Foundation for Human Rights
The Foundation for Human Rights is a Johannesburg-based non-profit, founded in 1996, that protects and promotes human rights in South Africa through four programmes — Access to Justice, Community Engagement, Gender Justice, and the Unfinished Business of the TRC — and by sub-granting to approximately 98 civil society organisations across all nine provinces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Foundation for Human Rights does
The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) is a South African non-profit organisation established in 1996, registered as a Section 21 Not for Profit Company (Registration 1995/008044/08) with Public Benefit Organisation status (PBO 930025145), headquartered in Johannesburg. Its mission is to protect and promote human rights and the constitutional values of South Africa, operationalised through four core programmes: Access to Justice (legal support for gender-based violence cases), Community Engagement (food security via the Growing Food for Life initiative), Gender Justice (addressing GBVF through partnerships, household surveys, and toolkits), and the Unfinished Business of the TRC (advocacy, investigations, and psychosocial support for apartheid-era survivors).
FHR operates a hybrid model in which it is simultaneously a direct programme implementer and an intermediary sub-granter. Between September 2021 and August 2024, FHR awarded 98 sub-grants to civil society organisations across all nine South African provinces, deploying nearly ZAR 10 million in direct payments at an onward-granting ratio of 23% of annual spend. Sub-grantees include community-based organisations, legal NGOs such as the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, faith-based partners like the South African Council of Churches, and thematic networks such as Black Womxn Caucus. FHR also functions as a fiscal host for the SA Coalition for Transitional Justice (SACTJ, R1.0M contract through May 2024) and Kopanong Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX, R898,700 contract through April 2025), and has partnered with Khulumani Support Group on Alien Tort Claims Act litigation against 20 US corporations for alleged corporate complicity in apartheid.
The organisation's technology footprint is minimal — a WordPress-based website (fhr.org.za), standard social media channels, and a PAIA Manual — consistent with a non-tech mission-driven NGO. Revenue is generated entirely through grants, donations, and donor sponsorship; no commercial products, pricing models, or fee-for-service offerings exist. Marketing is conducted through publications (Stories of Change series, GBV Household Survey reports, GBVF toolkit, TRC tribute book) and digital channels. Headcount is reported as 11–50 employees, led operationally by Programme Manager Kasia Zdunczyk (Unfinished Business of the TRC).
Foundation for Human Rights firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foundation for Human Rights
- Legal name
- Foundation for Human Rights
- Website
- https://fhr.org.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Foundation for Human Rights is a Johannesburg-based non-profit, founded in 1996, that protects and promotes human rights in South Africa through four programmes — Access to Justice, Community Engagement, Gender Justice, and the Unfinished Business of the TRC — and by sub-granting to approximately 98 civil society organisations across all nine provinces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foundation for Human Rights industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Human Rights Non-Profit Services
- NAICS
- Human Rights Organizations (813311), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD)
Keywords
Where Foundation for Human Rights is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Foundation for Human Rights business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Grants and Donations: FHR is a non-profit organization that relies on grants, donations, and funding from donors and sponsors. The organization receives funding to implement human rights programmes and also acts as a fiscal host for other organizations (SA Coalition for Transitional Justice and Kopanong Africa Against Xenophobia).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Foundation for Human Rights product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Foundation for Human Rights is a South African non-profit that directly implements four human rights programmes (Access to Justice, Community Engagement, Gender Justice, Unfinished Business of the TRC) and distributes sub-grants to approximately 98 civil society organisations across South Africa's nine provinces. It also serves as fiscal host for civil society coalitions and publishes research reports, toolkits, and educational materials to advance the values enshrined in South Africa's Constitution.
Product overview
FHR operates as a non-profit organisation established in 1996 that implements four core programmatic areas rather than commercial products. The Access to Justice Programme provides legal support and CBO strengthening; the Community Engagement Programme includes food security initiatives; the Gender Justice Programme addresses GBVF through partnerships and research; and the Unfinished Business of the TRC Programme advocates for apartheid-era justice and reparations. FHR also manages a sub-grants programme distributing funds to partner organisations and produces knowledge products including publications and research reports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Access to Justice Programme A programme focused on ensuring access to justice, particularly for gender-based violence cases, through support to community-based organisations and legal advice services.
- Community Engagement Programme A programme that includes the Growing Food for Life initiative, supporting community development and food security across South African provinces.
- Gender Justice Programme A programme addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) through partnerships with community organisations, toolkit development, and household surveys.
- Unfinished Business of the TRC Programme A programme advocating justice and reparations for apartheid-era political crimes, supporting survivors and families awaiting justice through investigative activities, litigation support, and psychosocial assistance.
- Sub Grants Programme FHR awards sub-grants to civil society organisations across South African provinces, focusing on community engagement, gender justice, and access to justice initiatives. The organisation operates as both an intermediary sub-granter and programme implementer.
