Ariadne's Thread

Register for the upcoming Forecast Roundtables (please note: these are funder-only events):

• UK Roundtable: Wednesday 26 February 2025 in London. Register here.
• Online Member-only exclusive Forecast 2025 pre-release: Wednesday 12th March 2025, 15 CET, Zoom. Register through the Community Hub or email us for the registration link.

Ariadne’s Reconnect 2025: registration is now open for Ariadne’s 2025 Reconnect taking place Zagreb, Croatia from 8-10 April 2025  supported by Solidarna. Program is coming soon! Register here.

Invitation Funders’ Briefing “Navigating EU tech policy & politics in the Trump era”: Join us for a funders’ briefing with Felix Kartte, Mercator Senior Fellow, to unpack how the EU’s new leadership is approaching technology policy following Trump’s re-election and how funders can navigate the new context. We’ll discuss if the EU is preparing to enforce or backtrack on the social media and AI regulation passed in recent years and what are the strategies to advocate for social justice amidst a push for looser regulation and greater competitiveness. When: Tuesday, 25 February, 14-15 CET. Register here.

All these resources and more 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 20th March. We would love to hear from you! Please contact us by Tuesday 18th March if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue. 

Outright International Report “Defunding Freedom: Impacts of U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts on LGBTIQ People Worldwide”: Read this report to learn about the impact of the US foreign aid freeze on LGBTIQ groups in 59 countries & recommendations for policymakers, media, donors, & partners.

Blueprint 2025: Philanthropy and Digital Civil Society: Blueprint is an annual industry forecast about the ways private resources are used for public benefit in the digital age. Each year, the Blueprint provides an overview of the current landscape, points to big ideas that matter, and shows where you can expect some important breakthroughs in the coming year.

Global Aid Freeze Tracker: Accountability Lab and Humentum are proud to collectively lead the Global Aid Freeze Tracker, an effort to track the human and societal impact of the Executive Order mandating the Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid. This stop work order effectively freezing foreign assistance has created deep uncertainty; disrupting operations, financial sustainability, and long-term planning. Learn more and fill in the survey.

Report “Climate Emergency And The Future Of Civic Space Lessons From The War On Terror”: This report, authored by Dr Iavor Rangelov and Dr Marika Theros,  presents the findings of the research project Climate Emergency and the Future of Civic Space: Learning from the War on Terror based at the Conflict & Civicness Research Group, LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The Great Transition: 2025 Narrative Predictions: Narrative predictions are crucial for understanding the evolving landscape of public discourse and sentiment. By analysing current trends and projecting future ones, it is possible to identify opportunities to shape narratives and outcomes that align with our values and visions. Narrative predictions provide the strategic foresight needed to be more proactive and realistic while navigating permacrisis. 

Fund for Global Human Rights: The President’s Report: Our Outlook for 2025: “As I have gotten to know so many extraordinary activists, donors, and staff over my first full year at the Fund for Global Human Rights, determination and courage have been constants. It’s easy to wallow at the state of the world and its interlocking crises, but I regain hope each time I see how much can be achieved by refusing to accept injustice.” Read the full outlook for the Fund and human rights in 2025.

Guidelines for Universities Hosting Human Rights Defenders: The new guidelines recently published by the UNESCO Chair – Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Expansion of Political Space at the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York. Over a year-long process, the UNESCO Chair collaborated with universities, NGOs, donors and human rights defenders to co-produce these Guidelines which represent an invitation for universities to get involved in hosting, a source of inspiration about why this work matters, and a guide and set of tools on how to provide support for human rights defenders.

Resources and a message from Masen Davis, FCAA, on The HIV Community’s Response to the U.S. Funding Freeze: In light of the U.S. Funding Freeze, we invite you to read this message from the Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) and dive deep into their growing list of resources. 

The Murad Code: The Murad Code (the Global Code of Conduct for Gathering and Using Information about Systematic and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (SCRSV)) is available to read in thirteen languages. Released on 13 April 2022, the Murad Code is a living document which will be reviewed periodically to ensure it continues to reflect minimum standards for the safe, effective and ethical gathering of information about SCRSV. 

ILGA Europe Annual Review 2025: ILGA Europe presents the 14th Annual Review of the Human Rights Situation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex People in Europe and Central Asia. It provides a snapshot of what happened during the year, at national, regional and international levels, and it documents progress and trends regarding the human rights situation of LGBTI people. Please note that some parts may be potentially triggering for some readers.

