What Disability Rights Fund does

Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a Massachusetts-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit and movement-accountable philanthropic intermediary founded in 2008. Its core function is grantmaking to Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the Global South — primarily Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Pacific Island Countries, and Haiti — through an annual open-call process that received close to 2,000 Letters of Interest in 2025 and awarded just over 150 grants (most under $50,000 for 12 months of work). Cumulative giving through DRF and its sister fund, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), totals $60.8 million to 636 organizations across 62 countries. The decision-making bodies (Board and Grantmaking Committee) are majority-composed of persons with disabilities, and the model explicitly integrates peer and collective learning, advocacy convening at UN and CRPD forums, and intersectional approaches spanning gender, climate, LGBTQI+, racial, youth, and Indigenous justice.

DRF does not develop proprietary technology products. Its grantmaking operations run on SmartSimple as an external application management platform, and it accepts donations via its website, donor-advised funds, The Giving Block (cryptocurrency), ACH/wire, and planned/legacy giving channels. There is no AI/ML capability disclosed in the source material. The organization has no parent, no subsidiaries beyond DRAF, and no venture or equity ownership; it is funded entirely by donations and grants from institutional donors (e.g., Foundation for a Just Society, Dreilinden, Global Affairs Canada), foundations, governments, corporations, and individuals. Headcount is small (11–50), with named senior staff including Executive Director Connie Laurin-Bowie, Founding Executive Director Diana Samarasan, Director of Development Jen Bokoff, Regional Head of Programs for Asia Dwi Ariyani, Associate Directors Aapurv Jain and Myroslava Tataryn, Senior Advisor Kerry Thompson, and Program Officer for Haiti Jo-Ann Garnier.

In October 2024, DRF launched a new strategic plan, 'Disability-Led Futures for a Just World,' accompanied by a rebranding exercise. The 2025 grant round was the first unified open call across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. DRF co-publishes funder guidance (e.g., the 2025 'Investing in Disability-Inclusive Climate Justice' guide with Impatience Earth) and convenes sessions with IDA, WEI, UNHCR, Missing Billion, WEDO, and others at COSP, CSW, AWID, Women Deliver, and the Global Disability Summit. The organization holds a Candid Platinum Transparency 2025 seal as a credibility signal.

Name

Disability Rights Fund

Legal name

Disability Rights Fund, Inc.

Website

https://disabilityrightsfund.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) philanthropic intermediary that makes participatory grants — typically under $50,000 — to Organizations of Persons with Disabilities across Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Haiti, supported by a sister fund (DRAF) and peer-learning programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability rights grantmaking and philanthropic intermediary services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Disability rights grantmaking
• Philanthropic intermediary
• Movement-accountable funding
• Global South advocacy grants
• Participatory grantmaking programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and grants: DRF is a nonprofit organization funded entirely by donations and grants from institutional donors, foundations, governments, corporations, and individual donors. Revenue is received through credit card donations, legacy/planned gifts, donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions, cryptocurrency donations, ACH/wire transfers, and check payments. There is no earned revenue or commercial product revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Disability Rights Fund is a philanthropic intermediary that makes grants to Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, Pacific Island Countries, and Haiti through annual participatory grant rounds (typically under $50,000 for 12 months of work), combined with peer and collective learning support, advocacy programming, and global convening activities. It is funded entirely by donations and grants from foundations, governments, corporations, and individuals, and operates a sister fund, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), to provide complementary advocacy funding.

