Ariadne is a European peer-to-peer network of more than 600 funders and philanthropists who support social change and human rights.

We envision a future in which philanthropy is at the service of the movements, communities, and individuals it supports, bringing its resources to equitable partnerships.

In our network, we create spaces for joint reflection and learnings, help build trusted relationships among funders, and foster creative collaboration in the philanthropy sector to help build this future.

  • What we do

    Ariadne enables funders to achieve more together than they can individually, by providing access to community-created tools and a supportive network of colleagues.

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  • How we do it

    As a flexible network, Ariadne offers a mix of different tools to support funders to direct resources where they are most needed, improve their grantmaking practices, and connect with peers working on similar issues. It aims to do this as cost-effectively as possible.

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  • Resources for funders

    One of Ariadne’s functions is to provide resources for funders. These are created in response to the needs of the Ariadne community, sometimes in collaboration with other networks.

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Latest news from Ariadne

Ariadne’s Thread – September 2024

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That underfunded “thing” called investigative journalism in Italy

By Cecilia Anesi (Co-Director, IRPI) and Claire M. Roney (Fundraiser, IRPI) Journalism does not exist in Italian donors’ minds, as it does not exist in the philanthropic landscape of the...
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Georgia’s foreign influence law targets human rights activists. Here’s how funders can take action

By Salome Chagelishvili, Kate Kroeger and Nino Ugrekhelidze* In June, the controversial Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which severely restricts civil society in the country, went into effect in...
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How we help funders

Grant-Skills

Ariadne provides European funders and donors with the skills and knowledge to help them become expert grant-makers. We hold free and subsidised conferences and workshops across Europe, with the input of members, to develop knowledge and understanding of the skills needed.
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Community Hub

Ariadne’s Community Hub is at the heart of the network. It lets members be in touch with over 600 other social change and human rights funders at the click of a mouse.
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Combining Resources

Ariadne is a practical mechanism for funders to align resources and increase the benefits of working together. It allows grant-makers to share information, stay up to date with developments in their field, and inform and convene other funders.
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Networking Offline and Online

Ariadne as a peer-to-peer network delivers both online and offline networking at minimal cost. Online by using the portal as a library and database of like-minded funders, and offline by meeting face-to-face at Ariadne events.
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Sharing Experiences

Ariadne offers a community in which the experience of being a grant-maker is shared. It is a space created by funders for funders. Through the Annual Reconnect, Susan Treadwell Change Lab, and other free or subsidised events, funders can put difficult issues, fresh solutions to old problems and new gaps and opportunities, in front of their colleagues.
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Mapping and Knowledge Tools

Ariadne has helped to create a global online database of more than 400,000 social change and human rights grants, from over 33,000 different funders. Members have free access to this searchable private database, right down to individual grant level via Ariadne’s Community Hub.
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