During this convening that brought together grassroots leaders from Central America, Mexico, and the US, the hosts asked how funders could be better allies to civil society organisations in the movement for migrant rights. After listening to three small group dialogues, I gathered participants’ responses in three overarching themes that demonstrate how funders can shift power in solidarity with local organisations:

  • Find and fund the most invisibilized organisations and issues. Grassroots leaders expressed the need to get closer to communities. They expressed frustration about requirements that restrict access to funding, such as the number of years of operation, budget size, NGO registration, or audit completion.
  • Cultivate an abundance of trust. Participants shared that they have experienced donors who treat them with suspicion and make them feel guilty, some experiencing a complete distrust of their financial management and project evaluation.
  • Fund holistically and flexibly. Local leaders expressed appreciation for funders that invest in their organisational development, leadership, and wellbeing.
  • Towards horizontalidad and beyond The human rights defenders engaging in the dialogue expressed challenges like decreased funding in the Americas, unpredictable and unstable political climates, and ongoing migration and humanitarian crises that constrain their impact.

Read the full article about funders in the migrant crisis by Vanessa Stevens at Alliance Magazine.