined in the Request for Proposals. Please read these guidelines carefully before you apply to determine whether your group is eligible for funding. At this time, the Fund accepts proposals in English, Spanish, French, Thai, and Arabic.
The current Request for Proposals is for prospective grantees based in Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand, and the Philippines only. For prospective grantees based in India, Pakistan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Uganda, please visit this section of our website in November 2008 for grant application information. For prospective grantees based in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, please visit this section of our website in May/June 2009 for grant application information. We are not funding in any other countries at this time.
Grant-making Process
The Fund for Global Human Rights staff reviews hundreds of proposals each year, of which the Fund is able to support just a small number. The Board of Directors reviews recommendations made by staff and makes all final grant decisions.
Since 2002, the Fund for Global Human Rights has made over $10 million in grants to over 200 human rights organizations. The Fund currently operates in in sixteen countries.
» Check the Eligibility Requirements
