Best Human Rights Grants in Hawaii

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored projects working on social justice, immigrant services, or broader human rights initiatives in Hawaii can seek funding for discrete, project-based work. Focused on clear annual deliverables, the Firedoll Foundation offers US $10,000 - US $30,000 for efforts serving vulnerable populations within its defined focus areas and geographies.

Kauai residents pursuing full-time master’s or doctoral studies in social justice, human rights, public or human service, education, or health can apply for the Inspired to Serve Scholarship Fund. This Hawai'i Community Foundation program supports students with financial need who study in Hawaii or on the mainland and plan to serve communities in Hawaii.

Grassroots social justice and human rights groups in Hawaii can receive up to US $5,000 for urgent community organizing and mutual aid, including Maui wildfire relief. Grants from Hawai'i People's Fund help efforts led by marginalized communities working on issues like indigenous rights, environmental justice, housing, food access, workers’ rights, and related systemic change.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

The WWT Foundation Grant aims to empower organizations aligned with the foundation's values, focusing on community service, employee engagement, and business impact. Key areas of support include career readiness, STEM education, human services, and health and wellness. Eligible organizations must be located in the U.S. and registered as 501(c)(3). Applications are accepted year-round, allowing for flexible engagement and support for impactful community initiatives.

The AJ Muste Foundation's Rapid Response Grants support U.S.-based organizations engaged in grassroots activism for social justice. These grants, up to $5,000, are aimed at addressing immediate needs of groups fighting for equality and liberation. The funding is designed for unexpected opportunities and emergencies, promoting powerful organizing efforts. The foundation prioritizes groups lacking traditional funding sources and those focused on systemic change rather than individual support.

The HRE USA 2025 Edmonds Summer Fellowship honors the legacy of Kirby Edmonds by offering young leaders hands-on experience in human rights education. This fellowship provides mentorship and learning opportunities to engage youth in creating human rights-friendly schools and communities. Supported by the Dorothy Cotton Institute, it aims to nurture future leaders committed to human rights advocacy. Eligible candidates must be 18 or older, reside in the U.S., and commit to 100 hours of work between June and August 2025.

The Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits, established in 2024, honors the legacy of Alexandra Hallock by supporting small nonprofits focused on human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes. This grant offers a one-time $20,000 unrestricted funding along with pro-bono capacity building support. It aims to strengthen organizational infrastructure and governance, ensuring impactful community engagement. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits with revenue under $400,000, operating for at least one year, and based in the U.S.

The Park Foundation Grants for Civic Participation aim to enhance democracy through active civic engagement. Focused on mobilizing voters and protecting their rights, this program supports grassroots organizations addressing social injustices. By fostering year-round involvement rather than just election-focused efforts, the foundation seeks to empower communities and ensure robust participation in the democratic process, ultimately contributing to a more equitable society.

The Call for Kindness Grant, offered by Riley's Way Foundation, empowers young leaders aged 13-23 to launch impactful social projects focused on kindness and community connection. With grants up to $5,000, recipients receive essential mentorship, coaching, and community support. This initiative has already benefited over 3,500 youth nationwide, promoting values of empathy and social change. Applicants can pursue projects in diverse areas, including environmental justice, ensuring a broad impact in their communities.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored projects with statewide or multi-region reach working on social justice, human rights, storytelling, animal connection, or social-emotional learning may be eligible for empathy-focused support. Acton Family Giving provides funding through its Empathy Building Initiative, inviting aligned organizations, including those serving Hawaii, to submit an introduction form for consideration.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions conducting social science dissertation research on social justice and human rights topics can receive up to US $15,000 for data collection, analysis, and writing, including work relevant to Hawaii. Hawaii human rights and social justice scholars may be eligible if projects address U.S.-focused inequality, work, race, or immigration issues.

Early-career social science faculty researching U.S. economic mobility and systemic inequality can apply for US $35,000 - US $50,000 in one-year project funding from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on social justice and human rights, this program prioritizes underrepresented scholars whose work addresses structural barriers and inequities, including those affecting communities in Hawaii.

Hawaii schools, local governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits planning Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events can apply for US $500 - US $1,000 to support youth-focused anti-racism, anti-bullying, and activism activities. Community partners and Safe Routes to School programs may be eligible for funding for materials, workshops, speakers, and related event costs.

501(c)(3) organizations working on education or social justice in Hawaii can seek support for forward-thinking programs that advance human rights. Baskin Family Foundation supports initiatives across the U.S., so Hawaii-based nonprofits addressing social justice or educational equity may be eligible for this funding opportunity.

Education unions and affiliates working on racial justice in Hawaii can apply for the CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grant, awarding US $5,000 - US $75,000 for K–12 racial equity initiatives. Grants from National Education Association Staff Organization support awareness, capacity-building, and action to advance human rights and racial justice in schools.

Education unions and affiliates working to boost K–12 student achievement and racial justice in education in Hawaii can apply for partnership funding supporting community advocacy and engagement initiatives. With a mission to strengthen educational equity, National Education Association provides support for projects involving social justice organizing, parent engagement, and leadership-trained members advancing human rights in schools.