Alliance Magazine article “There’s a role for philanthropy amidst chaotic USAID funding freeze beyond being a band-aid”: In this article authors, Nina Blackwell, Priya Dhanani and Sadaf Shallwani, expand on the potential role of philanthropy to go beyond being the band-aid, amidst the US foreign assistance cuts, as well as cuts by governments in France, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation “Reflections on funding racial justice”: In this blog Director of Grants at PHF, Abdou Sidibe, responds to the recent findings of the internal Racial Justice Audit and discusses some of the ways they have been working to embed anti-racist practice in our grant-making through an intersectional lens. He reflects on the progress that has been made and the areas that need to be addressed in this ongoing work.

Going the Distance – Lessons from The Decelerator: The Decelerator is a free support service for civil society organisations. They offer advice and tools for better endings. Their work is one of the examples of a ‘system thinking’ in practice – helping understand that endings and loss can be part of progress and growth.

Article “To Fight Growing Militarism, Philanthropy Should Embrace a Feminist Playbook”: In this article authors, Christine Ahn, Diana Duarte, and Hanni Hanson, spotlight the strategies of feminist pro-democracy leaders, in the US and worldwide, who have pushed back on strong-arming tactics to roll-back rights, often against the threat of military action. 

Standing Against Big Tech’s Influence: More than 40 civil society organisations across the EU and US with this letter call on the European Commission and President Von der Leyen to ensure strong enforcement of the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and other digital laws to protect democracy, economy and human rights. 

Media Defence Article “Over 7,000 Threats to Journalists in Less than Two Decades: Focus on Italy with Ossigeno”: Access this interview with MEdia Defence’s longstanding partner, Ossigeno per l’informazione to discuss the current situation for press freedom in Italy. 

ILGA Europe “Activists demand action as anti-LGBTI violence surges in Italy”: According to ILGA Europe, over the past month Italy has seen a surge in anti-LGBTI violence—from brutal hate-motivated attacks to threatening messages defacing an LGBTI centre. In response, thousands have taken to the streets of Rome and Milan, demanding urgent government action. But openly anti-LGBTI rhetoric from Italy’s leaders, alongside a serious lack of legal protection, leaves the country’s LGBTI community increasingly vulnerable. You can also listen to the podcast episode.

Philanthropy Wired by Luminate and Alliance Magazine: In this new monthly column by philanthropy and technology expert Gastón Wright, you can read about how new technologies shape societal challenges and what is philanthropy’s role in these processes.

Aidsfonds launches an updated edition of Dangerously Off Track: How Funding for the HIV Response is Leaving Key Populations Behind. The report found that, in 2023, there was a shortfall of 95.5% of needed funding for comprehensive prevention for key populations – a critical and sobering reminder of the heightened stakes of the current funding crisis.

Ford Foundation new Natural Resource and Climate Justice Program International Strategy: The updated international strategy will focus on the following three key areas: Securing Land and Resource Rights, Promoting Just Energy Transitions and Building Effective Agency and Alliances.

Global Philanthropy Project – Training on Trans-Inclusive Grantmaking: Mobilising for Trans Futures is a training program designed for peer education and dialogue among funders to address emerging needs in movements for trans rights and ensure that their organisational values and grantmaking practices align with goals for trans-inclusion. Sign up and learn more here.

SSIR Article “Are Women Donors the Key to Unlocking More Giving?”: In this article authors, Heather McLeod Grant & Jessica Robinson Love, analyse why the future of philanthropy is female, and in their words ‘women are a critical leverage point to unlocking more impactful and equitable giving over the next decade’. 

The Fund for Global Human Rights – Annual Report 2023-24: In the latest annual report, Fund leadership and program experts share how the Fund’s support of grassroots activists helped promote LGBTQ+ equality, secure a landmark ruling to protect the environment, uncover government abuse, and more.

Philea “2025 Democracy Briefer for Funders: What’s Happening to European Democracy and What Funders Can Do About It”: According to the publishers, this in-depth explainer, commissioned by the Democracy Network, explores democratic backsliding and its causes, provides a comprehensive understanding of the issue and enables philanthropy to develop strategies that address the multidimensional challenges democratic backsliding presents.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy “As USAID Is Gutted, Here’s How Philanthropy Can Stop Panicking and Start Helping”: HRFN‘s director, Kellea Miller writes about philanthropy’s role in fighting against authoritarianism and being an important voice for human rights around the world.

