Human Rights Grants

Last updated September 30, 2026

There are currently 292 open human rights grants in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from federal 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 Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Burl Osborne Award Headliners Foundation of Texas · Foundation Rolling · $1K – $2K The Headliners Foundation honors the legacy of Burl Osborne, former editor and publisher of The Dallas Morning News, by recognizing outstanding reporting on social justice and human rights.	Rolling	$1K – $2K
Ohio State Bar Foundation Grants Ohio State Bar Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) supports Ohio nonprofits through grants awarded twice a year to address critical legal needs.	Rolling	Varies
Domestic Violence Legal Services: Legal Information for the Public Illinois Equal Justice Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1999, pursuant to the Illinois Equal Justice Act. The IEJF supports initiatives to increase Illinois residents’ access to the legal system.	Rolling	Varies
Community Legal Education and Resources Grant (FY26 CLEAR Grant) District of Columbia Department of Human Services · Foundation Rolling · Up to $300K The FY 2026 Community Legal Education and Resources Grant (CLEAR) aims to empower Community-Based Organizations and legal professionals in the District of Columbia.	Rolling	Up to $300K
UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize Grant Unesco · Foundation Rolling · $100K The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence invites nominations for change makers who foster peace and tolerance globally.	Rolling	$100K
Transformational Media Fund Mediators Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Transformational Media Fund (TMF) is a media development project focused on providing seed funding for important media projects that shed light on current global crises and seek collaborative solutions to these issues.	Rolling	Varies
PA IOLTA Board's Specialized Legal Services Grant Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts Board · Foundation Rolling · Varies The core mission of the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Board is to support the provision of civil legal services to the Commonwealth’s poor and disadvantaged.	Rolling	Varies
Local Law Enforcement Agency Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Grant Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority · Foundation Rolling · $75K – $1M Local Law Enforcement Agency Violent Crime Witness Protection Program The Violent Crime Witness Protection Program (VCWPP) will support reimbursement of implementing agency expenses for the relocation of witnesses, victims, and other…	Rolling	$75K – $1M
Nordic Welfare Centre Grant Nordic Welfare Centre · Foundation Rolling · kr5,000 - kr9,000 The Nordic Welfare Centre Grant supports initiatives aimed at improving the rights and participation of individuals with disabilities in Nordic countries.	Rolling	kr5,000 - kr9,000
Civil Legal Aid Grants Illinois Equal Justice Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
Housing Justice Program Fellowship Grant Equal Justice Works · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Housing Justice Program Fellowship, offered by Equal Justice Works, addresses the urgent need for legal assistance among low-income individuals facing housing instability in Virginia, South Carolina, and Maryland.	Rolling	Varies
Security Grant Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism · Foundation Rolling · Up to $8K Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism (formerly known as Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights) was founded in 1997 to deliver funds quickly to frontline feminists and their movements in moments of urgent crisis and unexpected…	Rolling	Up to $8K
Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Award Grant American Psychiatric Association · Foundation Rolling · $5K The Chester M. Pierce Human Rights Award, established in 1990 and renamed in 2017, honors individuals who advocate for the human rights of populations with mental health needs.	Rolling	$5K
Small Grant Program in the People's Republic of China U.S. Mission to China · Federal Rolling · Up to $20K Supporting civil society and creating a space for a diversity of people and ideas is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy abroad.	Rolling	Up to $20K
G. Rollie White Trust Fellowship in Public Interest Law Grant The University of Texas Law School Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $75K The G. Rollie White Trust Fellowship promotes access to justice by funding a recent Texas Law graduate or judicial clerk to work with a public interest legal organization.	Rolling	Up to $75K
Ribbons of Hope Grant Ribbons of Hope Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $100K The Ribbons of Hope Grant, awarded annually by the Ribbons of Hope Foundation since 2012, aims to enhance the lives of women and children through education, health, economic independence, social well-being, and human rights initiatives.	Rolling	$100K
Ploughshares Fund grant Grant Ploughshares Fund Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $50K The Ploughshares Fund provides grants to organizations and individuals working towards a nuclear weapons-free world.	Rolling	Up to $50K
Opportunity Grant Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism · Foundation Rolling · Up to $8K Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism (formerly known as Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights) was founded in 1997 to deliver funds quickly to frontline feminists and their movements in moments of urgent crisis and unexpected…	Rolling	Up to $8K
Make Democracy Work Grant Program The Educational Foundation of America · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Educational Foundation of America's Make Democracy Work Grant Program focuses on enhancing democratic participation and protecting voting access.	Rolling	Varies
Grand Forks: Community Opportunity Grant Program Community Foundation of Grand Forks East Grand Forks and Region · Foundation Rolling · Up to $5K The Grand Forks Community Opportunity Grant Program aims to enhance community life through projects in arts, culture, environmental sustainability, and human rights.	Rolling	Up to $5K
Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund Grant Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Apostle Islands Area Human Rights Fund, managed by Boreal Waters Community Foundation, supports initiatives promoting tolerance and understanding while combating discrimination.	Rolling	Varies
Administration of Justice Grants Michigan State Bar Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $12K – $15K The Michigan State Bar Foundation provides grants to improve access to the justice system and support administration of justice initiatives. The foundation supports nonprofit civil legal aid organizations throughout Michigan.	Rolling	$12K – $15K
H. C. Gemmer Family Christian Foundation Grant H C Gemmer Family Christian Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $3K The H. C. Gemmer Family Christian Foundation, established in 1956, focuses on peace, justice, and racial harmony.	Rolling	Up to $3K
Arthur N. Rupe Foundation Grant Arthur N Rupe Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Arthur N. Rupe Foundation Grant focuses on promoting positive social change through scholarly studies, education, and public debate.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 265–288 of 291

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.

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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 30, 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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