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Advancing Human Rights

The State of Global Foundation Grantmaking

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  • Years
    • 2011 - 2015
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
  • Regions
    • Asia & Pacific
    • Caribbean
    • Eastern Europe, Central Asia, & Russia
    • Global Programs
    • Latin America & Mexico
    • Middle East & North Africa
    • North America
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
    • Western Europe
  • Issues
    • Access to Justice/Equality Before the Law
    • Civic and Political Participation
    • Economic and Labor Rights
    • Education, Religion, and Culture
    • Environmental and Resource Rights
    • Equality Rights and Freedom from Discrimination
    • Expression and Information Rights
    • Freedom from Violence
    • Health and Well-being Rights
    • Human Rights, General
    • Migration and Displacement
    • Sexual and Reproductive Rights
    • Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding
  • Populations
    • Children & Youth
    • Human Rights Defenders
    • Indigenous Peoples
    • LGBTQI
    • Migrants & Refugees
    • People with Disabilities
    • Sex Workers
    • Women & Girls
  • Strategies
    • Advocacy, Systems Reform and Implementation
    • Arts and Culture
    • Capacity-building and Technical Assistance
    • Coalition-building and Collaboration
    • Grassroots Organizing
    • Litigation and Legal Aid
    • Media and Technology
    • Research and Documentation
    • Scholarships and Travel
    • Security and Resilience
  • Bi/Multilateral
Strategy

Litigation and Legal Aid, 2016

Taking legal action to establish progressive jurisprudence to advance human rights, instigate reform of national laws which do not comply with international human rights standards, and enable individuals and communities to seek remedies for human rights violations. Ensuring all people have equitable access to legal assistance and representation.

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  • Trends, 2011 - 2015
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
Explore:
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  • Top Foundation Funders
  • Regional Focus
  • Issue Focus
  • Population Focus

3%
Share of foundation
human rights funding

$87.4 Million out of
$2.8 Billion for all rights
818 Grants

Top Foundation Funders

  1. Ford Foundation $15.6 M
  2. The Sigrid Rausing Trust $10.3 M
  3. NoVo Foundation $8.2 M
  4. Oak Foundation $6.6 M
  5. National Endowment for Democracy $5.3 M
  6. NEO Philanthropy $3.9 M
  7. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation $3.5 M
  8. Foundation to Promote Open Society $3.1 M
  9. The Libra Foundation $2.4 M
  10. Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation $2.1 M
  11. American Jewish World Service - Donor Advised Funds $1.6 M
  12. Proteus Fund $1.6 M
  13. The Overbrook Foundation $1.2 M
  14. Arcus Foundation $1.2 M
  15. Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund $1.2 M
  16. John S. and James L. Knight Foundation $1.1 M
  17. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation $1.1 M
  18. Fund for Global Human Rights $1.0 M
  19. International Development Research Centre $955.2 K
  20. Public Welfare Foundation $900.0 K
  21. The M.A.C. AIDS Fund $814.2 K
  22. Global Greengrants Fund $771.7 K
  23. The Baring Foundation $733.8 K
  24. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation $701.6 K
  25. Hivos $561.0 K
  26. M = Millions

Key Findings:      2016 Funding

Key Findings

Foundation Funding by Region

Asia & Pacific

$5,786,767 (7%)
100 Grants (12%)

Caribbean

$1,363,282 (2%)
19 Grants (2%)

Eastern Europe, Central Asia, & Russia

$4,394,631 (5%)
56 Grants (7%)

Global Programs

$13,830,160 (16%)
49 Grants (6%)

Latin America & Mexico

$10,208,331 (12%)
114 Grants (14%)

Middle East & North Africa

$3,970,031 (5%)
58 Grants (7%)

North America

$34,190,907 (39%)
279 Grants (34%)

Sub-Saharan Africa

$11,364,763 (13%)
103 Grants (13%)

Western Europe

$4,996,151 (6%)
51 Grants (6%)

Region totals include both foundation grants directly to recipients based in the region specified and foundation grants to recipients located in other regions to do work benefiting the region specified. Grants may mention more than one region of benefit and therefore be counted in more than one category.

Foundation Funding by Issue

  • Freedom from Violence

    $14,510,339 (17%)
    140 Grants (17%)
  • Access to Justice/Equality Before the Law

    $13,776,995 (16%)
    146 Grants (18%)
  • Environmental and Resource Rights

    $7,797,965 (9%)
    150 Grants (18%)
  • Sexual and Reproductive Rights

    $7,417,121 (8%)
    31 Grants (4%)
  • Economic and Labor Rights

    $7,406,850 (8%)
    38 Grants (5%)
  • Migration and Displacement

    $6,790,400 (8%)
    62 Grants (8%)
  • Civic and Political Participation

    $5,209,619 (6%)
    22 Grants (3%)
  • Equality Rights and Freedom from Discrimination

    $4,853,834 (6%)
    75 Grants (9%)
  • Human Rights, General

    $4,380,900 (5%)
    42 Grants (5%)
  • Health and Well-being Rights

    $4,220,640 (5%)
    23 Grants (3%)
  • Education, Religion, and Culture

    $3,996,859 (5%)
    40 Grants (5%)
  • Expression and Information Rights

    $3,608,474 (4%)
    26 Grants (3%)
  • Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding

    $3,392,909 (4%)
    23 Grants (3%)

Issue totals include foundation funding that could be identified as meant to address a specific issue. In order to provide unique totals and avoid double-counting, each foundation grant has been assigned to exactly one issue category within the human rights taxonomy.

Foundation Funding by Population

  • Women & Girls

    $22,150,323 (25%)
    204 Grants (25%)
  • Migrants & Refugees

    $11,325,486 (13%)
    99 Grants (12%)
  • LGBTQI

    $5,465,535 (6%)
    132 Grants (16%)
  • Children & Youth

    $5,143,434 (6%)
    91 Grants (11%)
  • Indigenous Peoples

    $3,412,340 (4%)
    77 Grants (9%)
  • Human Rights Defenders

    $2,203,584 (3%)
    61 Grants (7%)
  • People with Disabilities

    $1,068,495 (1%)
    15 Grants (2%)
  • Sex Workers

    $212,270 (0%)
    6 Grants (1%)

Population totals include foundation funding that could be identified as meant to benefit a specific group. Grants may serve multiple populations and would therefore be counted in more than one category.

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