MacArthur Foundation’s Grants for Human Rights and International Justice

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, philanthropic organisation based in the United States that makes grants with the aim of helping improve the human condition around the globe.

To strengthen the human rights infrastructure, MacArthur assists selected internationally recognised organisations that work in many parts of the world to monitor and document human rights abuses. These groups attend to a range of major issues, such as the protection of civilians in conflict, the impunity of security forces, and patterns of discrimination leading to human rights violations. Grounded in evidence, their strategies include documentation, analysis, litigation, press freedom, and information dissemination to bring attention to rights abuses, contribute to human rights jurisprudence, and influence policy.

According to the Foundation, grants are awarded only to organisations that define clear objectives for their work and measures of progress toward those objectives. Focus countries are Nigeria, Mexico, and Russia. Typically, the Foundation provides multi-year support. Proposals must fit clearly within the geographic and thematic priorities of the Human Rights and International Justice area to be considered.