Ariadne's Thread

Announcing Ariadne’s New Executive Director: After a thoughtful and rigorous search, the Advisory Board has appointed Maja Spanu as Ariadne’s new Director to lead Ariadne boldly into its next chapter. Many of you will already know Maja – both through her involvement as an Ariadne member, and more recently as a valued voice on Ariadne’s Advisory Board. Her deep commitment to social justice, extensive international experience, and nuanced understanding of the philanthropic landscape make her uniquely well-suited to guide our network forward during these turbulent times. Maja joins us from Fondation de France, where she has been Head of Knowledge and International Affairs, leading work on philanthropic trends, civic space, and democracy support. She holds a Ph.D. in Political and Social Sciences from the European University Institute, and has a strong track record of bridging research, practice, and collaboration across sectors and geographies. Maja will officially step into the role, full-time, in September 2025. We look forward to welcoming Maja and continuing our shared work to strengthen the network’s role in advancing human rights and social justice across Europe.

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.

The next Thread will go out on Thursday 15th May. We would love to hear from you! Please contact us by Tuesday 13th May if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue. 

Civicus – 2025 State Of Civil Society Report: This year’s report, looks back at the events of 2024 and early 2025 to identify trends in civil society action at every level and in every arena, from responses to conflicts to demands for global governance reform and struggles for democracy, inclusion and climate justice.

Philea & WINGS – Progress Report for the International Commitment on Climate Change: This milestone report offers a look into how signatories of the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change are integrating climate action into their work. It highlights their collective achievements across seven pillars, the challenges they’ve faced, and recommendations for ways forward. 

The Budget Cuts Tracker: Given the rapidly shifting ODA landscape across DAC donors, this new Development Budget Cuts Tracker closely follows cuts in ODA with frequent updates and analysis. Find more detail on the latest trends, along with visualisations to compare figures across markets. 

Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) has published its 22nd annual report — Philanthropy’s Response to HIV and AIDS — coming at a critical juncture in their work to end HIV as a public health crisis. As the industry’s most comprehensive study of HIV-related grantmaking, FCAA’s latest report comes as drastic government funding cuts and growing stigma threaten to roll back decades of progress on HIV.

Bridging the Climate-Gender-Health Nexus: A Funder’s Starter Guide, developed by Panorama Global, seeks to inform and inspire greater investments in the climate-gender-health movement, especially as funding for sexual and reproductive health rights and climate initiatives continue to face challenges and cuts globally.

The Early Warning and Alert System (EWAS) aims to proactively identify, monitor, and respond to emerging threats to civic space and democratic values across EU Member States. Developed through the project Monitoring Action for Civic Space (MACS), this civil society-led initiative acts on early signs of civic space deterioration by alerting the EU, international organisations, (such as the UN OHCHR, the Council of Europe and the OECD ODIHR), civil society organisations (CSOs), donors, the media, and human rights institutions to the developments.

Migration Exchange (MEX) – Resilience and Wellbeing Handbook: The racist riots of August 2024 had a devastating impact on racialised communities, refugees, and the organisations supporting them. Many are still living with fear, trauma, and uncertainty. To address this, Migration Exchange (MEX) developed a Resilience and Wellbeing Handbook—a vital resource providing links to:

• Mental health support services (counselling, therapy, peer support)
• Guidance on fostering resilience in staff and volunteers
•  Insights on trauma-informed approaches, racial trauma, and burnout

It’s critical to invest in individual and collective care, peer support, and anti-racism initiatives to build a more just and resilient sector.

EPIM – A Systems Map of Migration Governance in Europe: The map is based on published research, stakeholder interviews and input from in-person workshops, all curated by EPIM. Its translation into visual language was co-designed and tested with a Core Team and other stakeholders, including both subject matter and proximate experts.

WINGS – Philanthropy’s solidarity with those impacted by aid cuts: A joint Call to Action: WINGS invites you to sign this Call to Action, stand together and support one another to reinforce our collective ability to navigate obstacles and build a more just and resilient future for everyone, everywhere.

On the Becoming the Vision podcast, Kataly Foundation CEO, Nwamaka Agbo, shares insights on holding multiple truths simultaneously, navigating joy and grief, and the need for a transformative approach to philanthropy that centers on community power building and healing.

CIVICUS Voices is a podcast that amplifies the voices of people, communities, and organisations defending civil liberties and human rights. This episode explores how protests drive change by disrupting the status quo and challenging injustice. It highlights powerful examples of successful protest movements, from abortion rights victories in Latin America to Black Lives Matter in the USA and the Tunisian Revolution, demonstrating how people-powered action leads to real, positive change.

