Funders, Networks, & Allies

“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.”

“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”.

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.

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.

“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.

“Front Line Defenders was founded in 2001 with “the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk (HRDs), people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Front Line Defenders addresses the protection needs identified by HRDs themselves. In emergency situations Front Line Defenders can facilitate temporary relocation of human rights defenders.”

Front Line Defenders funds sex worker-led organisations through their Security Grants Program.”

Founded in 2004, HER Fund mobilizes resources for women’s empowerment, the promotion of social changes and gender equality. “We support the most vulnerable women and girls in Hong Kong by providing capacity-building, leadership training and small grants to grassroots organizations led by and serving the most disadvantaged. We also increase the visibility of marginalized women and girls—and the issues they face.” Informal groups based in Hong Kong may apply with a registered organisation. There is significant accompaniment available through the organisation to support the applications process. 

“The Open Technology Fund (OTF) is an independent non-profit organization committed to advancing global Internet freedom. OTF supports projects focused on counteracting repressive censorship and surveillance, enabling citizens worldwide to exercise their fundamental human rights online. Through the research, development, implementation, and sustainability of technologies that facilitate the free flow of information, increase at-risk users’ digital security, and enable free expression, the OTF community is working to shape the Internet as a platform that fosters unimpeded connection and collaboration – facilitating positive social progress and reinforcing core democratic values.
Open Technology Fund has four different funds including Internet Freedom Fund and Rapid Response Fund.”

“The Peace Development Fund is more than a grantmaker: our model of philanthropy involves direct funding, advocacy where appropriate and partnerships built around mutual respect, sharing of resources, and transparency of planning and decision-making. We endeavor to be a key “go-to” foundation on issues of peace, human rights, social justice and environmental protection. We work to counter-balance dominant power structures by moving resources and sharing decision-making with activist groups and communities.
PDF has five programs including grantmaking, technical assistance, fiscal sponsorship, and rapid response funding. They fund in the United States and Mexico.”

Protect Defenders is the European Union Human Rights Defenders mechanism. The consortium of 12 NGOs “Operates a permanent and rapid response mechanism to provide urgent assistance and practical support to Human Rights Defenders in danger, their families, and their work. Manages a programme of temporary relocation for Human Rights Defenders at risk to relocate inside their country, within their region, or abroad in case of an urgent threat. Supports the creation of shelters for HRDs at risk and coordinates an exchange platform for stakeholders working on temporary relocation for Human Rights Defenders, the EU temporary relocation platform. Provides training, financial support, accompaniment, and capacity-building to Human Rights Defenders and local organisations. Monitors the situation of human rights defenders, including in the field, and advocates for a protection agenda for Human Rights Defenders at local, regional, and international level. Promotes coordination between organisations dedicated to support for Human Rights Defenders, EU institutions and other relevant actors.”

“The SWGC is a cross-class, multi-racial, intergenerational giving circle made up of a group of Fellows with current or past experience with sex work or the sex trade. The Fellows make all high-level funding decisions and grantmaking recommendations, and lead many of our fundraising activities.”

For 25 years, Third Wave Fund has resourced youth-led, intersectional, gender justice movements to advance the community power, well-being, and self-determination of young Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color (BIPOC).”  They provide a variety of funding opportunities including rapid response funding through the Mobilize Power Fund and host the sex worker-led Sex Worker Giving Circle.

“UHAI – EASHRI are philanthropic activists in a region where our identities as LGBTIQ+ people and as sex workers are criminalised through punitive laws, where governments actively shut down spaces for movement organising to end discrimination in access to services and healthcare, where societal and public opinion upholds exclusion from families, exclusion from faith communities and denial of basic rights such as access to dignified livelihoods, access to fair hearing and justice by law enforcement.”

Urgent Action Fund (UAF) provides Rapid Response Grantmaking and is part of a global consortium of Urgent Action Funds.Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights is a feminist fund that protects, strengthens and sustains women and transgender human rights defenders at critical moments.

Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights – Asia & Pacific (UAF-ANP) is part of the Urgent Action Fund global consortium. supports the resilience and resistance of movements led by women and non-binary activists in Asia and the Pacific by co-creating a safe environment for them to sustain their work and thrive. Guided by feminist values, individuals, organisations, and their communities are provided urgent grants and strategic support to strengthen their safety and well-being.They provide rapid response grants.