Ariadne's Thread

Dear Ariadne community,

As we share our final Thread of the year, we wanted to pause for a moment with you. 2025 has been an intense year across our field – demanding and fast-moving, yet also marked by strong engagement, collective effort, and important momentum. Much has happened, and much is already taking shape for the year ahead.

Looking forward, 2026 will continue to challenge social change and human rights philanthropy in ways that call for steadiness, imagination, and collaboration. We thus want Ariadne to be a space for connection, coordination, and action-oriented exchange, and we hope you will join us in the coming months.

As the year draws to a close, we wanted to highlight a few key moments coming up in January:

14 January – Webinar with Neil Datta: What funders need to know about anti-rights strategies in Europe: from policy capture to narrative control. To mark the launch of Ariadne’s new European Initiative for Rights and Democratic Resilience, we will host a conversation between Neil Datta (EPF) and Maja Spanu (Ariadne), exploring how anti-rights and anti-democracy actors are operating across Europe, and what this means for civil society and philanthropy. Please note this is a funder-only event.

Ariadne strategic questionnaire – open until 15 January: Thank you to our members who have already contributed. If you have not yet had the chance, we warmly invite you to share your reflections and help shape Ariadne’s future direction.

Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and the care you bring to our community.

We wish you a restful festive season, filled with light and renewal, and look forward to continuing the work together in the year ahead.

With our warmest wishes,

The Ariadne Team

Members-only early bird registration is now open for Ariadne’s 2026 Annual Reconnect: Ariadne will host its Annual Reconnect from 14-16 April in Bologna, Italy, in partnership with Assifero. Together, we will take a journey through past, present and future to explore how philanthropy can renew its commitment to human rights and social change amidst the current context, while also questioning its own role and responsibilities in shaping what lies ahead. Early bird registration is open until 23 January and Ariadne members can learn more and register here.

2026 Ariadne Forecasting Roundtables: This year, Ariadne is revising its classic Annual Forecast format and introducing a series of foresight roundtables. As part of the European Initiative for Rights and Democratic Resilience, we will convene workshops in Germany, France, and the UK.   

• France roundtable will take place on Tuesday, 10 February, hosted in Paris with Fondation de France. Register here.
• Germany roundtable will take place on Tuesday, 17 February, hosted in Berlin with IAC Berlin and Robert Bosch Stiftung. Register here.

The UK’s date will be announced very soon. We are also exploring the possibility of additional national or online foresight roundtables and will share updates in early 2026. 

Books Launch: “Fictions and Frictions” and “Ficciones y Fricciones” by the Kuirme Collective. This bilingual initiative explores the dominant and peripheral narratives surrounding the intersections of Environmental Justice and Digital Rights in both Europe and Latin America. The Kuirme Collective is supported by the Green Screen Coalition.

Winter Break: Ariadne will be closed for a well-deserved time of rest and restoration starting on 23 December. We will be returning to work on 5 January. 

All resources can be found on Ariadne’s website and Member-only Community Hub. Are you a member of Ariadne but don’t have access to the Community Hub? Sign-up here or email jana.stardelova@ariadne-network.eu.

UN Environmental Programme publication “Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders“: From 2022 to 2024, the United Nations Environment Programme oversaw a multistakeholder process to clarify how existing human rights norms and standards apply to private conservation organizations and funders. The process resulted in the Core Human Rights Principles for Private Conservation Organizations and Funders that we are sharing with you.

Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) new report “Where is the Money? An Evidence-Driven Call to Resource Feminist Organizing“: This new report celebrates the power of movement-led initiatives to shape resourcing on their own terms, while sounding the alarm on massive aid cuts, shrinking philanthropy, and escalating backlash. In addition to the report, you can find the Data Snapshots, and explore the infographics in English, Spanish, and French.

European AI Fund – Funders’ briefing: AI & Social Welfare: In their first funders’ briefing paper, the European AI & Society Fund sets out the challenges of AI & welfare. Access it to learn how philanthropists can support more civil society organisations, take action and guide governments to run better welfare systems.

“Freedom on the Net 2025: An Uncertain Future for the Global Internet“, analyses 15 years of Freedom House data on internet freedom. It finds that governments have deployed increasingly advanced and widespread measures to control the digital sphere over the past decade and a half, relying on sophisticated censorship technology to suppress online dissent.  

Outright report “A Year in Attacks on Trans, Nonbinary, and Intersex People’s Human Rights“: This report is a comprehensive look at the unprecedented escalation of human rights rollbacks in 2025. What we found is stark: across the world, governments and political actors have intensified efforts to restrict gender diversity and undermine trans, nonbinary, and intersex people’s fundamental rights. Access the interactive map here. 

