Funders, Networks, & Allies

The African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) is “a grantmaking foundation that supports local, national and regional women’s organisations working towards the empowerment of African women and the promotion and realisation of their rights .By specialising in grant-making and focused, tailored movement-building programmes, we work to strengthen and support the work of African women’s organisations.By amplifying and celebrating African women’s voices and achievements, AWDF supports efforts that combat harmful stereotypes, and promote African women as active agents of change.” Information about their grantmaking and other work is available on their website.

AIDS Fonds is “a Dutch non-profit organisation that works internationally. Working with communities as equals is at the heart of all our work. We conduct research and ensure that HIV, AIDS and STIs remain high on the agenda worldwide. Together we are working to find a cure for HIV.”

They provide a variety of Grants and funding oportunities and provide an updated list of COVID-19 & HIV Funding Opportunities from allied organisations.

“American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is the leading Jewish organisation working to fight poverty and pursue justice in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Through philanthropy and advocacy, American Jewish World Service responds to the most pressing issues of our time—from disasters, genocide and hunger, to the persecution of women and minorities worldwide.

AJWS is one of the founding members of Red Umbrella Fund’s International Steering Committee. AJWS has reported extensively on the importance of protecting the human rights of sex workers and is an active member of the Sex Worker Donor Collaborative. “To effectively stop abuse against sex workers, experts suggest that many changes must take place—from supporting sex workers to educate each other about their rights to reforming laws that have limited sex workers’ access to safe workplaces, economic opportunities and critical services such as health care.”

“The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu.

FORUM-Asia provides urgent funding for human rights defenders through their Protection Plan for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.”

The ASTRAEA LESBIAN FOUNDATION FOR JUSTICE is the only philanthropic organisation working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice, because we all deserve to live our lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.

“CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society throughout the world. “We were established in 1993 and since 2002 have been proudly headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with additional hubs across the globe.
We are a membership alliance with more than 9,000 members in more than 175 countries. Our definition of civil society is broad and covers non-governmental organisations, activists, civil society coalitions and networks, protest and social movements, voluntary bodies, campaigning organisations, charities, faith-based groups, trade unions and philanthropic foundations. Our membership is diverse, spanning a wide range of issues, sizes and organisation types.””

CIVICUS Crisis Response Fund provides funding for short term projects (3-6 months) to CSOs (Civil Society Organisations) working with human rights – projects that address a threat related to freedom of peaceful assembly and association by doing advocacy activities, or resilience ones. Must be “primarily registered in the United States”.

“CREA is a feminist international human rights organization based in the Global South and led by women from the Global South. CREA’s work draws upon the inherent value of a rights-based approach to sexuality and gender equality. CREA promotes, protects, and advances human rights and the sexual rights of all people by building leadership capacities of activists and allies; strengthening organizations and social movements; creating and increasing access to new information, knowledge, and resources; and enabling supportive social and policy environments. Many resources are also in Bengali, Hindi, and Nepali. “

The Digital Defenders Partnership offers support to human rights defenders under digital threat, and works to strengthen local rapid response networks. From 2012 to 2019, DDP received its funding from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom; along with the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the United States Department of State. DDP operates in a manner that is independent from its donors and is managed by the Humanist Institute for Development Co-operation (Hivos), a non-profit organisation headquartered in the Netherlands that provides funding and implements programmes to innovate for social change worldwide.

“ELAS Social Investment Fund (ELAS+) is the first independent fund that is dedicated to promoting and advancing the rights of girls and women in Brazil. “”ELAS transforms innovative ideas of thousandas of women from different ethnicities, races and sexual orientation into reality. ELAS launches “call of proposals” to select and support innovative projects of women’s groups working for women’s empowerment and rights.
We have built a pioneering methodology based on meritocracy where women’s groups and organizations use pseudonyms when submitting their proposals. We aim at brake a culture of favoritism and to ensure transparency. All groups and organizations selected participate in capacity building and dialogue meetings that promote knowledge and encourage the creation of joint strategies so its impact goes further.”””

Elton John Aids Foundation (EJAF) “is one of the leading independent AIDS organisations in the world. The Foundation’s mission is simple: to be a powerful force in the end to the AIDS epidemic. We are committed to no more discrimination. No more HIV infections. No more AIDS deaths. No matter who or where you are.” Learn more about what they fund on their website.

Equality Fund robustly resources women’s rights organizations and feminist movements worldwide by partnering with organizations, coalitions, and networks focused on building power with women, girls, and trans people, especially in the Global South.

Fondo de Acción Urgente (FAU-AL) is “a regional feminist fund for Latin America and the spanish speaking Caribbean, which contributes to the sustainability and strengthening of activists and their movements, with quick and agile support in situations of risk and opportunity. We support the resistances, struggles and demands of the defenders in the transformation of injustice and inequality systems, putting feminist integral protection and care in the center” They are apart of the Urgent Action Fund global consortium and provides rapid response grants.

“Fondo Semillas is a non-profit feminist organization focused on improving women’s and trans* people lives in Mexico. We dream of a country where all women, indigenous, mestiza, black, young, migrant, heterosexual, lesbian, mothers, and students alike, can make their own decisions and have access to health services, education, a decent job, justice, and happiness.

To achieve this, Fondo Semillas:
* Mobilizes resources from institutional, corporate and individual donors, both in México and abroad.
* Works together with groups and organizations, providing them with financial resources, strengthening their capacities, and connecting them with other organizations, networks, and movements.
* Promotes and disseminates themes of the feminist agenda.
* Seeks to help organizations to carry out their work freely and safely, with a feminist perspective, even during emergencies.
* Establishes horizontal relationships with donors in order to achieve redistributive justice.”

Foundation for a Just Society (FJS) “advances the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and promotes gender and racial justice by ensuring those most affected by injustice have the resources they need to cultivate the leadership and solutions that transform our world.” Learn more about what they fund on their website.

“Since 2007, Freedom House has been providing short-term support to human rights defenders, civil society organizations and survivors of severe religious persecution in some of the world’s most repressive and conflict-ridden environments. This assistance reaches frontline activists and civil society organizations at their moment of greatest need. It has helped them survive attacks, given them the means to resume their critical work, and in many cases literally saved lives.” They provide Emergency Assistance to Frontline Activists.