Ariadne News & Events

Save the date – April 2024: Ariadne and HRFN are thrilled to announce that the Ariadne Annual Meeting and HRFN’s Funding Futures Festival will take place in Tbilisi, Georgia the week of 22 April 2024. We are pairing up with Women’s Fund in Georgia to bring together vibrant, needed conversations in philanthropy today. Keep your calendars open the week of 22 April 2024. More information on registration, dates, and agendas to come!

We’re hiring a Lead for our Susan Treadwell Change Lab to play a pivotal role in facilitating this transformative space for our members. What began as a mentoring programme has evolved into the innovative concept of a Change Lab—a collaborative space where a community of peers come together for mutual support around an agenda of transformation. Collaborating with other projects aimed at strengthening European philanthropy, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of philanthropic endeavours. This programme embodies the spirit and legacy of Susan Treadwell, a visionary within philanthropy and a revered member of Ariadne’s advisory board. Susan’s courage and unwavering commitment to systemic change continue to inspire our work. Deadline for applications is Sunday 13 August. 

Healing Solidarity’s Senior Leader Sessions – next session is on July 25th:
Recognising the central importance of leadership in enabling culture and systems change in our sector, Ariadne is organising a special event for the senior leadership of European foundations to have an honest and supportive conversation about your institutions’ anti-racist work and practices.
Healing Solidarity’s inter-racial team will facilitate 90-minute workshops on July 25th & September 26th. Registration information is available on our Members only portal.

Blogs:

– “Supporting Local Change-makers: Lessons from the World Justice Challenge”: In the latest Ariadne blog by the World Justice Project, read about the outcomes of the World Justice Challenge review journey: diversifying the search, democratising the judging, making the most for local actors, and continuing the support. Get more insights here.
– ” ‘2033’ Looking into the future to act now”: Read our written contribution to the WINGS newsletter and learn more about our ‘2033’ annual member meeting that explored the future of philanthropy, embracing a future mindset in grantmaking and fostering shared narratives for a better world. Access it here.

Welcome, Renata! In June, Ariadne welcomed our new Director of Programmes, Renata Cuk! Renata is a dedicated advocate for social justice, employing a systemic approach and storytelling to drive change. With over 15 years of experience in the human rights field, she is deeply committed to addressing inequalities, focusing specifically on intersectional gender and racial justice. Renata spent 11 years at the Open Society Foundations, where she worked on various issues and played a key role in developing the economic justice portfolio for Europe. Say ‘hello’ to Renata, at renata.cuk@ariadne-network.eu.

Recording of the session ‘Cultivating the Funding Conditions for Narrative Power at Scale’. Could not join the live conversation with Mandy Van Deven and James Savage? On the portal, you can find the recording of this discussion between the co-moderators of Ariadne’s Communications, Narrative, and Culture Change community as well as Ariadne’s members. The co-moderators shared a new vision for funders curious to explore the steps to more effective resource communications, narrative, and culture change strategies. Access the recording via our Members only portal.

Many members are sharing on Ariadne’s Membership Portal!
Here are the latest Threads:
1. Roma in the News, July 7–14, 2023
2. AWID Forum – Concept & Stories of Change
3. Communications, Narrative, and Culture Change Community Vision (share your reflections and ideas)
4. Indivisible Justice – Migration & the Climate Crisis – online event

Log in to join the diverse communities, connect and collaborate with other funders on Ariadne’s Membership portal!
Do you have a colleague that doesn’t yet have access to the portal? They can sign up here. Need assistance? Take a look at our guide or email ariadneoffice@ariadne-network.eu.

All these resources and more can be found on Ariadne’s website and Member-only portal.

New Research, Articles and Judgements

Report: The Philanthropy Transformation Initiative Report, produced by WINGS with the support of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy (CSP) at Cambridge University, serves as a crucial tool for philanthropy actors, particularly foundations and those that support them, looking to create transformative change within their organisation and beyond. The report outlines 10 principles to guide philanthropy action and offers an extended catalogue of resources, recommendations, and insights.

Legislation: European AI Act: The European Parliament voted in favor of the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation: the E.U. AI Act. Despite this step forward, Access Now is requesting lawmakers to: align the AI Act with human rights, eliminate the remaining loopholes and gaps, and strengthen the protections for people on the move. Read more on Access Now.

