How can the principles be used?

The principles are a tool to help align grantmaking practices with human rights values. They can be used to:

• help foundations explore their practices internally,

• catalyze conversations among funders from different institutions, and

• support funders and others in the human rights field to share and learn together.

Our aim is for the principles to be digestible, actionable, memorable, and – when applied in concert with each other – transformational. 

What do the principles include?

Our community is global, diverse, and multilingual. While we have aimed for clarity and simplicity in naming the principles, we recognize that people use different terms in describing their work – and that's okay! Our intention is to define specific concepts and articulate their underlying values as a starting point to our work together.

The principles include:

1. Power Sharing & Shifting

2. Accountability

3. Collective Care

4. Community Driven

5. Equity

6. Adaptability & Learning

Want to learn more?

We have compiled additional resources to support your learning journey on the pages for each principle, including:

• thought-provoking articles to deepen your understanding of the concepts, 

• practical tools to help you assess and improve your grantmaking practice, and

• research to inform your advocacy on how philanthropy can and must do better.

Write us at principlesproject@hrfn.org to recommend additional materials.