The Red Umbrella Fund is the first global fund guided by and for sex workers. We believe that change will only be achieved through strong, collaborative movements of sex workers advocating for their rights, with the support of their allies. Sex workers themselves are the best positioned to know what is needed for them, and best placed to do something about it. The Red Umbrella Fund exists to mobilise resources to help strengthen and sustain the movement in achieving human rights for sex workers.

“It’s helpful having sex workers making funding decisions because we understand which projects or groups will really be effective towards positive change. Bottom line, it’s our bodies, our lives, and we should be at the forefront of all decisions affecting us”  (member of the Red Umbrella Fund’s Programme Advisory Committee)

Since its creation in 2012, the Red Umbrella Fund has made 103 grants to sex worker-led organisations and networks in 49 countries. All our grantees are selected by our international Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) which is led by sex workers.

Learn more about how to apply for a grant here.

 

Highlights

18May

Sex Workers are Feminists Too

“Today I want to talk about sex workers.” This was not your regular presentation opening at a meeting with funders. But then, it was not your regular meeting. From 11 to 13 April 2018, a unique encounter of very diverse activists and funders took place in Kenya to talk – and dream – about feminist... Read more »
28Mar

Funding a Movement

Introducing the New Grantee Partners of the Red Umbrella Fund The Red Umbrella Fund received 130 eligible applications from sex worker-led groups and networks during our Global Call for Applications last year. All these applications were reviewed and scored by our 11-member Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) and, after many days of deliberation among the sex... Read more »
15Dec

Minorities in a Movement

Uniting LBT and Refugee Sex Workers Red Umbrella Fund’s Programme Associate Louise visited OGERA (the Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy) in Uganda earlier this year to listen and learn from this unique group. Why are they organized specifically around lesbian, bisexual, transgender (LBT) and refugee sex workers? And how do they manage to... Read more »

More highlights