The Human Rights Agenda in the 21st Century: Who Defines It?
Debate and discuss with leading human rights practitioners, policy makers, scholars, and grantmaker peers on pressing questions about the evolving face, role and value of human rights in our current era.

The opening plenary will take a critical look at the human rights "brand": Who "owns" it? How effective is our "messaging"? Could a new "market profile" help build a vastly broader global constituency for human rights?

The mid-conference plenary will examine several grantmaking strategies -- including advocacy campaigns, strategic convening, and cross-border learning exchanges -- intended to build strong movements that win human rights victories.

The closing plenary will study the shifts in global political dynamics from the traditional superpowers in North America and Europe to the emerging economies of the BRICS in the Global South and East. How are these shifts impacting human rights philanthropy and grantmaking? Funders will discuss the provocative question of where their support has the greatest value in light of changing times: At the national, regional, or international level?

Engage in dynamic exchanges in other member-organized sessions on:

• advocacy strategies using arts and culture
• applying and enforcing the legal human rights framework at the local level
• the good and bad of conditions on government aid
• the human rights implications of mega-sporting events
  
• the role of "memorialization" initiatives to address impunity
• models of "philanthropic advocacy," or expanding your grantmaking allies
• the nuts and bolts of supporting difficult-to-fund groups

Also enjoy a performance by Girl Be Heard, a non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of young women through the performing arts. The performance will take place during our Networking Reception, the evening of Thursday July 11th, and will be followed by a "talk back" with the audience.

And join us for two days of other learning, networking, and fun activities, including meetings of IHRFG workings groups, member-organized discussions over dinner, and the ever popular Funders' Soapbox.

Review the conference agenda for more details!

Attendance Eligibility
IHRFG’s convening events are only open to IHRFG members, invited speakers, and individuals eligible for membership. Staff whose functions are primarily fundraising at their grantmaking institution are not eligible for participation.

IHRFG membership is open to staff, consultants** and trustees/board members of private foundations, corporate foundations, community giving programs, quasi-governmental giving programs, faith-based giving programs, philanthropic advocacy and support organizations, individual philanthropists with significant giving programs, and public charities (public foundations and community foundations) whose primary activity is grantmaking and who do not relate to other IHRFG members primarily as grant-seekers.

**Philanthropic consultants are eligible to attend IHRFG's events only when sponsored by a grantmaking institution, which must allow you to represent that active foundation/grantmaker affiliation.

No-Solicitation Policy
Fundraising and solicitation of funding/meetings/consulting clients is absolutely prohibited at IHRFG meetings. Please review our no-solicitation policy for more details.

If you are an invited speaker at this conference, please take a moment to review our non-grantmaker panelist participation policy.

Registration
Registration is now open.

Participation Fees
IHRFG charges a daily registration fee to help off-set the costs of food and beverages. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on both days. We encourage participation by grantmaking staff at all levels who are interested in exploring human rights.

The fees for the conference events are:

• Thursday, July 11 only: US$130
• Friday, July 12 only:  US$130
• Both Thursday and Friday: US$260
• Networking Reception (July 11):  US$30
• Dinner-Dialogue Event (July 11):  US$50

Conference Venue
New York University School of Law, D'Agostino Hall
108 West Third Street, between MacDougal and Sullivan Streets
New York, New York 10012

This venue is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

IHRFG Scholarship Fund for Global South Members
IHRFG has established a scholarship fund to encourage participation at our conferences of grantmakers in the Global South and East with limited funds. If you would like to contribute to this fund, you can do so by clicking here or as part of the online registration process for our conferences (see above).

If you have questions, would prefer to contribute to the fund in other ways, or would like to apply for a scholarship, please contact Zara Bohan, zbohan[at]ihrfg[dot]org. 

Accommodations
IHRFG did NOT block any hotel rooms for this conference. For those interested, we created a list of suggested accommodations near the conference venue and elsewhere in New York City.

Questions?
Zara Bohan, IHRFG Program Associate
Phone: +1-646-381-7586
Email: zbohan[at]ihrfg[dot]org