Eurochild “Unequal Childhoods: Rights on paper should be rights in practice“: This report is based on assessments by 84 Eurochild members and contributors in 36 countries and provides an overview of children’s rights and child poverty in these countries. 

“When inclusion becomes extraction“ by Suman Saurav, founder and co-Lead of Comms for a Cause and Avali Khare, programme officer of the Asia Pacific Transgender Network, for the Alliance Magazine.

Thousand Currents’ 40th Anniversary film – It Takes a Movement— a celebration of community, grassroots leadership, and the collective power that fuels collective change. 

Movement Money Podcast: Hosted by Allison Budschalow and Michael Gast, Movement Money dives deep into the messy, vital conversations about class, wealth, and what it takes to fund radical change. From the lived experiences of a working-class Mongolian woman from Philly and a wealthy white guy from San Francisco, this show brings real talk from both sides of the class spectrum.

Open Society Foundation – The Ideas Letter: In this publication that prizes the unconventional, you can find articles, essays and criticism. You can pitch your proposal at theideasletter@opensocietyfoundations.org

Global Greengrants article “The Power of Disability-Led Climate Movements“: On this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Global Greengrants spoke with advisors from their Disability Rights and Climate Justice (DRCJ) Advisory Board about the strategic advantage of funding at the intersection of disability and climate. Since the board’s founding in 2022, the DRCJ board has made nearly a hundred grants globally totalling over $1 million, giving the DRCJ advisors a unique opportunity to witness the power of inclusive, disability-led climate solutions. 

Elemental, Our Collective Practice, and the Constellations Culture Change Fund and Initiative – “How to Fund Like a Narrative Strategist“: At the Narrative Power Summit, more than 50 movement communicators and narrative practitioners were asked to co-design a fund that would strengthen narrative infrastructure and ecosystems. Discover the four funding practices they prioritised. 

Chandrika Sahai, Bridging Dialogues – “Seizing hope to build the future we want“: read this insightful article for Alliance Magazine, reflecting why hope is not wishful thinking, but power, with examples from peace activists and movements from all over the globe.

Philea – “Philanthropy Infrastructure in Focus: Supporting, Empowering and Catalysing European Philanthropy“: This online guide explores the unique role and characteristics of Philanthropy Infrastructure Organisations (PIOs) and how they drive transformation despite operating with limited resources.

Gender Funders Co-Lab “Moving Beyond Grant Capital: Meeting the Moment with Innovative Finance“: A learning report for resourcing the women’s rights and gender justice ecosystem through innovative financing. 

SEMIA Women’s Fund – Annual Report 2024: SEMIA Women’s Fund was founded in 2023 with the aim of actively supporting local organisations that promote the rights of women, girls, children, trans and non-binary people. In their 2024 annual report you can learn about their year of rooting and momentum, bringing new approach to philanthropy in Italy: more feminist intersectional, and horizontal.

20 Years of EPIM: Our Collective Journey Towards Reimagining Migration, Democracy and Belonging: In this publication you can learn more about EPIM’s journey, 20 years of collaborative European philanthropy – strengthening civil society, shaping more humane migration systems, and investing in the people and ideas that help Europe move toward belonging, democracy, and inclusion. 

Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) – Shocks & Shifts: Impact of Major Donor Funding Cuts on LGBTI Intermediary Infrastructure: Intermediary (or regranting) funders play a critical role in the global LGBTI funding ecosystem. In the 2021–2022 Global Resources Report, intermediary organisations were the source of about one third of all LGBTI funding focused outside of the U.S. 

“Funding from the Ground Up” – Inside the member funds of Alianza, the socio-environmental funds of the Global South. With this publication the Alianza aims to make the case for global South-led funding models. It offers a rich set of findings, data, and analysis that illuminate the depth, diversity, and strategic relevance of Global South–led funding infrastructures. 

Alliance for Gender Equality in Europe (AGEE) – “Supporting organisations to strengthen their resilience: How to go beyond the cheque“: In this article you can learn more about AGEE’s grants that help grantees strengthen their resilience, agility, and sustainability. This commitment aims to boost the capacities of small and medium-sized gender equality organisations in Europe.

Case study “Shifting power in philanthropy: The Mama Cash model“. In this case study on Mama Cash by Impatience Earth, you can learn more about the story behind Mama Cash, as well as about the importance of grounding grantmaking in trust and participation while funding those closest to the issue. 