Report: Insights from the Intersectional Dialogues in Migration – WIMN: The report was drawn from Women in Migration Network – WIMN‘s intersectional dialogues with women leaders and organisers in the global regions, and includes their insights about movement building at the intersections of gender, migration, race, labor, and climate change. This report was launched on July 13, 2023, at a virtual event with speakers from leading regional organisations from Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. You can access the recording here.

Booklet: The Transformative Power of Intersectionality: Robert Bosch Stiftung recently published a digital booklet to share the collective learnings of their program, Reducing Inequalities through Intersectional Practice. “The Transformative Power of Intersectionality” reflects on the experiences, insights, and learnings that were shared by partners throughout a joint learning journey. The booklet is available in English and Spanish, with a German version that will be shared in the upcoming weeks.

Statement: Stop discrimination and ethnic profiling in Europe – Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA): Following repeated evidence of racism in policing in some EU countries, FRA calls on EU Member States to step up their efforts and effectively fight discrimination, harassment, and violence against ethnic minorities in Europe. Read it here.

Report: Reviving News Media in an Embattled Europe – Freedom House: Freedom House conducted in-depth research and interviews with nearly 40 media professionals and experts in six countries: Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Poland. They examined four conditions affecting the playing field for independent news media and their role in democracy: their ability to sustain themselves financially, reach and engage diverse audiences, earn public trust, and play a watchdog role. Interested? Access the report.

Report: State of Nonprofits 2023: What Funders Need to Know – CEP: CEP’s new report, State of Nonprofits 2023: What Funders Need to Know, provides insight into how nonprofits are faring in 2023. The results of the nationally representative survey of nonprofit leaders reveal the following data points, among many other insights:

• • More than half of nonprofit leaders perceived an increase in trust during the past year from their funders. This increase was accompanied by shifts in practice described in the report.
  • Issues related to staff are the top challenge facing nonprofit leaders; nearly all nonprofit leaders surveyed indicated concern about burnout.
  • Less than a quarter of nonprofits reported a deficit in the last fiscal year.

Read more insights into how nonprofits are faring in 2023 in the full report or view highlights here.

Legislation: The EU just passed new anti-deforestation law. This new law will ensure that commodities linked to deforestation won’t be able to enter the EU market unless proven to be sustainably sourced. However, it does not oblige EU-based banks or investors to stop funding deforestation through its investment portfolios and via financial services. Learn more.

Report: The 2023 Global Slavery Index – Walk Free: The 2023 Global Slavery Index, offers a breakdown of the 50 million people in modern slavery across 160 countries. North Korea was named as the country with the highest prevalence, where one in ten people are in modern slavery, primarily due to state-imposed forced labour, torture, and wrongful imprisonment. Shared characteristics were found among many of the countries with the highest prevalence, including limited protections for civil liberties and human rights, as well as involvement in protracted conflicts.

Report: Indicators of Immigrant Integration 2023: This joint OECD-European Commission publication presents a comprehensive comparison of the integration outcomes of immigrants and their children in OECD, EU and selected other countries. It includes 83 indicators covering three main areas: labour market and skills; living conditions; and civic engagement and social integration. Available in English, French and German.

REPORT: People, power and priorities: Insights into the UK refugee and migration sector: A new report from Migration Exchange presents a comprehensive review of the UK refugee and migration sector and funding landscape and identifies six key priorities for NGOs and funders working in this field. To download the report and executive summary click here.

Policy Briefing: European Network Against Racism (ENAR) on the New EU Pact on Migration: ENAR published their policy briefing and recommendations on the EU Pact on Migration, delving into the urgent need to reconsider the double standards, racialized procedures, and EU’s neo-colonial approach to border management. Access the briefing.

Blogs and Other Sites of Interest

Report and recording: Effects Framework: Reimagining Property Purchasing as a strategic tool: Sharing the new “Ripple Effects Framework for Property Purchase Grants on LGBTQI+ communities” report commissioned by Dreilinden and Wellspring Advisors. You can find the report launch webinar recording here.

