Note: these listings are information resources only and not an endorsement or recommendation. Please research funders thoroughly to be sure that - even if they can and will fund your organization - your values match and that association with them will be positive strategically as well as financially.

From the Human RIghts Nexus site:


Commonwealth Foundation - TheFoundation's civil society responsive grants programme TheCommonwealth Foundation is an inter-governmental organization,resourced by and reporting to Commonwealth governments, that existsto promote and strengthen civil society's role in sustainabledevelopment, democracy and intercultural learning in the Commonwealth.The Foundation's grantworks to fulfill its mission and objectives is bymaking grants to civil society organizations inCommonwealthFoundation member countries.The grants are intended to promote co-operation and sharing ofskills, knowledge and ideas between developing Commonwealth countries. Grants are given forparticipation in activities such as training courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, cultural festivals,exchanges and study visits. Preference is given to support regional level activities as opposed tointernationalones. Information about the grant and for information about how to apply, clickhere! Deadline for Applications:30 September 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MacArthur Foundation - Grants for Human Rights and International Justice
ThisMacArthur Foundationgrant aims to expand and strengthen the network of human rights organisations in Nigeria, Mexico, and Russia that provide the basic infrastructure for a national human rights culture based on the rule of law. Grants are awarded only to organisations that define clear objectives for their work and measures of progress toward those objectives. The foundation provides multi-year support. Proposals must fit clearly within the geographic and thematic priorities of the Human Rights and International Justice programme. Deadline for Applications:rolling deadline http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.932831/k.3FFA/International_Grantmaking__Human_Rights_and_International_Justice__Grantmaking_Guidelines.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

National Endowment for Democracy

The National Endowment for Democracy(NED) is a private, nonprofit organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts. The NED supports projects that promote political and economic freedom, a strong civil society, independent media, human rights, and the rule of law. The Endowment's flexible and efficient grants program is able to assist democratic activists in diverse situations, such as transitional countries where the goal is democratic consolidation, authoritarian countries where the goals are liberalization, and the protection of human rights. Deadline for applications:June 27, 2009 http://www.ned.org/grants/discretionaryGrants.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Development Programme - ACT Project

Established in 1998 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, theACT(Assisting Communities Together)Projecthas supported individuals, institutions and NGOs that undertake human rights activities in local communities by providing micro-grants of up to USD$3,000. The Project was launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and is implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). TheACT Projectreinforces the role of civil societyin protecting human rights by encouraging people at the grassroots level to promote human rights. At the same time, the Project strengthens partnerships between the United Nations and local human rights constituencies. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/education/training/act.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Bromley Trust
The Bromley Trustmakes grants to UK charities working in Human Rights, Prison Reform, and Conservation and Sustainability.Currently, the Trust supports charities that fall within the area of Human Rights: Charities campaigning for Human Rights under the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and those working to abate the consequence of the acute violation of these rights. These include charities working with individuals and communities that have experienced genocide, torture, rape, false imprisonment,oppression and abuse. Current areas of focus are: Slavery and Trafficking, False Imprisonment (including detention without trial or due process) Torture. Cruel and Unreasonable Punishment (including Isolated, bereaved, abused, mentally ill offenders). http://www.thebromleytrust.org.uk/criteria.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights (KIOS)
The Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights(KIOS)is an independent, non-political, non-religious and non-governmental foundation. The overall goal of KIOS is to promote human rights in developing countries, as human rights are defined in the treaties and instruments of the United Nations, and in regional human rights instruments. KIOS provides financial support to local civil society organisations in developing countries that work to promote or protect human rights. In Finland KIOS aims at increasing the knowledge of Finnish civil society on the human rights situation in developing countries. http://www.kios.fi/download/278
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Fund for Global Human Rights
The Fund for Global Human Rightsfinds and funds local human rights heroeswho often work at great personal riskto strengthen and bring global attention to their struggles. Currently the Fund makes grants to human rights organizations based in the following countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Mexico, Guatemala, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, Thailand, and the Philippines. The Fund aims to provide funding for human rights organizations over the longer term. http://www.globalhumanrights.org/for-grantees/english
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The John Merck Fund

The John Merck Fundfosters innovative advocacy and problem solving in the fields ofDevelopmental Disabilities,Environment,Reproductive Health,Human Rights,Job Opportunities,andCivic Engagement/ Defense of the Public Interest. TheHuman Rights programconcentrates on the defense and promotion of human rights in Latin America. Approximately 70% of the program's budget goes to human rights organizations based in six countries in the region: Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. The remaining 30 percent of program resources supports activities of key U.S. groups dedicated to advancing human rights. http://www.jmfund.org/grant.html


