Fund For Global Human Rights Uk

Charity Number: 1151043

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £374,312 (UK entity, 2022-23); $166 million+ delivered globally since 2002
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (proactive identification model)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable for regular grants (no public application process)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $30,000 (US$ for field grants)
  • Geographic Focus: International - 18 focus countries in Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Middle East/North Africa

Contact Details

London Office:

Fund for Global Human Rights UK

Alexandra House

St. Johns Street

Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2SB

United Kingdom

Washington Office (Parent Organization):

Fund for Global Human Rights

1301 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 500

Washington, D.C. 20036, USA

Phone: +1 (202) 347-7488 / (202) 980-7862

Website: https://fundhumanrights.org

UK Charity Number: 1151043

UK Company Number: 08357053

Emergency Grant Inquiries: Contact via website (does not accept unsolicited proposals for regular grants)

Overview

The Fund for Global Human Rights UK (registered 2013) is the UK affiliate of the US-based Fund for Global Human Rights (founded 2002). The organization operates on the principle that “funding should go directly to communities whose rights have been violated.” Since 2002, the global organization has delivered over $166 million to 1,400+ grassroots human rights organizations across 90+ countries. The UK entity reported annual income of £1,901,641 in 2023-24 and distributed £374,312 in grants to 31 grassroots groups in 15 countries during 2022-23. The organization is guided by a Global Board of Directors and a UK Board of Trustees with deep expertise in charity governance, human rights work, and philanthropy. The Fund takes a distinctive approach: locally based program staff proactively identify and build long-term relationships with frontline activists rather than accepting open applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Regular Grants (Invitation Only):

  • Grant Size: $5,000 - $30,000
  • Duration: Multi-year support with unrestricted funding
  • Application Method: No public application process; staff proactively identify organizations
  • Geographic Scope: 18 focus countries including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, Thailand, Philippines, and Burma

Emergency Grants (Open Application):

  • Purpose: Protect activists under immediate threat
  • Eligibility: Organizations not currently funded by the Fund or based outside the 18 focus countries
  • Application Method: Rolling basis via email contact
  • Scope: Beyond regular funding cycle to assist imperiled activists with security and relocation

Priority Areas

The Fund supports eight thematic areas with no restrictions on specific human rights issues:

  • Civic Power - Challenging structures of power to defend and promote human rights
  • Climate Justice - Environmental rights and climate-related human rights work
  • Children's and Youth Rights - Youth-led activism and rights protection
  • Labor Rights - Workers' rights and labor organizing
  • Legal Empowerment - Access to justice and legal advocacy
  • LGBTQ+ Rights - Sexual orientation and gender identity rights
  • Migrants' Rights - Rights of refugees, migrants, and displaced persons
  • Women's Rights - Gender equality and women's empowerment

What They Don't Fund

  • Literacy training, vocational training, or social/psychological/medical services unless these activities are part of an integrated strategy to provide recipients with human rights education and tools to defend their rights
  • UK-based organizations (grants go to organizations in focus countries)
  • Organizations outside the 18 focus countries (except emergency grants)
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Governance and Leadership

UK Board of Trustees

  • Kalvinder Dhillon - Chair (also chairs Global Board)
  • Anish Malhotra
  • Tom Steinberg

All three UK trustees also sit on the Global Board of Directors to align strategies and vision between the UK and US entities.

Global Leadership Team

  • Gabriela Bucher - President and CEO
  • Tracey Deal - Vice President of Global Operations
  • David Mattingly - Vice President for Programs (leads international team of activist grantmakers)
  • Rona Peligal - Vice President for Development and Communications

Global Board of Directors

Includes 14 members led by Kalvinder Dhillon (Chair) and Gara LaMarche (Vice Chair), with members including Joy Alferness, Melissa Bukuru, Martin Dunn, Laurie Richardson, Dylan Pereira, Miguel Pulido, Anish Malhotra, LaShawn Jefferson, Tabara Ndiaye, Gasser Abdel-Razek, Tom Steinberg, and Vaithehi Muttulingam.

Note: The organization does not publicly list all staff members to protect their privacy and security, particularly field-based program officers working in restrictive contexts.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Regular Grants: The Fund for Global Human Rights does not have a public application process for regular grants. The organization does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, locally based program staff who live and work in the regions they serve proactively identify and approach organizations for funding partnerships. This model is designed to reach grassroots organizations working in difficult or dangerous regions who may not have the capacity for formal grant applications.

Emergency Grants: Organizations can apply anytime for emergency grants if:

  • They are facing immediate security threats
  • They have not previously received funding from the Fund, OR
  • They are based in countries outside the 18 focus countries

Emergency grant applications can be submitted by contacting the Fund via email through their website contact form.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for regular grants (invitation-only model). Emergency grant timelines are not publicly specified but are designed to respond rapidly to urgent threats.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Fund's model of proactive identification means there is no traditional application pool to measure success rates against.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the Fund maintains long-term relationships with grantees and provides multi-year support rather than operating on a single-grant/reapplication model.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Seeking Emergency Grants

Focus on Immediate Security Needs: Emergency grants are specifically designed for activists under threat. Applications should clearly articulate the nature of the threat and how funding will enhance safety and security.

Demonstrate Human Rights Impact: The Fund defines human rights activities as “those that seek to challenge the structures of power so that they defend, protect, and promote human rights.” Show how your work fits this definition beyond service provision.

Integrated Approach: If your work includes services (literacy, vocational training, medical services), demonstrate how these are part of an integrated strategy that provides recipients with human rights education and tools to defend their rights.

Understanding the Fund's Approach

Flexible, Trust-Based Funding: The Fund's philosophy centers on the belief that “the people whose rights are denied belong at the forefront of the push for change.” As one program document states: “We offer flexible funding with no strings attached because activists know best how to use their resources.”

Long-Term Partnership Model: The organization emphasizes “building long-term, trusted relationships with local groups” rather than one-off grants. Their 2025-2030 Strategic Outlook focuses on supporting frontline human rights movements in an increasingly challenging civic space.

Risk-Taking and Innovation: The Fund prides itself on “taking smart risks on new and nontraditional activists” with “an approach to philanthropy [that] is bolder and more inclusive.”

Beyond Grantmaking: The organization provides “tools, training, emergency support, and a global network of committed allies” - not just funding but strategic support to enhance long-term effectiveness.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not for UK Organizations: This is a pass-through funder that raises money in the UK/Europe to support grassroots organizations in 18 developing countries - UK organizations cannot apply
  • No Public Application for Regular Grants: Unless you're facing an emergency security threat, there is no application process - the Fund's field staff proactively identify and approach potential grantees
  • Emergency Grants Available: If your organization faces immediate security threats and works on human rights, emergency grants are accessible regardless of location
  • Relationship-Driven Model: The Fund invests in long-term partnerships with multi-year, unrestricted funding rather than project-based grants
  • Grassroots Focus: The Fund specifically seeks to reach frontline activists and smaller organizations working in challenging contexts, not larger established NGOs
  • Flexible Funding Philosophy: Grants are unrestricted because “activists know best how to use their resources” - this is a trust-based funder
  • Security-Conscious: The organization prioritizes the safety of activists and maintains confidentiality about staff and grantees working in repressive contexts

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