Article: Protect LGBTQ+ rights: online, offline — everywhere: The global increase in LGBTQ+ intolerance is accelerating the digital repression of LGBTQ+ rights in Africa. Authorities are persecuting LGBTQ+ people, calling for bans on LGBTQ+ content, inciting violence, and introducing dangerous anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies. Access Now and its partners in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda are closely monitoring these attacks. Learn more about what’s happening and how you can help. Read more via Access Now.

Article: Celebrating 25 years of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders: As part of this 25th anniversary celebration, Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Defend Defenders, Forum Asia, Front line Defenders, FIDH, Gulf Centre for Human Rights, ICNL, ILGA World, ISHR, IM Defensoras, MENA WHRD Coalition, OMCT and Protection International launched a collaborative project to analyse the contributions of the Declaration, reflect on defenders’ lived experiences and needs, analyse the evolutions and developments in international and regional contexts and jurisprudence relating to defenders over the past 25 years. Click here to learn more about the project and how you can participate.

Podcast: Make Change Happen: To celebrate Pride month, the podcast episode ‘Challenging queer erasure in climate action and urban development’ invites queer activists and researchers to tell more about their work to bridge the gaps between urban and climate justice and LGBTQI+ communities. Listen here.

Interview: ‘Stories have the power to move people’: Thousand Current continues its Straight talk, interview series with members of their senior management team. In this installment, they connect with Cindy del Rosario-Tapan, Director of Communications to explore the power of storytelling and what it means for the philanthropic sector.

Article: Honoring our Past and Fighting for our Future: This year’s Pride month, writes Darren Walker, the president of Ford Foundation, comes at a time of heightened crisis for the LGBTQ+ community, who must demonstrate resistance and solidarity in the face of external assaults. Read more.

Article: NGOs Fear EU Measures Against Kosovo Could Hit Civil Society Funds: EU security measures related to ethnic tension in Kosovo’s north may hold up grant funds for local civil society organisations working in the area. Xhorxhina Bami reports for Balkan Insight.

Article: What Happens When Funding Centers Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being?: “Funders should value how nonprofit spaces look and feel, because they can reveal a great deal about the quality of services provided and relationships being formed within them” Kendra Jeffreys, Executive Director, Friends of Refugees, contributes for the CEP blog.

Civicus Survey Results: 5 things grassroots activists want donors and allies to know: As part of the Grassroots Solidarity Revolution, Civicus consulted 140 grassroots activists who shared the challenges they face in accessing support from donors and allies and what they need to feel truly nurtured and supported in order to continue their important work. Read the summary with feedback from across 45 countries.

Article: The World According to ChatGPT: The International Center for Not-for-profit Law analyses the ability of generative AI systems to generate fake articles to harm or deceive intentionally. Look into their concerns and recommendations for AI systems.

Article: Decolonising knowledge in philanthropy: what does it mean? In this contribution for Alliance, Shama Dossa from Fenomenal Funds, Clara Desalvo from FRIDA – The Young Feminist Fund and Boikanyo Modungwa from Purposeful discuss why should funders adopt decolonising frameworks and practices and rethink their practices.

Navigating Game-Changing Grants – A Playbook for Nonprofit Leaders by Panorama Global: This is a tool for nonprofit leaders, boards, and staff to gain insights and lessons learned from others who have navigated the journey of receiving a large, unrestricted gift. The playbook is designed to meet organisations where they are on their journey and acts as a reference point, not a prescribed “how-to” guide outlining specific steps or actions.

Do you have a great blog post, case study, or podcast you’d like to contribute? We would love to feature it. Contact us.

Grant-Making

Resource: Freedom Fund’s Funding Frontline Impact: The Freedom Fund recently launched Funding Frontline Impact, a new resource for donors who believe in the power of funding frontline organisations. The site draws from the Freedom Fund’s experience funding over 170 frontline organisations around the world and features a set of principles for frontline funding alongside guidance, case studies, and downloadable resources. Visit www.fundingfrontlineimpact.org

Announcement: Lankelly Chase to wholly redistribute its assets over the next five years: After over 60 years of operating as a charitable grant-making foundation, Lankelly Chase has decided to redistribute all its assets and close within a five year timeframe. Access their statement here.

