Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund Grant

Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Freedom House
Last Updated: October 24, 2025

Summary

The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund, managed by Freedom House, provides crucial emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) facing threats or attacks. This fund supports various human rights groups, including journalist associations and student unions, through emergency grants, advocacy, and resiliency support. By empowering at-risk CSOs, Lifeline plays a vital role in safeguarding civic space and promoting democratic values globally.

Overview

NOTE: To inquire about submitting an application for assistance, please contact ithe grant coordinator. Background Freedom House is founded on the core conviction that freedom flourishes in democratic nations where governments are accountable to their people. Our vision is a world where all are free. Our mission is to expand and defend freedom globally. Freedom House was founded in 1941 to rally policymakers and a broadly isolationist American public around the fight against Nazi Germany, and to raise awareness of the fascist threat to American security and values. In the decades since, Freedom House has established itself through its advocacy, programs, and research as the leading American organization devoted to the support and defense of democracy around the world. We work across political divides to advance policies that strengthen democracy and protect human rights. We support a vast, trusted network of activists and advocates who are leading the struggle for democratic change in their countries. When these courageous individuals are attacked for their activism, journalism, or opposition to tyranny, we strive to keep them safe so that they may continue their important work. Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund The Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund provides emergency financial assistance to civil society organizations (CSOs) under threat or attack and rapid response advocacy and resiliency grants to support CSOs in responding to broader threats against civic space. Lifeline supports a variety of human rights CSOs, including human rights organizations, journalist associations, student groups, labor unions, think tanks, and others. Types of Grants Emergency AssistanceThrough Freedom House and Front Line Defenders, Lifeline provides small, short-term emergency grants to CSOs threatened because of their human rights work. Emergency grants can address security, medical expenses, legal representation, prison visits, trial monitoring, temporary relocation, equipment replacement, and other urgently needed expenses.Advocacy GrantsLifeline rapid response advocacy grants give local CSOs the resources to push back against closures of civic space as they arise. Lifeline advocacy grants are highly flexible, and can support a wide variety of activities, such as community mobilization, policy and legal analysis, civil society coalition building, strategic litigation, awareness raising campaigns, and advocacy capacity building.Resiliency GrantsLifeline rapid response resiliency grants provide support to threatened CSOs to avoid or mitigate the threats they face and help them continue to work. These grants are flexible and support a range of activities including digital or physical security training; technical training on how to respond to restrictive legislation; building peer support networks, or establishing temporary collaborative spaces.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Lifeline provides grants to at-risk civil society organizations (CSOs).Lifeline can also support unregistered groups, coalitions, community groups, and networks.

Ineligibility

Covid-19: Flexible Grants Respond to Civic Space ThreatsUnfortunately, these grants cannot be used to support general operating expenses, staff salaries, or other humanitarian needs due to budget shortfalls. In addition, Lifeline grants cannot support initiatives that seek to address public health, access to services, or equitable distribution of health services or aid.Environment, Land, Indigenous Rights & Climate CSOsLifeline only supports activities to protect CSOs’ ability to associate and assemble but not to tackle underlying land or environmental issues.