A practical guide to grants for human rights organizations, major foundation funders, federal democracy programs, and how to compete for human rights funding.
Human rights work, civil liberties, racial justice, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, criminal justice reform, voting rights, women’s rights, has a substantial foundation funding base, with some federal support (especially for international democracy work) and increasingly visible movement funders.
TL;DR: Quick Answers
- Who funds human rights? Major foundations (Ford, Open Society, MacArthur, Wallace Global, Hewlett), movement and rapid-response funders, community foundations, State Department (international).
- Who can apply? Human rights organizations, legal services, advocacy groups, research organizations, community-based movement organizations.
- What gets funded? Legal services, research, advocacy, organizing, training, litigation, movement-building.
- What’s the biggest opportunity? Major foundation human rights programs plus rapid-response and movement funders.
Major Foundation Funders
- Ford Foundation (one of the largest U.S. human rights funders).
- Open Society Foundations.
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (especially criminal justice).
- Wallace Global Fund.
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
- Skoll Foundation (social entrepreneurs).
- Public Welfare Foundation (criminal justice).
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
- Open Philanthropy.
- NEO Philanthropy.
- Borealis Philanthropy.
- Movement Voter Project.
- Tides Foundation.
- Sigrid Rausing Trust (international).
Movement and Rapid-Response Funders
- Resist Foundation.
- A. J. Muste Memorial Institute.
- Solidaire Network.
- Sapelo Foundation.
- Funders for Justice / Funders Collaborative for Strong Communities.
Federal Funders
State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) for international human rights work.
DOJ Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women for survivor services.
ACF Office on Trafficking in Persons.
What Gets Funded
- Legal services and litigation.
- Research and policy analysis.
- Advocacy and lobbying (within nonprofit legal limits).
- Organizing and movement-building.
- Training and capacity.
- Litigation and strategic legal advocacy.
- Communications and storytelling.
- International human rights (defenders, documentation, accountability).
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Center impacted communities.
- Show coalition and movement context.
- Plan for safety and security, especially for international or hostile-environment work.
- Address sustainability in shifting political environments, see sustainability plan.
- Demonstrate measurable change (policy wins, cases won, organizing growth).
How Grantboost Helps
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Read next:
- Grants for Immigrant-Serving Organizations
- Grants for LGBTQ+ Organizations
- Grants for International Development Work
Further Reading
- State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
- Amnesty International USA
- Human Rights Watch
- Grants.gov (federal funding portal)
Disclaimer: Grant programs, eligibility rules, deadlines, and policies vary by region and change frequently. The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current rules in your area. Always consult a local grant writer or qualified expert in your region for advice specific to your organization, project, and jurisdiction.