Article: Transforming our grantmaking: In this contribution, Thomas Vink and Laurence Meyer of the Digital Freedom Fund, give insight into Digital Freedom Fund’s strategic plan of decolonising its grantmaking to increase the accessibility of grants to all actors in the digital rights community. Delve into their summary to learn why they are transforming their grantmaking, what has happened so far and how you can get involved.

Blog: What makes for a healthy information ecosystem? New visual tool: TAI – Transparency and Accountability’s Initiative’s new tool maps out a vision of what makes for a healthy information ecosystem. Learn how funders can contribute to diversity, resiliency and integrity in information creation here.

Article: How Can Funders Meaningfully Address Gender-Based Violence? Support Survivor Justice: Brook Kelly-Green of the Schusterman Family Philanthropies and Ada Williams from Pivotal Ventures discuss why philanthropy must be relentless and bold to transform the field in a direction that advances the right of all survivors to heal and thrive. Read more.

Report: What’s Next for Education Philanthropy? The International Education Funders Group (IEFG) and Heriot Row Advisors released an insightful report that explores 9 diverse trends shaping education philanthropy. The report aims to provide education funders with a deeper understanding of the broader philanthropic landscape and its evolving perspectives on scale, sustainability, and transformative systems.

Article: ‘You find the work by funding it’ Lessons from the Community Action Fund: In this insightful article by Martha Mackenzie of the Civic Power Fund, you can read about the early lessons learned from the Community Action Fund run by the Civic Power Fund.

Podcast: Fund the people – MacArthur Foundation Makes Changes to End Nonprofit Starvation Cycle: In this episode, you’ll learn how one foundation built the internal political will to make internal reforms so they can provide grants that better serve their grantees and their communities. Host Rusty Stahl sits down with Kenneth Jones, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Equity Officer of one of America’s major foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. They discuss why and how MacArthur Foundation has increased the amount of money in their grants for “indirect costs” from 15% to 29%, nearly double.

Ariadne is taking a summer break! The next Thread will go out on Thursday 21st September. We would love to hear from you! Please contact us by Tuesday 19th September if you would like to share announcements, events, or resources for the next issue. 

Jobs and Tenders

Mama Cash – Consultant(s) for Impact Study: This year, Mama Cash celebrates over forty years of strengthening feminist movements globally through their grantmaking and accompaniment. To comprehensively understand the impact of support and funding for feminist movements over the last four decades, Mama Cash are initiating an in-depth study and are looking for a consultant or consultancy firm to carry out this work. This is an open call for proposals, which should be based on feminist, intersectional, antidisablism, and anti-racism principles. Location: remote. Deadline for applications is 21 July.

Comic Relief – Interim Director of Productions. As Interim Director of Production you will be responsible for ensuring Comic Relief is effective in delivering campaigns and content that support their strategic objectives. As you will oversee a broad team that includes broadcast entertainment, stories, talent, photography, design, and digital content, you will be expected to provide strong leadership and outstanding line management to your direct reports and teams. You will be accountable for on-time, on-budget delivery of content and campaign assets. This covers broadcast content, social media content, video production, photography, design assets, and working with talent and influencers. Comic Relief is looking for someone who can demonstrate experience overseeing and coordinating delivery of high-profile work across several teams. Salary: £75,000 – £85,000 (GBP) Location: London & Hybrid working organization. Deadline for applications is 21 July.

Media Defence – Fundraising Officer. In this role, you will play a key role in achieving Media Defence’s fundraising target and reporting their impact to donors. You will identify new fundraising opportunities from charitable trusts and foundations, write funding proposals and contribute to the implementation/updating of Media Defence’s fundraising strategy. You will show initiative, flexibility and team spirit.  Your understanding of the international human rights/media/legal charity sector with focus on securing income from trusts and foundations and/or governments will enable you to provide insight into specialist areas, supporting and leading on proposal development as well as managing and evaluating approaches to leverage high success rates in securing funding, and scoping out opportunities. Location: Hybrid, London. Salary: £34,320 – £40,350 Deadline for applications is 21 July.