The Alliance for Gender Equality in Europe – Event Planner. The organisation is seeking an events planner based in New York City, or someone with strong ties to the city, to support the organisation and management of logistics for a small, intimate philanthropic gathering. The event will take place alongside the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York. The estimated time commitment is approximately five days between January and March. Experience in, or contacts within, the philanthropy space in New York City would be considered an advantage. Interested individuals are invited to get in touch by emailing info@alliance-genderequality.org.

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – Head of Reparations. JRCT is seeking a Head of Reparations to design and lead a multi-year reparations programme aligned with its mission and Quaker values. The role includes strategic development, stakeholder partnerships, and program oversight. Salary: 92,000 GBP. Location: York, United Kingdom (hybrid). Deadline: 4 January 2026. 

Paul Hamlyn Foundation – Head of Programme, Young People. PHF is seeking a Head of Programme to lead the strategic direction of its Youth Fund and related initiatives. This pivotal 18-month role will drive impactful, youth-focused grant-making, champion youth-led practice, and foster collaboration with funded organisations and sector partners to achieve long-term systemic change. They will guide a skilled team, influence sector learning, and ensure the organisation’s support meaningfully benefits young people across the UK. Salary: circa 54,000 GBP. Contract: Full-time, 18-month contract. Deadline: 5 January 2026.

Dalan Fund – Resource Distribution Manager. The Dalan Fund is recruiting a Resource Distribution Manager to lead and oversee participatory grant-making processes across Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central/North Asia. The role involves coordinating grant distribution strategy and systems, supporting team capacity, and advancing feminist participatory practice. Salary: 5,353 USD per month. Location: Remote (based in Europe or Central Asia timezones). Deadline: 9 January 2026.  

European AI & Society Fund – Programme and Grants Officer. The European AI & Society Fund is recruiting a Programme and Grants Officer to support its growing operations. The organisation is seeking a highly organised individual with a strong sense of initiative and a positive, pragmatic approach to join its small and friendly team. The role will support the delivery of the Fund’s mission by managing financial and administrative tasks related to grantmaking and funding, planning and delivering events, and supporting internal coordination. Salary: 3,000 – 3,400 EUR FTE. Location: Brussels, Belgium. Deadline for applications: 12 January 2026.  

Trust for London – 2x Co-opted Committee Member. Trust for London is inviting applications for two co-opted members to join its committees – one to sit on the Investment Committee with commercial property experience and one to sit on the Finance & Resources Committee with qualified charity finance expertise. These roles contribute to strategic decision-making around grant funding, investment and organisational governance for a charity dedicated to tackling poverty and inequality in London. Salary: These are voluntary co-optee roles with travel expenses reimbursed). Location: London, United Kingdom. Deadline: 12 January 2026. 

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – Power and Accountability Committee Member. JRCT is seeking a co-opted member for its Power and Accountability Committee to support grant-making and strategic oversight within its Power and Accountability programme. Salary: 475 GBP day rate (for up to nine days’ work per year) plus expenses. Location: York, United Kingdom (for committee meetings). Deadline: 19 January 2026. 

*For more jobs, see the ‘Career Opportunities’ section of Ariadne’s Community Hub. To address pay gaps in the charity sector, we strongly encourage you to #showthesalary in your job adverts.

15 January, Online

Stories for Change Online Festival – save the date! If you believe that this is community philanthropy’s moment, don’t miss the Stories for Change Online Festival on 15 January 2026. Stories for Change is an initiative of the Giving for Change programme, which over the last five years has tested new approaches to growing community philanthropy in eight countries. Learn more and register here.

Not If, But How: Climate, Movements, and Transformative Change. Join the CLIMA Fund for a four-part series, Not If, But How, unpacking the climate crisis and how to reach grassroots solutions, grounded in the wisdom and leadership of grassroots movements across the Global South. Not If, But How is designed for funders and donors across sectors who are ready to deepen their understanding of climate and where to start in funding effective solutions. We will hear from climate justice leaders from around the world and peer funders to explore what it takes to align our funding practices with the scale and urgency of the moment. Learn more and register here.  

06-15 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland  

Geneva International Film and Forum Festival on Human Rights. The 24th edition of the Geneva International Film and Forum Festival on Human Rights will take place from 6 to 15 March 2026 The event includes screenings, workshops, discussions, and more. Learn more and register here.  

5-8 May 2026, Lusaka, Zambia & Online

RightsCon 2026. A major global summit convened by Access Now, bringing together digital rights advocates, technologists, policymakers, civil society, and more. Learn more and register here.