Opinion piece “Philanthropy at a crossroads: Supporting grassroot women’s organisations or fuelling inequality?”: Fiona Montagud O’Curry, of Calala Women’s Fund shares insight into the lack of funding for women’s rights, the role of women’s organisations in social change, as well as an actionable call for better support to the women’s movement.

Open Global Rights “Lost or found? Human rights in socio-ecological justice narratives”: In a world facing ecological collapse, traditional governance models often fall short. But a new experiment conducted by Elaine Webster, Manisha Desai, Mara Ntona, and Mauricio Salgado explores how dialogue across generations and cultures can shape more inclusive, care-centered models to prioritise communities and ecosystems.

Lighthouse Reports Podcast “The Cost of Europe’s Structural Racism”: Many European economies are in decline, struggling with job shortages in critical sectors. At the same time, these same countries are locking qualified migrants out of work. The Cost of Europe’s Structural Racism, a new episode of Backlight, by Lighthouse Reports, explores the true impact of these structural barriers. Beatriz Ramalho da Silva and Tessa Pang speak to reporters Justin Yarga and Justin-Casimir Braun about the 18-month European investigation that uncovered why so many migrants struggle to use their qualifications and why current policies fail to address the problem.

ILGA EUROPE – The far-reaching consequences of Hungary’s Pride ban: Hungary’s new law banning Pride marches across the country, fast-tracked through Parliament in just one day. According to ILGA Europe, with no consultation or debate, this move marks a significant erosion of freedom of assembly and human rights in the EU.

Media Defence – 2024 Journalist Impact Survey: Dive in the results of the 8th Journalist Impact Survey, offering key insights into the impact of the legal and financial support—and the challenges journalists continue to face globally.

Baring Foundation – Not another funder strategy review! In this blog, Programmes Manager, Jannat Hossain, outlines the plans for Baring’s Strengthening Civil Society programme in 2025 and beyond. Since 2016, the Strengthening Civil Society (SCS) programme has sought to support UK civil society organisations to use legal tools and human rights-based approaches to bring about social change.

Fondazione Con il Sud publishes New Strategic Plan 2025-2027 – Visions With the South: The new Strategic Plan outlines key objectives and operational areas for the 2025-2027 triennium, fully consistent with its founding mission: to explore models of social cohesion and promote good networking practices, thereby fostering the development of Southern Italy by reinforcing its social infrastructure.

Center for Effective Philanthropy blog – When Crisis Hits, Multiyear Flexible Funding is Critical by Jehan Velji, Director, Effective Philanthropy Group, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. 

Porticus – The power of participation: assembling citizens in support of a socially just climate transition: Global Programme Manager, Lian Heinhuis, explores the promise of citizens’ assemblies and how Porticus is supporting these initiatives across Europe for a fairer climate transition.

Alliance magazine contribution “What democracy funders on each side of the Atlantic can learn from each other” by Elisa Peter is Director at Civitates, the European Democracy Fund, and Daniel Stid Lyceum Labs.

Ford Foundation Announces $15 Million Commitment to Advance Global Disability Rights: The major commitment of $15 million over the next three years aims to advance disability rights worldwide. In addition to this dedicated funding, the foundation announced at least 25% of all of its grantmaking will be inclusive of people with disabilities. This pledge represents a significant step toward embedding disability inclusion into the broader landscape of social justice funding.

Council of Foundations launches solidarity campaign – A Public Statement From Philanthropy: The public statement invites all charitable giving organisations to join this effort to protect the freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities. 

European Philanthropic Initiative for Migration (EPIM) – Annual Report 2024: 2024 for EPIM was about turning intent into action and pivoting to belonging as an antidote to the polarisation all around us, as elections in Europe and globally entrenched far-right ideologies and exacerbated societal polarisation and political agendas increasingly scapegoated migrants and promoted anti-migration policies.

Alliance for Gender Equiality in Europe (AGEE) – 2024 Impact Report: Learn about AGEE’s learnings and impact and the work of their grantee partners over the past year, inlcuding the stories begind the numbers, past activities and future plans.