State Aspiring Educators organizations and campus chapters in Hawaii can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CREATE grants, awarding up to US $2,000 for projects that strengthen AE programs. Funding can support educator quality, community engagement, political action, or social justice initiatives that advance aspiring educators’ culturally responsive practice and partnerships.

Recent humanities or interpretive social science PhDs seeking paid social justice roles in nonprofit organizations, including those in Hawaii, can apply for ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships, which provide more than US $142,000 in stipend support. American Council of Learned Societies places fellows with U.S. nonprofits advancing social justice and community impact projects.

Hawaii 501(c)(3) public charities, government entities, and qualifying foundations can access funding for social justice, STEM education, and basic human needs programs through American Electric Power Foundation. Eligible organizations must be within AEP’s service territory or have national or regional reach benefiting AEP customers and demonstrate strong diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

Hawaii nonprofits working on social justice, human rights, legal services, reentry, or juvenile justice can access funding through Indigo Oak Fund’s Equal Justice Under the Law program to support fairer justice systems and rehabilitation. Although the foundation primarily funds in Colorado and the Bay Area, it occasionally considers nonprofits in other regions, so Hawaii organizations may be eligible.

Hawaii 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups with budgets under $500,000 can receive up to US $4,000 plus a full scholarship to an eight-week capacity-building incubator focused on nonprofit growth and development. Mockingbird Incubator supports U.S.-based social justice and human rights organizations that create sustainable, scalable community impact and maintain a Givebutter account.

About NIF

Advancing Equality for All Israelis

The New Israel Fund (NIF) helps Israel live up to its founders’ vision of a society that ensures complete equality to all its inhabitants. Our aim is to advance liberal democracy, including freedom of speech and minority rights, and to fight the inequality, injustice and extremism that diminish Israel.

From Israel’s first rape crisis centers, to fighting discrimination, NIF-funded organizations have driven positive social change and furthered justice and equality. NIF has provided over $350 million to more than 950 organizations since our inception in 1979.

Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship

Want to travel to Israel/Palestine while advancing equality, democracy, and peace for all?

The New Israel Fund’s Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit Israel/Palestine, meet frontline Israeli and Palestinian activists, and learn about issues of war, peace, and inequality by seeing the reality on the ground. 

Fellows will visit Israel/Palestine on November 3-10, 2026.

This trip is a great opportunity to learn alongside peers and friends (ages 21 – 35). NIF is based on the simple idea that those of us who share a commitment to Israel/Palestine and to progressive values can join together to work for equality, freedom, and human rights. You will join a cohort of participants from the U.S. and Canada building relationships across borders to be sustained for years to come.

Following the trip, participants are expected to organize at least two NIF events in their home communities, with support from NIF staff. These events could look like a report-back highlighting the participants’ learnings from the trip, educational programs featuring NIF grantees/partners, or something else entirely that is tailored to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of the fellow’s communities.

The program is subsidized by generous donors in the NIF community. All “on-the-ground” costs—your hotel accommodation and almost all meals—will be covered by NIF. Participants are responsible for purchasing their own airfare and travel/health insurance. If the cost of airfare is a barrier for you, please apply anyway. Limited airfare subsidies may be available.

The Baugh Foundation supports progressive, inclusive, nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ by providing assistance to those in need, enriching the lives of children and youth, keeping faith communities informed and engaged, and guarding the wall of separation between church and state.We welcome applications from progressive, faith-based organizations. At this time, the vast majority of our funding goes to progressive Baptist organizations or initiatives, and organizations that work to guard the separation of church and state. We believe that a free church in a free state is dependent upon a functioning democracy.Funding Priorities: 

• Social justice and advocacy
• Progressive faith-based journalism
• Meeting basic human needs
• Progressive faith-based post-secondary education
• Inclusivity initiatives
• Arts and enrichment

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a Princeton, New Jersey-based endowment fund providing grants to individuals, young adults who volunteer or intern for progressive social action projects or programs in an area of their interest and commitment. The Amy Adina Fund also sponsors a lecture each year on a relevant and timely topic related to its educational mission.

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund was started in 1987 one year after Amy Adina, 20, died suddenly while a student and activist at Rutgers University. It is a realization of her family and her communities’ desire to celebrate her life, to fulfill her dreams and her potential. Since its inception, almost 1,500 grants have been awarded for work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States—nearly $1,000,000 in total. The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About Our Grants

Small grants (depending on length of service), are awarded to as many applicants as possible rather than giving larger amounts to fewer individuals. The number of awards has grown each year thanks to annual contributions as well as to gifts sent to the Fund to honor special occasions and life cycle events.

The Richard L and Freda K Flerlage Foundation

Our Mission

Working to empower underserved populations through small grants in support of literacy, healthcare, reduction of poverty, and the promotion of social and environmental justice.

We are a small family foundation, when possible we aim to support organizations with relatively small operating funds where our small grants will have their greatest possible impact.

Our average grant is $3,800.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Civics Education Grant

The Civics Grant Program is designed to support projects and initiatives that promote a wider public understanding of democratic principles, the judicial system and the rule of law. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity), and other organizations to develop and support projects in their communities that foster public understanding of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, particularly among younger Americans.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.