The Libra Foundation

The Libra Foundationbelieves that all people are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms and have a right to live in a healthy environment and in peaceful, just and equitable societies. Promoting these human rights is the highestpurpose envisioned for the grantmaking of The Libra Foundation. The Foundation has two grant cycles per year and accepts invited proposals.Please note that the Foundation only accepts invited proposals.However, if your organization, projector program is aligned with the Foundation's guidelines, brief letters of inquiry (LOI) will be accepted on a rolling basis. http://www.thelibrafoundation.org/downloads/Libra_Guidelines_Revised_January_2007.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Norwegian Human Rights Fund (NHRF)
T
he Norwegian Human Rights Fund was established in 1988 by Norwegian non-governmental organisations to protect and promote human rights internationally. Through The Norwegian Human Rights Fund, the owner organisations want to give financial support to projects in low- and middle income countries where the human rights situation is particularly difficult, either in general or for specific groups of the population. The Fund provides financial support to organisations that are not covered by other Norwegian governmental or non-governmental support schemes. http://www.nhrf.no/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Open Society Institute -The Human Rights and Governance Grants Program

The Open Society Instituteworks to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments areaccountable to their citizens. The Human Rights and Governance Grants Program of the Institute supports national and international advocacy organizations promoting political and civil rights at local, national and regional levels. Priority is given to projects that address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups, and those that have strong monitoring and legal advocacy components. http://www.soros.org/initiatives/hrggp/focus_areas/a_human_rights/guidelines
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Overbrook Foundation

The Overbrook Foundationstrives to improve the lives of people by supporting projects that protect human and civil rights, advance the self-sufficiency and well being of individuals and their communities, and conserve the natural environment.The Foundation's Human Rights Programjoins together the Foundation's commitment to international and domestic human rights to support human rights work inside and outside of the United States. It recognizes that all the work the Foundation has traditionally supported is joined together by a commitment to the values expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-political, economic and social. http://www.overbrook.org/programs/hr_programs.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Sigrid Rausing Trust

TheSigrid Rausing Trustis a grant-giving foundation based in London. It was founded in 1995 by Sigrid Rausing to support the international human rights movement. The Trust run fours programmes: Civil and Political Rights, Women 's Rights, Minority Rights and Social and Environmental Justice.The trust gives two key types of grants: Main Grantscurrently vary in size between £15,000 and £850,000. The trustees make decisions about main grants at their meetings three times a year, usually in February, June and October.Small Grantsare grants of up to £15,000. They are awarded throughout the year and are intended for small organisations, who find it difficult to fundraise from international funding agencies. Several of our small grantees have gone on to receive maingrants. Applications for a small grant must come with a recommendation from an existing grantee or another funding agency. http://www.sigrid-rausing-trust.org/Types-of-Grant-and-Application-Process ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy- International Grants Program

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracyis the first national democracy assistance foundation to be established in Asia, and is devoted to strengthening democracy and human rights in Taiwan and abroad. The TFD's international grants programis designed to assist organizations based outside of Taiwan to carry out projects to promote democracy and human rights. International non-governmental organizations, academic institutions or think tanks, and other related organizations are eligible to apply. Geographically, the program places a priority on support for projects that address the Asian region, but projects in other regions occasionally receive funding. http://www.tfd.org.tw/english/grants.php
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The U.S. Human Rights Fund
Although social justice organizations are increasingly using human rights to strengthen their advocacy and organizing work, the domestic human rights movement still faces challenges with respect to capacity, coordination and communications.The U.S. Human Rights Fundseeks to address these gaps by supporting the growth and development of organizations actively engaged in human rights framing, documentation, organizing and advocacy. Within its Human Rights Training & Education docket, the USHRF has supported a range of diverse training activities. Grants in this area aim to increase the quality and effectiveness of U.S. human rights organizing and advocacy work. http://www.ushumanrightsfund.org/grantmaking-and-program/grantmaking-guidelines


Various Grants Databases/Directories/Links
Funds for NGOs.org -http://www.fundsforngos.org/
Ford Foundation Grants Database -http://www.fordfound.org/grants/database
IFMSA Grants Database -http://www.ifmsa.net/public/grantselect.php
International Human Rights Funders Group -http://www.hrfunders.org/funders/index.html