Product overview

Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a philanthropic intermediary and grantmaking organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer a software product or platform. DRF's core activity is providing financial grants and capacity-building support to organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in the Global South. Additional offerings include peer and collective learning programs, advocacy support, and an annual grant round open to eligible OPDs in Sub-Saharan Africa, South and South-East Asia, and Pacific Island Countries. Grant amounts in 2026 are typically under $50,000 for 12 months of work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Disability Rights Grant Round An annual financial grant program (typically under $50,000 per grant, 12 months of work) for grassroots, national, and regional OPDs in the Global South to support disability rights, gender justice, LGBTQI+ rights, climate justice, economic justice, racial justice, youth rights, and Indigenous rights advocacy.
• Peer and Collective Learning Program A program accompanying DRF's grants that facilitates peer learning networks across countries and connects grantees to shared resources, communities of practice, and global advocacy spaces.
• Advocacy and Convening Support A program that supports DRF grantees and partners to engage in global advocacy spaces including the UN CRPD Committee, Conference of States Parties (COSP), Global Disability Summit, Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), Women Deliver, and AWID Forum, advancing disability rights and intersectional justice agendas.
• Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF) Grants A complementary grantmaking program operated via DRF's sister fund, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), providing dedicated funding for disability rights advocacy work alongside DRF's broader portfolio.
• Inclusive Future Legacy Circle (planned giving program) A formal planned-giving program that enables individual donors to include Disability Rights Fund in their estate plans and bequests.

Quantifiable outcome

• $60.8 million awarded to 636 organizations across 62 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• United Nations entities and CRPD bodiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRF connects grantees to global advocacy spaces including the UN CRPD Committee, Conference of States Parties (COSP), and various UN human rights mechanisms. DRF staff and grantees participate in UN-side events and advocacy to advance disability rights.
• International Disability Alliance (IDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDA co-hosted events with DRF/DRAF including the 13th COSP. IDA and NORAD launched a GDS Discussion Paper on OPD engagement at GDS22 that features DRF/DRAF grantee case studies.
• Women Enabled International (WEI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEI is a frequent co-organizer with DRF of events at CSW, Women Deliver, COSP, and other forums. Topics include gender-based violence, SRHR, and accessibility for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities.
• Humanity & Inclusion (Making It Work)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHI-Making It Work Gender and Disability Project co-organized events with DRF/DRAF on gender-based violence during COVID-19 and inclusive SRHR in the Pacific.
• Pacific Disability ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific Disability Forum co-hosted sessions with DRF/DRAF on inclusive SRHR practices from the Pacific at Women Deliver 2023.
• Global Resilience Fund for Girls and Young Women at PurposefulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPurposeful co-organized events with DRF/DRAF on gender-based violence and COVID-19 impacts on women and girls with disabilities.
• HagurukaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHaguruka, a national women's rights NGO in Rwanda focused on GBV prevention and response, partnered with DRF grantee UNABU to provide free legal representation to survivors of violence.
• Legal Aid Forum (Rwanda)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of 38 NGOs, professional bodies, universities, and law clinics in Rwanda providing free services to marginalized groups. Partnered with UNABU and Haguruka on coalition to address GBV against women and girls with disabilities.
• Global Greengrants Fund (GGF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGGF co-organized an AWID Forum session with DRF on promoting the leadership of women with disabilities in advancing environmental justice and climate action.
• Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDO co-organized sessions with DRF at AWID Forum on climate action and disability, and is a partner in a side event at Women Deliver 2026.
• Center for Inclusive PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for Inclusive Policy co-organized an AWID Forum session with DRF on advancing the rights and dignity of women with disabilities in building transformative and inclusive care and support systems.
• International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWFED)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDWFED co-organized an AWID Forum session with DRF on care systems from a disability and feminist intersectional lens.
• Oxfam InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOxfam co-organized an AWID Forum session with DRF on advancing rights-based, gender-responsive, and disability-inclusive care and support systems.
• Women's Fund AsiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Fund Asia co-organized a 'Connection Circle: Resourcing Disability Justice' session at the AWID Forum with DRF and Prayatna Nepal.
• Prayatna NepalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrayatna Nepal co-organized a Connection Circle session with DRF and Women's Fund Asia at the AWID Forum on resourcing disability justice.
• Missing Billion InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissing Billion Initiative co-hosted a networking event with DRF at GDS 2025 on achieving health equity for women with disabilities, launching a landmark health report.
• Impatience EarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRF co-hosted a webinar with Impatience Earth and Impatience Wellbeing for the launch of the guide 'Investing in Disability-Inclusive Climate Justice: A Guide for Funders'.
• Impatience WellbeingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced a guide on disability-inclusive climate justice for funders together with DRF and Impatience Earth.
• UNHCRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNHCR hosted and co-organized a virtual side event with DRF at COSP19 on resource gaps facing organizations led by refugees with disabilities.
• Global Network of Refugees with Disabilities (GNRD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGNRD co-organized a COSP19 virtual side event with DRF and IRAP on resource gaps for organizations led by refugees with disabilities.
• International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRAP co-organized a COSP19 virtual side event with DRF and GNRD on resource gaps for refugee disability organizations.
• European UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EU hosted a dialogue on OPDs and civil society at COSP19, with DRF Executive Director Connie Laurin-Bowie participating as a panelist.
• European Disability ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted a COSP19 side event with the EU and co-organized a webinar on youth climate action with DRF.
• Youth Negotiators AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized a webinar on youth with disabilities at the frontlines of climate action with DRF and the Disability Climate Caucus.
• Disability Climate CaucusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized a webinar on youth with disabilities at the frontlines of climate action with DRF and the Youth Negotiators Academy.
• The Giving BlockminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Giving Block processes cryptocurrency donations for DRF, selling crypto and transferring net proceeds to DRF in USD.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CBM International: Established international Christian development organization focused on disability inclusion in the Global South. Operates at significantly larger scale than DRF, with programming spanning health, education, and humanitarian response, sharing comparable target beneficiaries and geography.
• Light for the World: European disability-focused development organization funding inclusive education, eye health, and economic empowerment. Operates in similar geographies and overlaps with DRF themes (inclusive education, economic inclusion) but at larger programmatic scale.
• Ford Foundation - BUILD Program: Large foundation with a multi-year, multi-million dollar commitment to disability rights and inclusion as part of its inequality-reduction mission. Compares on funding disability justice globally but at a scale orders of magnitude larger than DRF.
• Open Society Foundations - Disability Rights Program: Major global grantmaker with an active disability rights funding stream led by OPDs. Comparable because both fund the same intersectional movement space but at far greater scale; a logical upstream funder or potential collaborator for DRF.
• Humanity & Inclusion: International NGO running disability-inclusive programs across 60+ countries, with co-organizing ties to DRF at UN events. Comparable in geographies served and OPD partnerships but with broader humanitarian and service-delivery scope.

