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Advancing Human Rights

The State of Global Foundation Grantmaking

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  • Years
    • 2011 - 2015
    • 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, 2017

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
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
Explore:
Select a Section
  • Top Foundation Funders
  • Regional Focus
  • Issue Focus
  • Population Focus

3%
Share of foundation
human rights funding

$91.0 Million out of
$3.2 Billion for all rights
732 Grants

Top Foundation Funders

  1. Ford Foundation $17.9 M
  2. NoVo Foundation $6.5 M
  3. The Sigrid Rausing Trust $5.3 M
  4. The JPB Foundation $4.8 M
  5. Tides Foundation $4.5 M
  6. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation $4.3 M
  7. W.K. Kellogg Foundation $3.6 M
  8. Oak Foundation $3.5 M
  9. Open Society Institute $3.1 M
  10. Fund for Global Human Rights $2.6 M
  11. Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund $2.3 M
  12. The Brin Wojcicki Foundation $2.0 M
  13. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation $2.0 M
  14. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation $1.3 M
  15. Foundation for a Just Society $1.2 M
  16. Robertson Foundation $1.1 M
  17. Wellspring Philanthropic Fund $1.0 M
  18. Unbound Philanthropy $859.0 K
  19. Brazil Fund for Human Rights Foundation - FBDH $841.0 K
  20. Public Welfare Foundation $830.0 K
  21. NEO Philanthropy $825.0 K
  22. Searle Freedom Trust $800.0 K
  23. Foundation to Promote Open Society $794.2 K
  24. Pro Victimis Foundation $793.6 K
  25. Proteus Fund $785.0 K
  26. M = Millions

Key Findings:    2017 Funding

Key Findings

Foundation Funding by Region

Asia & Pacific

$1,967,024 (2%)
57 Grants (8%)

Caribbean

$133,145 (0%)
3 Grants (0%)

Eastern Europe, Central Asia, & Russia

$2,809,560 (3%)
26 Grants (4%)

Global Programs

$6,496,510 (7%)
28 Grants (4%)

Latin America & Mexico

$7,638,534 (8%)
149 Grants (20%)

Middle East & North Africa

$3,605,422 (4%)
37 Grants (5%)

North America

$52,999,925 (58%)
316 Grants (43%)

Sub-Saharan Africa

$10,204,472 (11%)
85 Grants (12%)

Western Europe

$5,633,133 (6%)
35 Grants (5%)

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

  • Access to Justice/Equality Before the Law

    $25,069,373 (28%)
    165 Grants (23%)
  • Equality Rights and Freedom from Discrimination

    $12,141,442 (13%)
    94 Grants (13%)
  • Environmental and Resource Rights

    $11,420,632 (13%)
    152 Grants (21%)
  • Migration and Displacement

    $10,535,257 (12%)
    67 Grants (9%)
  • Sexual and Reproductive Rights

    $7,931,005 (9%)
    31 Grants (4%)
  • Health and Well-being Rights

    $5,292,763 (6%)
    28 Grants (4%)
  • Freedom from Violence

    $3,828,812 (4%)
    46 Grants (6%)
  • Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding

    $3,763,550 (4%)
    43 Grants (6%)
  • Human Rights, General

    $3,683,772 (4%)
    49 Grants (7%)
  • Economic and Labor Rights

    $1,995,625 (2%)
    18 Grants (2%)
  • Expression and Information Rights

    $1,970,988 (2%)
    13 Grants (2%)
  • Civic and Political Participation

    $1,704,685 (2%)
    8 Grants (1%)
  • Education, Religion, and Culture

    $1,618,531 (2%)
    18 Grants (2%)

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

    $17,075,038 (19%)
    151 Grants (21%)
  • Migrants & Refugees

    $13,554,967 (15%)
    92 Grants (13%)
  • Children & Youth

    $7,606,435 (8%)
    76 Grants (10%)
  • LGBTQI

    $4,919,576 (5%)
    99 Grants (14%)
  • Indigenous Peoples

    $4,051,681 (4%)
    94 Grants (13%)
  • People with Disabilities

    $1,502,700 (2%)
    10 Grants (1%)
  • Human Rights Defenders

    $620,311 (1%)
    41 Grants (6%)
  • Sex Workers

    $161,111 (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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