Media Defence New 2025-2029 Strategy: With rising autocracy and growing threats to journalists, the demand for support has never been higher. As threats evolve, so will Media Defence, who are expanding their reach, impact, and ambition, and will be focusing on four key areas: 

• Violence Against Journalists 
• Lawfare 
• Digital Rights 
• Promoting Accountability & Fighting Impunity 

Nonprofit AF “Funders, stop bringing spreadsheets to knife fights!”: “Stop the toxic intellectualising. Get into the trenches with us. Increase your payout rate. Fund advocacy and organising. Fund political work. Fund progressive organisations that are vital in enabling our side to fight back. Increase funding for legal defence and legal offence. Remove all the barriers of your current grants; we do not have time for grant applications, grant reports, and other relatively trivial, meaningless tasks anymore.” Read more.

Global Fund for Women – Feminist Crisis Response Program Officer. The Program Officer will lead grantmaking and strategic initiatives that reflect feminist principles in crisis response. This position focuses on supporting feminist movements and grassroots organisations globally, with emphasis on the MENA region, and advancing Global Fund for Women’s evolving Feminist Crisis Response strategy to address systemic inequalities and empower marginalised communities globally. Salary: 50,000 – 100,000 USD. Location: New York, USA (Remote). Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – Co-ordinator, Climate Change and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The post will work with colleagues across the Foundation – in particular the Senior Management Team – in supporting the development, delivery and co-ordination of work on the two cross-cutting commitments: addressing the causes and impacts of climate change; and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Salary: 40,000 GBP. Location: Hybrid – Kings Cross, London (with some UK travel). Deadline for applications is 25 February.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation – Funding Manager, Our Natural World (ONW). The role is based within the Foundation’s Our Natural World team, a small and friendly group of six individuals managing over 250 relationships across the UK through grants, investments, and other forms of support. Salary: 45,000 – 49,000 GBP. Location: Hybrid – London, UK. Deadline for applications is 25 February.

Civitates – Impact and Learning Manager. The Impact and Learning Manager is a newly created position to advance Civitates’ mission by supporting collective learning and exchange, evidence-based decision-making and communication. This role is responsible for managing the fund’s impact and learning system and reporting materials for internal and external audiences. Salary: 53,000 – 58,000 EUR. Location: Brussels, Belgium. Possibility to work remotely for exceptional candidates residing in an EU country. Deadline for applications is 28 February.

GiveOut – Senior Grant-Making Officer. Grant-making is central to GiveOut’s mission of growing giving to support LGBTQI human rights activism globally. As Senior Grant-Making Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the grant-making programme, ensuring GiveOut effectively channel resources to LGBTQI activist organisations worldwide. Salary: 32,000 – 35,000 GBP. Location: Central London / Hybrid (team currently in office two days per week). Deadline for applications is 28 February.

Justice Collaborations – Trustee. Justice Collaborations (JC) seeks new board members to help shape its shift from grant-making to learning, influencing, and exploring new opportunities. Appointees will also serve on the Justice Together Grants Committee. JC welcomes individuals with lived experience of the UK immigration system who have used their insights and skills to drive social change. Deadline for applications is 10 March. Salary: Please note this is an unpaid position, but related expenses will be covered.

Building Power for Climate justice in Philanthropy. Are you ready to challenge philanthropy’s role in systemic injustice and reimagine how funding can support climate justice? Applications are now open for funders and individuals working in philanthropy to join a 5-module virtual collective sense making space and embark on a transformative journey with Collective Abundance, a movement-building initiative that engages philanthropic funding as a tool to help strengthen the climate justice ecosystem across Europe. Spaces are limited, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis – express your interest here until 14. March. 

Civitates Tech & Democracy Call for Proposals: Making online spaces safer, more trustworthy and inclusive: Open call to support organisations working on national level enforcement of EU tech regulations in seven countries. Deadline for application is 14 March, 11:30 PM (CET).

Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) – Global Resources Report Associate. GPP is hiring an associate to develop the Global Resources Report: Government & Philanthropic Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Communities. Salary: 60,000 – 70,000 USD. Location: Remote. Deadline for applications is 17 March.

*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.

20 February, Online

Feminist Funding Forecast: Organised by Alliance for Feminist Movements, this event is a chance to come together and collectively make sense of trends, share insights and explore opportunities in this turbulent funding landscape. Date and time: 20 February at 15:00 CET. Learn more and register here.

24 and 28 February, Online

Launch event – Funding Justice 3: mapping UK social justice grantmaking: In Funding Justice 3, the Civic Power Fund and Jon Cracknell from The Hour Is Late have mapped where UK social justice grants go and how much UK grantmaking is going to work addressing injustice. This report is based on a rigorous analysis of over 20,000 grants made in the 2022/23 financial year, from 84 funders, together worth more than £935 million. 