Direct peers

• Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF): Sister fund of DRF co-founded in 2008, also supporting OPDs in the Global South. Operates an overlapping community-led, participatory grantmaking model with a more explicit focus on advocacy and movement-building. Effectively the closest comparable to DRF given shared governance and grantee communities.
• Women Enabled International (WEI): Frequently co-organizes disability-and-gender events at the UN, CSW, and Women Deliver with DRF/DRAF. WEI focuses on legal advocacy and capacity building for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities globally, sharing DRF's intersectional grant and convening model.
• Mama Cash: Feminist participatory grantmaker funding women, girls, trans, and intersex rights movements globally. Comparable in grantmaking structure and movement-accountable decision-making; overlap with DRF in intersectional gender-and-disability cohort funding.
• International Disability Alliance (IDA): Umbrella network of global and regional OPDs with deep ties to UN CRPD processes. IDA frequently co-hosts events with DRF and serves as a strategic ally rather than a direct grant competitor, but its convening role over the same OPD movement makes it a structurally similar entity.

Emerging players

• Purposeful (including Global Resilience Fund): Movement-accountable organization supporting girls and young women's rights, including via the Global Resilience Fund. Frequently partners with DRF/DRAF on intersectional advocacy; comparable in participatory grantmaking philosophy targeting historically excluded movements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DisabRightsFund
• Facebookfacebook.com/disabilityrightsfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disability-rights-fund

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Disability Rights Fund