Semi-Annual Conference

January 25-26, 2010
San Francisco, California

Registration is now closed.
Please visit this page regularly for updated information.

About this Conference
IHRFG’s semi-annual conferences are an opportunity for participating grantmakers to hear and engage leading human rights practitioners, policy makers, and scholars on timely human rights issues. These events serve as learning and networking forums that promote the exchange of information and collaboration among grantmakers.

The plenary theme of our upcoming meeting in San Francisco this January is Human Rights and Marginalized Communities, and the opening plenary is entitled, “Moving to Rights: Inspiration from the Disability Movement.” Our closing plenary looks at how a human rights framework can break the "school-to-prison pipeline" for vulnerable youth, in the United States and abroad.
 
Panels and workshops will discuss:
- Obama Administration in Year One: On human rights & national security
- Participation in grant-making decisions of affected constituencies
- Human rights funders and popular movements
- Human rights, communities and "megaprojects"
- Rights of vulnerable groups in detention
- Social stigma in human rights advocacy and funding
- Effective grassroots communication strategies
- Human rights of immigrants in sending and receiving countries
 
The dinner-dialogue event on Monday, January 25 will feature Cara Mertes, Director of the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program on the power of documentary film in advancing human rights. 

Check the conference agenda regularly for updated information.

Registration
Registration is now closed.

Eligibility
This conference is open only to grantmakers. Current IHRFG members and individuals eligible for membership may attend the semi-annual conferences.

Please note: Staff of grantmaking institutions (that are also grant-seeking organizations) whose functions are solely fundraising are not eligible for participation. 

IHRFG membership is open to staff, consultants and trustees of private foundations, corporate foundations, community giving programs, 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.

To become an IHRFG member, click here. IHRFG dues are voluntary, apply to member institutions (not individuals), and are based on foundation size. While we strongly encourage the contribution of dues, the full benefits of IHRFG membership remain open to all grantmakers, regardless of contribution.
Conference participants will be asked to agree to a non-solicitation policy when registering.

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. Our on-line registration process offers registrants the choice of paying for only the days and optional events they wish to attend. We encourage participation by grantmaking staff at all levels who are interested in exploring human rights. If you are eligible to attend but would have difficulty paying the meeting fees, please contact Azeen Salimi: 1.212.609.2626 or asalimi@ihrfg.org.

The fees for the conference events are:
Monday, January 25th, only:                          US$125
Tuesday, January 26th, only:                        US$125
Both Monday and Tuesday:                          US$250
Networking Reception (January 25th):       US$30
Dinner-Dialogue Event (January 25th):      US$80

Accommodations 
IHRFG has blocked a set of rooms at the Marriott San Francisco Union Square Hotel. Room rates are US$179 for a double, US$199 for a triple, and US$219 for a quad, plus applicable taxes. These rates are valid from check-in on Sunday, January 24 to check-out on Wednesday, January 27.

Reserve by Friday, January 15 to take advantage of these reduced rates: by phone at +1415.398.8900 (mention  "IHRFG"), or on-line at http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sfous-san-francisco-marriott-union-square/ (promotion code: IRRIRRA).

Venue

Marriott San Francisco Union Square Hotel
480 Sutter Street (and Powell Street)
San Francisco, California 49108
1.415.398.8900

This venue is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Lunchtime Discussions
Lunchtime on the first day of the conference (January 25) is an opportunity for participants to explore human rights and grantmaking questions in an informal, lightly structured setting. These questions can relate to the theme of the plenary sessions, an IHRFG working group, and/or an issue of interest to a member.

Please contact Azeen Salimi if you are interested in organizing a lunchtime discussion!

Materials table
If you would like to share resources with IHRFG colleagues, we will have a table for printed materials and other informational resources. However, to reduce our carbon footprint, we ask that you bring only three copies of the resource with you and provide information on how interested participants can obtain more copies.

Questions
Please contact Azeen Salimi, IHRFG Program Manager:
Phone: 1.212.609.2626
Email:  asalimi@ihrfg.org