• 24 February, 11:00 – 12:15 GMT. Register here.
• 28 February, 11:00 – 12:15 GMT. Register here.

26 February, Online

WINGS: Are we entering a post-aid world? And what should philanthropy do about it? WINGS members are invited to join for an urgent and critical discussion on what the philanthropy sector needs to do now, to share thoughts, exchange strategies and ideas on how to navigate this moment, and explore ways that we can support each other and take collective action. Date and time: 26 February at 16:00 CET. Register here.

26 February, Online

Authoritarian Threats to Movement Finance & Creative Tools to Fight Back: This webinar is for grantmakers, donors and donor networks, and philanthropic serving/mobilising organisations, that want to learn about how to fortify their own institutions how to support their grantees and movement partners. Organised by Amalgamated Bank, the Democratizing Justice Initiative, Funders for Justice, Borealis Philanthropy’s Communities Transforming Policing Fund, CS Fund, and the Piper Fund. Date and time: 26 February at 11:00 PT. Learn more and register here. 

27 February, Online

Inter-Narratives | Narrative & Wealth Inequality: The role of narrative in challenging a world where the 1% have more wealth than 95% of the world’s population. At a time when the effects of wealth hoarding and inequality are starkly dictating our collective trajectory, this event will explore how to work with narrative to challenge this. Date and time: 27 Feb 13:00 – 14:30 GMT / 14:00 – 15:30 CET. Learn more and register here.

27 February, Online

Ukraine’s Fight and the Global Stakes: Why Philanthropy Can’t Afford to Look Away: As the war in Ukraine is in its third year, the global landscape is shifting. Initial waves of emergency support are tapering off, geopolitical priorities are evolving, and fatigue is setting in among some donors. Yet, Ukraine remains at a critical juncture – militarily, economically, and socially. The coming months will define not only Ukraine’s future but also the resilience of democratic values and global security. Date and time: 27 February, 16:00 – 17:30 CET. Register here.

5 March, Online

Human Rights in the Energy Transition: Over 50% of the minerals essential for the green economy are found in Indigenous territories, yet many renewable energy companies are unaware of this or how to engage with these communities. The energy transition offers a chance to correct past harms by ensuring Indigenous voices shape both processes and outcomes. Date and time: 5 March, 11:00 EST / 17:00 CET. Learn more and register here.

10 March, Online

Center for Effective Philanthropy – Breaking the Mold: The Transformative Effect of MacKenzie Scott’s Big Gifts: Join this in-depth discussion about the impact and implications of Scott’s giving for nonprofits and philanthropy, featuring findings from the third and final report. The new report analyses survey responses from hundreds of nonprofit and foundation leaders as well as financial data from both Scott grant recipients and comparable nonprofits. Date and time: 10 March, 11:00 EST / 17:00 CET. Learn more and register here.

11 March, London, UK

LGBTQI Climate Convening: GiveOut is hosting the world-first LGBTQI Climate Convening, a groundbreaking event bringing together LGBTQI activists from the Global South, researchers, and funders from the climate, environment, and human rights sectors. Spaces are limited, environment, climate, human rights and development funders are encouraged to submit an expression of interest if you would like to attend. Date and time: 11 March, 9:30 – 17:00, followed by a drinks reception. Learn more and register here.

17 – 18 March, Virtual and in-person

AI UK 2025: The Alan Turing Institute is hosting the fifth edition of AI UK, the UK’s national showcase of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) research and innovation. This year’s event will include sessions exploring the full potential for UK research, the future of warfare and sustainability in space and scientific demonstrations such as the Isambard-AI national AI research infrastructure, brain-computer interface technology in action and the use of AI for decarbonisation, among many others. Learn more. Register here.

17 – 18 March, Brussels, Belgium

Anti-Racism and Diversity Week – Reimagine Racial Justice: This annual flagship civil society event is coordinated by the European Network against Racism​, with the support of the Anti-racism and Diversity Intergroup of the European Parliament and the European Commission. In 2025, this initiative will serve as a strategic platform to amplify civil society voices, consolidate demands for a transformative EU Anti-Racism Strategy, and mobilise action against systemic racism, building on the momentum and insights from previous editions. Register and learn more here.

31 March, London

UK Narrative Funders Gathering: Lankelly Chase Foundation and Elemental are hosting a daylong meeting to build connection, share insights about the landscape of narrative work and funding in the UK, and identify areas for learning and mutual support. Email mandy@elementalnarratives.com to express your desire to attend.