Human Rights Grants

Last updated October 1, 2026

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

Find the human rights grants matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 291 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Strengthening Feminist Movements in Asia Grant Program Women's Fund Asia · Foundation Rolling · Up to $30K The Strengthening Feminist Movements in Asia Grant Program, initiated by Women's Fund Asia, aims to bolster the efforts of women, girls, trans, and intersex rights activists across the region.	Rolling	Up to $30K
The Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation Fund Grant The Dayton Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation Fund Grant aims to enhance legal practices in the Greater Dayton area by funding nonprofit organizations that promote legal knowledge and justice awareness.	Rolling	Varies
HC Freedom of Expression Fund Humanitarian China · Foundation Rolling · $3.3M A humanitarian assistance fund established to support individuals imprisoned for exercising freedom of expression in the People's Republic of China.	Rolling	$3.3M
Legal Services: I & R Grants; Sector Support Grants Bigglesworth Family Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · $10K – $30K The Bigglesworth Family Foundation's Legal Services Program supports innovative projects aimed at enhancing legal aid effectiveness.	Rolling	$10K – $30K
Grants for Community Development and Entrepreneurship; Immigrant Issues and Human Rights & Environmental Conservation Firedoll Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $10K – $30K The Firedoll Foundation, a private family foundation, focuses on five key areas: Community Development and Entrepreneurship, Immigrant Issues and Human Rights, Environmental Conservation, Middle East Peace, and support for Traumatic Brain…	Rolling	$10K – $30K
Bydale Foundation Grant Bydale Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Bydale Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, Westchester County, and North Carolina, focusing on environmental initiatives, social justice, women’s rights, and grassroots advocacy.	Rolling	Varies
ABE Opportunity Grants American Bar Endowment · Foundation Rolling · Up to $25K The American Bar Endowment's Opportunity Grant Program provides funding for innovative, boots-on-the-ground initiatives that address urgent legal needs of the public.	Rolling	Up to $25K
Power and Leadership - Vote Your Voice - Field Strengthening Grants The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies In 2020, the Southern Poverty Law Center, in partnership with the Community Foundation, launched the Vote Your Voice initiative with the goal of ensuring full voter participation and fair representation for communities of color in the Deep…	Rolling	Varies
Public Wise Grants Public Wise Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Public Wise Grants aims to enhance democracy by providing unrestricted operational funding to organizations committed to voting rights.	Rolling	Varies
Alabama Law Foundation Law-Related Grants Alabama Law Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Grants to organizations that provide free civil legal services and improve access to justice for low-income Alabamians. The Foundation is the largest in-state funder of civil legal aid in Alabama.	Rolling	Varies
Wirtanen Family Fund Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The fund encourages co-sponsorship and co-funding of projects.	Rolling	Varies
Medical Freedom Fund / Censorship Defense Fund Straight Truth About Hormones Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provides grants to support legal expenses for individuals experiencing violations of human and civil rights related to medical freedom and censorship.	Rolling	Varies
Walker E. Solomon Award South Carolina Education Association · Foundation Rolling · Varies Given in three categories: Individual, Local Association/School/Community Improving Institutions - School Involvement: Improving Institutions - Community Involvement: Improving Interpersonal Relationships - School Involvement: Improving…	Rolling	Varies
Psychology of Antisemitism Grant American Psychological Foundation · Foundation Rolling · $7K The Psychology of Antisemitism Grant, funded by the American Psychological Foundation, supports innovative projects aimed at reducing antisemitism through psychological research.	Rolling	$7K
Alphawood Foundation Grants Alphawood Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Alphawood Foundation is a Chicago-based private grantmaking foundation working for an equitable, just and humane society.	Rolling	Varies
Bellwether Ambassador Program Bellwether International · Foundation Rolling · Varies A volunteer program seeking passionate individuals to dedicate time and creativity to raise awareness for freedom of religion or belief.	Rolling	Varies
Slifka Foundation Shared Society Grants Alan B Slifka Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies _Note: An organization that meets the criteria listed above may submit a “Letter of Inquiry” (LOI) to programofficer \[at\] slifkafoundation.org.	Rolling	Varies
OTF Rapid Response Fund Grant Open Technology Fund (OTF) · Foundation Rolling · Up to $50K The OTF Rapid Response Fund Grant provides urgent support for individuals and organizations facing digital emergencies that threaten their free expression.	Rolling	Up to $50K
JRCT - Northern Ireland Grants Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust · Foundation Rolling · Up to £152,000 The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) offers grants to support initiatives that foster peace, equality, and human rights in Northern Ireland.	Rolling	Up to £152,000
Barbara McDowell and Gerald S. Hartman Foundation Advocacy Grant Legal Services Alabama Inc · Foundation Rolling · $25K	Rolling	$25K
Bill Graham Award Rex Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies In memory of pioneering producer and founding Rex board member Bill Graham, himself a refugee, this award is for those working to assist children who are victims of political oppression and human rights violations.	Rolling	Varies
Education Minnesota Human Rights Award Grant Education Minnesota · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Education Minnesota Human Rights Award honors members who have championed human and civil rights within educational settings.	Rolling	Varies
Environmental Justice Fellowship Grant The University of Texas Law School Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $75K The Environmental Justice Fellowship, supported by the William Wayne Justice Center, offers a two-year postgraduate opportunity for Texas Law alumni aiming to work with environmental legal organizations.	Rolling	Up to $75K
Yanar Mohammed Feminist Defense Fund Madre Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies "Yanar's Fund" supports women in Iraq and throughout the region who defend women's human rights and carry forward Yanar Mohammed's legacy.	Rolling	Varies

Showing 193–216 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.

Want new funders like these found for you every week?

This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.

Create your grants department

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do human rights grants award?

Of the 292 open human rights grants Grantable lists as of October 1, 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 Foundation (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.

Get a shortlist of human rights grants built for your organization

Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.

Find my grants — emailed to me

Your AI grants department