Mama Cash – Supervisory Board member with Legal Expertise: Mama Cash is governed by an international Supervisory Board, currently comprised of ten members from around the world who together bring a range of skills and experience to the Mama Cash team. In line with their vision and mission, their governance structure and the composition and work of the Supervisory Board is driven by feminist values. The role of the Supervisory Board is to provide strategic oversight and support to Mama Cash by supervising, advising, challenging and supporting the Co-Executive Directors/Managing Board and their team, and ensuring that the organisation fulfils its statutory duties and responsibilities. The Supervisory Board plays a key role in ensuring that Mama Cash maintains and delivers its vision, mission and strategic goals. Deadline for applications is 31 July.

On the Right Track – Strategic Communication Officer. The Communication Officer twill carry out a strategy, led by Coordination Team representatives, to communicate the added value produced by women’s funds and grassroots groups working together regional and cross-regionally, showing the values of feminism, highlighting the goals of this project and enhancing hope and social action for democracy. Under the Coordination Team supervision, the officer will create a communication plan for six months, create materials for communication channels, develop key messages, calendar, calibrate audiences, formats, etcetera. With this action, we aim to increase the availability of funds for the project and in to enhance social awareness and action in favour of democracy. Interested people should submit a professional record and a brief proposal (maximum 2 pages) to info@ontherighttrackinitiative.org Deadline for applications is 31 July.

EEA Norway Grants – Results-Based Management and Evaluation Officer: The overall objectives of the Grants are to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area (EEA) and to strengthen bilateral relations between the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and the 15 Beneficiary States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia). The Grants are based on a programme model where the Beneficiary States are responsible for the programmes and for projects implemented under the programmes. A few programmes, notably regarding Civil Society, Regional Cooperation and Decent Work, are operated by the FMO. The allocation for the current seven-year funding period totals €2.8 billion. Deadline for applications is 6 August.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation – Trustees. The Board of Trustees is chaired by Jane Hamlyn. Trustees, other than family trustees, are appointed for renewable terms of three years, and usually serve for a maximum of nine years in total. The position is voluntary, unpaid, and non-executive. Reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed. The trustees have overall control of the governance of Paul Hamlyn Foundation. They are ultimately responsible for the charity, although the day to day running of it is delegated to the executive team. Deadline for applications is 6 August.

Various roles – American Jewish World Service (AJWS)
Various roles – Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Various roles – Ford Foundation
Various roles – Fondation de France
Various roles – Disability Rights Fund
Various roles – Global fund for Children
Various roles – Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights

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

Public Meetings

Online

27 July

Indivisible Justice – Migration & the Climate Crisis. Join online on the 27 July at 18:00 for ‘Indivisible Justice – Migration & the Climate Crisis.  International activists will speak alongside community organisers on climate, racial and migrant justice issues: unpacking ‘climate migration’, and demonstrating the power of working together in solidarity. People have always moved to build a better life. But as more communities are forced from their homes by the climate crisis, they are met with militarised borders and violent migration policies. This is how states are responding to global climate breakdown, instead of funding climate action where people are most affected. In response, our movements must come together in solidarity. As the climate crisis deepens, we must fight for people’s right to stay in our homes and homelands, but also our right to move safely across borders if we need to. Human mobility is a key form of adaptation to a changing climate, and it must happen safely, with dignity.

The panel will include Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines), Asad Rehman (War on Want) and Tandrima Mazumdar (City of Sanctuary Manchester) , with more speakers to be announced soon! Register here.

Online

22 August

Webinar: Human Rights & Labor Exploitation Risks in the Fashion Industry Do you know about the human rights and labor exploitation risks in the fashion industry? Join the Slave-Free Alliance for a webinar where industry experts will share insights on forced labor, child labor, and other forms of exploitation. Learn how businesses can address these risks and protect workers’ rights. By the end of the webinar, you’ll be better informed about the challenges faced by workers in the fashion industry and the measures that can be taken to promote ethical practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and make a positive impact in the fashion industry. Join us and take a step towards promoting a more responsible and sustainable future. Register here.

20 September

Climate Change and Human Rights for the Third Sector. This online conference will explore the overlaps of human rights and climate change while contextualising both of these topics for third sector organisations in Scotland. The session will feature guest speakers from environmental rights organisations and third sector sustainability experts. More information to come soon – save the date. Register here.