- Media & Publications Publications including Stories of Change series, GBV Household Survey reports, Human Rights Club Guide, TRC tribute book, GBVF toolkit for activists, and FHR history documentation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly ZAR 10 million in direct payments to service providers over 36 months
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Foundation for Human Rights
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Foundation for Human Rights technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Foundation for Human Rights partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- God With Us Community Development ProjectcoreSub-grantee under Community Engagement Programme - Growing Food for Life and Gender Justice Programme - Addressing Gender-Based Violence. Located in Berlin, Eastern Cape.
- Berlin Advice CentrecoreSub-grantee under Community Engagement Programme - Growing Food for Life. Located in Berlin, Eastern Cape.
- Food And Trees For Africa (FTFA)coreSub-grantee under Community Engagement Programme - Growing Food for Life. Located in Bryanston, Gauteng.
- Black Womxn CaucuscoreSub-grantee under Gender Justice Programme - Addressing Gender-Based Violence. Located in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
- Centre For Applied Legal StudiescoreSub-grantee under Executive Director Office Discretionary Grant. Located in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
- Seriti InstitutecoreSub-grantee under Community Engagement Programme - Growing Food for Life. Located in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
- South African Council of Churches (SACC)coreSub-grantee under Gender Justice Programme - Addressing Gender-Based Violence. Located in Johannesburg, Gauteng.
- Khulumani Support GroupcoreSupported in bringing court application against 20 large corporations in the USA under the Alien Tort Claims Act seeking compensation for companies' role in apartheid.
- SA Coalition for Transitional Justice (SACTJ)minorFHR acts as fiscal host for this coalition. Sub-grant of R1,000,000 approved with contract end date May 31, 2024.
- Kopanong Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX)minorFHR acts as fiscal host for this coalition. Sub-grant of R898,700 approved with contract end date April 30, 2025.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Foundation for Human Rights competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- South African Human Rights Commission: Statutory body with a constitutional mandate to promote and protect human rights in South Africa. Directly comparable to FHR on mission and geography, though it is a government-created institution rather than an NGO.
- Centre for Applied Legal Studies: A Johannesburg-based human rights law centre at Wits University that is both an FHR sub-grantee and a peer organisation working on access to justice, equality, and socio-economic rights litigation in South Africa.
- Khulumani Support Group: A national apartheid-era victims' support group that has worked with FHR on corporate accountability litigation. Directly comparable on the TRC reparations and psychosocial support mandate that defines FHR's Unfinished Business programme.
- South African Council of Churches: An ecumenical body that is an FHR sub-grantee on the Gender Justice programme and a comparable civil society actor working on GBV, social justice, and community engagement across South Africa.
- Black Womxn Caucus: A Johannesburg-based feminist civil society organisation focused on gender-based violence, an FHR Gender Justice sub-grantee and a near-direct peer on GBV advocacy and survivor support.
- Seriti Institute: A South African civil society support organisation that is an FHR Community Engagement sub-grantee and a comparable peer on community-level development, food security, and civil society capacity building.
Broad incumbents
- Amnesty International South Africa: South African section of a global human rights advocacy network. Comparable mission on human rights promotion and GBV, but operates as a larger international brand with broader geographic scope and a more developed research and campaigns function.
- Human Rights Watch: A global human rights research and advocacy organisation that covers South Africa. Comparable on documenting human rights abuses and influencing policy, but operates at significantly larger scale and global scope than FHR.
- International Commission of Jurists: An international organisation of jurists working on rule of law and human rights. Comparable to FHR's Access to Justice programme and TRC-related legal work, but with a global mandate and broader geographic coverage.
- Open Society Foundations: A major global grantmaker funding human rights and governance work, including in South Africa. Comparable as a funder and ecosystem shaper, and a counterpart to FHR on the grantmaking side of the human rights funding chain.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Foundation for Human Rights social profiles
Digital presenceFoundation for Human Rights compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Foundation for Human Rights financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foundation for Human Rights leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Foundation for Human Rights funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Foundation for Human Rights M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Human Rights
What does Foundation for Human Rights do?
The Foundation for Human Rights is a South African non-profit that directly implements four human rights programmes (Access to Justice, Community Engagement, Gender Justice, Unfinished Business of the TRC) and distributes sub-grants to approximately 98 civil society organisations across South Africa's nine provinces. It also serves as fiscal host for civil society coalitions and publishes research reports, toolkits, and educational materials to advance the values enshrined in South Africa's Constitution.
Is Foundation for Human Rights a public or private company?
Foundation for Human Rights is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Foundation for Human Rights founded?
Foundation for Human Rights was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Foundation for Human Rights based?
Foundation for Human Rights is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Foundation for Human Rights make money?
One revenue line is on record: grants and Donations.
Who are Foundation for Human Rights's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are South African Human Rights Commission, Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Khulumani Support Group, South African Council of Churches, Black Womxn Caucus and Seriti Institute. Broad incumbents are Amnesty International South Africa, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists and Open Society Foundations.
Does Foundation for Human Rights have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foundation for Human Rights.
What industry is Foundation for Human Rights in?
Foundation for Human Rights's product category is Human Rights Non-Profit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAB, Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813311 and its SIC code is 8300.