Human Rights Grants

Last updated September 29, 2026

There are currently 292 open human rights grants in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from federal, state and foundation sources and updated daily. 109 list an award amount, with a median of $30K.

Open grants
292
from 210 funders
Median award
$30K
middle half $7,000–$100K
Total listed funding
$20.8M
across 109 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines
13
12 with a published date

On this page: Federal State Foundation · Updated daily

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Law Grants Program

Alabama Law Foundation Inc · Foundation

October 15, 2026 · Varies

Provides grants to support legal aid and access to justice initiatives in Alabama.

DVLF General Grants

Delaware Valley Legacy Fund · Foundation

October 24, 2026 · Varies

The Delaware Valley Legacy Fund (DVLF) provides critical funding annually to organizations working on the front lines to address the emerging needs of the region's LGBTQ+ community.

Rubin and Gloria Feldman Family Educational Institute

St Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum · Foundation

November 5, 2026 · Up to $5K

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) Small Research Grant (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · Federal

November 16, 2026 · Up to $50K

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite Small Research Grant (R21) applications that propose to study the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of human genetics and genomics.

Nancy Peace Action Against Prejudice Award

Young Women's Christian Association of Newburyport · Foundation

December 1, 2026 · Varies

The YWCA Greater Newburyport awards this recognition to community members who have made valuable contributions towards eliminating racism, fighting prejudice, and celebrating diversity through their professional or volunteer lives.

Sustaining Grants

Haymarket People's Fund Inc · Foundation

December 2, 2026 · Up to $20K

Grant sizes determined after careful evaluation considering: All grantees must complete a follow-up report summarizing: Haymarket People's Fund is a 49-year-old multicultural, anti-racism foundation that has provided resources to almost…

Organizing Grants

Aj Muste Foundation · Foundation

January 31, 2027 · Varies

Funds grassroots activist projects prioritizing those with small budgets and little access to mainstream funding.

Spring Grant Cycle

Ohio State Bar Foundation · Foundation

February 15, 2027 · Varies

Micro-Grants for Africa

International Society · Foundation

February 20, 2027 · $1K

Liberty International's micro-grant program offers $1,000 in funding to grassroots African organizations committed to advancing liberty, free markets, and human rights across the African continent.

Boston Bar Foundation IOLTA Grants

Boston Bar Foundation · Foundation

February 28, 2027 · Varies

The BBF invites applications from eligible non-profit organizations for projects that advance the following objectives: Grants support organizations working in: Ron Simms, Jr., Director of Communications

IOLTA Grant Program

Tennessee Bar Foundation · Foundation

September 30, 2027 · Up to $4M

IOLTA funds support three primary purposes as approved by the Tennessee Supreme Court: To be eligible for an IOLTA grant, an organization must: Applications more likely to RECEIVE awards demonstrate: Applications more likely to be DENIED…

Bellwether International Art Competition

Bellwether International · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

A competition showcasing powerful artworks from around the world exploring freedom of religion or belief and human rights.

NED General Grantmaking

National Endowment for Democracy · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

The National Endowment for Democracy offers grants to support democracy and freedom around the world through strategic grantmaking.

Activist Portfolio Grants (Uyghur Advocacy)

The Elie Wiesel Foundation Inc · Foundation

Rolling · $50K – $250K

The Foundation's inaugural grantmaking initiative, launched in October 2022, supports organizations whose efforts are grounded in Elie Wiesel's values and align with his legacy as an Activist.

Democracy Award

National Endowment for Democracy · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

An annual award given by the NED Board of Directors to recognize the courageous and creative work of individuals and organizations that advance the cause of human rights and democracy around the world.

Smith Richardson Foundation- International Security & Foreign Policy Grant

Smith Richardson Foundation Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

The Smith Richardson Foundation's International Security & Foreign Policy Grant aims to support the U.S. policy community in developing effective national security strategies and foreign policies.

Small Grants Program

U.S. Mission to the United Nations · Federal

Rolling · $5K – $15K

The United States Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva advances U.S. policy at more than 100 international organizations in Geneva.