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation – Investment Accountant. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has an immediate opening in its Flint office for an Investment Accountant to join a five-person team responsible for all accounting, payroll, payment processing and financial reporting of this large, international organization. Location: Flint, Michigan, USA. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

Mama Cash – Senior Bookkeeper. The Senior Interim Bookkeeper is responsible for the completeness of the financial administration of Mama Cash. The Senior Bookkeeper is overseeing and optimising the financial operations of Mama Cash. This role includes preparing complex financial transactions, regular payments and payments to grantee-partners. Salary: The monthly fulltime (36 hours) salary depends upon experience and is based on CAO Sociaal Werk, scale 9 (min.) 3,489 EUR –  (max) 5,512 EUR,- plus 8% vacation, 13th month, and pension plan. Location: Hybrid (from home and office in Amsterdam). Deadline for applications is 21 April.

Dalan Fund – Communications Coordinator. The Communications Coordinator will work closely with the Fund’s Lead to ensure the timely and consistent production of a wide range of communications materials, including monthly newsletters, movement partner stories, publications, and social media content. Salary: 3,150 USD. Location: Remote. Deadline for applications is 30 April. 

EEA and Norway Grants – Country Officer at the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO). As a Country Officer at the FMO, you serve as the primary contact point between the FMO, the National Focal Point in the Beneficiary State(s) and the Donor States. You coordinate the FMO’s work in Beneficiary State(s), maintaining an overview and following up on the implementation of the EEA and Norway Grants. Salary: 112,786 EUR. Location: Brussels. Deadline for applications is 04 May.  

The Ford Foundation – Senior Manager, Responsible AI Solutions. The Ford Foundation is offering a new opportunity to shape their AI initiatives. As the Senior Manager, Responsible AI Solutions, you’ll be an individual contributor playing a key role in developing and implementing cutting-edge AI to address complex challenges and create significant impact. Salary: 150,000 USD. Location: New York City, USA. Deadline for applications is 11 May.  

*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.

24 April, Online

D-Hub| German Elections: A Victory for Democracy? The 2025 German election has unveiled a deeply divided country, with the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and significant shifts in the political landscape. What is the real meaning of these elections? What was the real role of immigration in this campaign? What does the future hold for Germany? Speakers: Dr. Ella Müller, Program Director, Transatlantic Democracy at Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Washington, DC; Prof. Dr. Matthias Quent, Professor of Sociology at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Science. Date: 24 April, 6 PM CET in English. Learn more and register here.

24 – 25 April & 15-16 September, Online

Trans-Inclusive Grantmaking Training: Mobilizing for Trans Futures 2025. People working in philanthropy are in a unique position to improve strategies for global trans funding and serve as a bulwark against anti-trans agendas being promoted and enacted by anti-gender actors, political parties, national governments, and religious institutions.This training provides a unique opportunity for peer education and open dialogue among funders to explore key questions, discuss challenges, and receive expert guidance on providing intersectional support to trans communities in the regions or issue areas they serve. Date and time: 24 – 25 April & 15 – 16 September, 8:00 – 10:30 AM EDT. Learn more and register here.

22 April – 30 May, South Yorkshire, UK  

Festival of Debate: Founded in 2015 by Opus Independents, Festival of Debate creates opportunities to bring people together to share new ideas and lived experience that can help shape our understanding of the world. They collaborate with a huge range of partner organisations – some local, some international. They include grassroots campaign groups, voluntary and community groups, universities and think tanks. Date: 22 April – 30 May. Learn more and register here.  

30 April, London

Spring members’ lunch | Climate-related mobility: causes, impacts and the increasing influence on social justice. The climate crisis is having a growing impact on human mobility with increasing numbers of people forced to leave their homes due to extreme weather events and slow-onset impacts. The event will be joined by experts working at the intersection of the climate crisis and migrant justice to explore how the sector can work together, how to reframe the narrative, what role funders can play, and much more. Date and time: 30 Apr 2025, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM BST. Learn more and register here.

5 May, Online 

Green Screen Coalition Brown Bag Sessions: Data centres, AI, and responsible use. In this session, Jill McArdle (Beyond Fossil Fuels) will present their latest report on data centres and Europe’s energy transition and Christian Graham of (Friend of the Earth) will talk about their guide where they outline principles and practices for harnessing AI for environmental justice. Date and time: 05 May, 4 – 5 PM CEST Learn more and register here. 

09 May, Online 

Resistance and Imagination: A Reading Group for Hopeful Technologists. This is a gentle, shared space to come together as an act of hopeful resistance and solidarity building. It’s free, online, and intended as a space for collective reflection and network building. For edition #3, they’re going to be joined by Dan McQuillan for a Q&A about Resisting AI and then small group discussions. Date and time: 09 May, 1 – 2 PM BST. Learn more and register here.