The Survivor Leadership Fund is a ground-breaking new fund for survivor-led organisations working to tackle modern slavery.
The Survivor Leadership Fund aims to uplift and support survivor-led organisations by providing unrestricted grants. Organisations can use their grant however they think best to build their capacity and improve their impact. An unrestricted grant from the Survivor Leadership Fund is one step towards shifting the power back to those most impacted – in order for them to make a real difference in the fight against modern slavery.
Applications are now open for survivor-led organisations in Nepal (see below for more details of how to apply).
About the fund
The Freedom Fund believes we have a responsibility to support the leadership of those individuals who have experienced exploitation and oppression. We recognise that initiatives led by those with lived experience play a vital role in meeting the needs of victims and survivors of exploitation. Survivor-led organisations are also ideally placed to provide expertise and leadership in tackling the systems and practices that allow modern slavery to persist.
Yet organisations with survivors of modern slavery in key leadership positions are few and far between. Those organisations which do exist often struggle to access the core funding that enables them to become sustainable and impactful organisations. Too often, they are locked out by the demands of traditional donors, and denied the space to build and grow as an organisation. That’s why the Freedom Fund has created this new, innovative, trust-based approach to funding for survivor-led organisations.
We set up the Survivor Leadership Fund because we believe that survivor-led organisations can – and should – lead the way in the global movement to end modern slavery. Survivors with lived experience of exploitation (including human trafficking, forced labour, bonded labour or forced marriage) know what is needed to support people at risk of exploitation, victims and survivors. They have the legitimacy and expertise to advocate for the changes in policy and practice that can bring about an end to modern slavery.
How it works
Each grant will be up to $20,000. The grant is meant to support the organisation as a whole and can be used wherever the organisation has decided it needs funding. This can be operations, programs, office payments, technology purchases, etc.
This is a new and exciting way to get funding directly to survivor-led organisations – and then trust them to decide how best to use it. We will not require organisations to set outcomes or objectives before receiving the grant, or to submit a formal report. All we ask is that after six months, each organisation lets us know where the funding went and how it supported their mission.
Who can apply and how?
In the current round of grants, survivor-led organisations located in Nepal are welcome to apply.
Organisations that have one or more people in a leadership position who have lived experience of exploitation are eligible to apply. Leadership positions can include directors, deputy directors, senior management and heads of department.
The deadline for applications is 11th August 2023.