Benjamin B. Rauch Fellowship

Scholars at Risk Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

A fellowship created in memory of Benjamin B. Rauch that provides temporary fellowship support to at-risk individuals and advocates from Southeast Asia, China, and Hong Kong.

Birmingham Bar Foundation Grant Program

Birmingham Bar Foundation · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

The Birmingham Bar Foundation Grant Program offers grants to local nonprofit organizations that expand access to justice in the Birmingham, Alabama community — supporting programs that provide legal assistance, promote legal education, and…

NO HATE Hotline - Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines

Attorney General Grants · State

Rolling · $116.4M

Funds implementation and management of a Nevada hate crimes hotline available to report possible hate crimes or incidents, receive referrals for victim services, and guidance on reporting to local law enforcement.

Transformational Media Fund

SIDE3 Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

The Transformational Media Fund (TMF) is a media development project providing necessary seed funding for bridge-building media projects.

Rapid Response Artivism Micro-Grant

Broadway Advocacy Coalition Inc · Foundation

Rolling · $1K

Broadway Advocacy Coalition's Rapid Response Artivism Micro-Grant awards $1,000 micro-grants to artivists to support the creation of new, narrative-based artivism that responds to issues related to systemic racism and/or mass incarceration…

Georgia Bar Foundation Grants

Georgia Bar Foundation Inc · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

The Georgia Bar Foundation provides grants to enhance access to justice in Georgia.

SC Bar Foundation Grant Program

The South Carolina Bar Foundation · Foundation

Rolling · Varies

The SC Bar Foundation Grant Program aims to enhance justice in South Carolina by funding legal access and education initiatives.

Showing 1–24 of 291

Human rights grants by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing
13 4%
Upcoming date published
12 4%
Stated cycle, no date yet
53 18%
No deadline published
214 73%

Only 12 of these grants publish a date, too few to show a seasonal pattern.

Funders with the most open human rights grants

  1. Endowment for Equal Justice 7 open
  2. National Equal Justice Association Inc 7 open
  3. The University of Texas Law School 7 open
  4. Equal Justice Works 5 open
  5. Texas Access to Justice Foundation 5 open
  6. Aj Muste Foundation 4 open

210 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 292 open human rights grants (active, with a deadline today or later or none published) as of September 29, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 2 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.

About human rights grants

Human rights grants support nonprofits working on civil liberties, refugee and immigrant rights, anti-discrimination, criminal-justice reform, and the protection of vulnerable populations. Most funding comes from private philanthropy rather than government, with major funders including the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations backing advocacy, legal defense, and movement-building.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow human rights grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

Human Rights Grants by state

Browse human rights grants available to organizations in 8 states.

Related grant categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do human rights grants award?

Of the 292 open human rights grants Grantable lists as of September 29, 2026, 109 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $30K, and the middle half fall between $7,000 and $100K. The largest is $4M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most human rights grants?

By number of open listings, the most active funders are Endowment for Equal Justice (7), National Equal Justice Association Inc (7), The University of Texas Law School (7), Equal Justice Works (5), and Texas Access to Justice Foundation (5). In all, 210 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

When are human rights grants due?

Of 292 open grants, 13 accept applications on a rolling basis, 12 have a published upcoming deadline, 53 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 214 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What grants are available for human rights organizations?

Human rights grants fund advocacy, litigation and legal defense, research and documentation, community organizing, and direct services for affected populations. Award sizes vary widely, from small project grants to multi-year general-operating support, and many funders prioritize organizations led by and accountable to the communities they serve.

Who funds human rights nonprofits?

Private foundations are the dominant funders. The Ford Foundation supports social justice and human rights through initiatives such as its Dignity and Justice Fund, the MacArthur Foundation funds human-rights and justice work, and the Open Society Foundations back democracy, rights, and justice efforts. Community foundations and individual donors also play a significant role.

Can grassroots human rights groups get funding?

Yes. Many human rights funders intentionally support smaller, frontline organizations, and intermediary funds and community foundations exist specifically to channel resources to grassroots groups. Smaller organizations often start with project grants, pooled funds, or rapid-response grants before pursuing larger general-operating support from national foundations.

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