RISING VOICES

What RISING VOICES does

Rising Voices is a nonprofit initiative of Global Voices, founded in 2007 with a Knight News Challenge Award, that supports Indigenous and marginalized language communities in leveraging digital media for language revitalization and self-representation. The organization operates with a small distributed team of approximately 7 people and serves communities speaking endangered, Indigenous, or minoritized languages across Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, MENA, and Europe — including Mayan language speakers in Mexico, Yoruba and Igbo speakers in Nigeria, and Kurdish and Tamazigh communities in MENA. Programs consist of microgrant funding, training, mentoring, and peer learning network facilitation, with all services provided free of charge to beneficiaries.

The core product portfolio includes the Catalyst Program (flagship peer learning network with stipends and Indigenous-led mentor selection, currently in its 4th cohort), the Digital Security + Language participatory research project covering 18 language communities, the UNESCO co-developed Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages toolkit (eight Key Approaches, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0), and the Media and Information Literacy curriculum (Rising Frames/Reframed Stories, Roipea taperaʔ). Distribution occurs through six rotating regional Twitter/X accounts (@DigiAfricanLang, @AsiaLangsOnline, @EuroDigitalLang, @NativeLangsTech, @ActLenguas, @MENALangsNet), the annual Mayan Languages Digital Activism Summit (ADLM) series, the Activismo Digital de Lenguas Indígenas directory platform, and Wikimedia community workshops. Since 2007, the organization reports supporting nearly 100 underrepresented communities.

Revenue derives entirely from foundation grants (Knight Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Avina Foundation, Open Technology Fund, IFEX network, Pulitzer Center, UNESCO) and individual donations administered through Global Voices, with no fees charged for services. The go-to-market is community-led: participation flows through open calls, Indigenous-led selection, and peer referral rather than sales motions. Recent programmatic expansion has added AI literacy and Indigenous self-determination themes, responding both to the rise of generative AI and to documented gaps in AI content moderation coverage for the vast majority of African and Indigenous languages.

Name

RISING VOICES

Legal name

Rising Voices

Website

https://rising.globalvoices.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rising Voices, a nonprofit initiative of Global Voices, supports Indigenous and marginalized language communities worldwide through peer learning networks, microgrants, and digital activism training. It serves endangered-language speakers across Africa, Asia, Latin America, MENA, and beyond via the Catalyst Program, UNESCO toolkit, and ADLM summits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Language Conversation & Exchange Groups (EDAAAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Speech Translation & Multilingual Speech Tech (HDAAAFAE)

Keywords

• Digital inclusion programs
• Indigenous language activism
• Community media training
• Peer learning networks
• Microgrant funding initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified (virtual organization)

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Donations: Rising Voices is funded through foundation support (Knight Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Avina Foundation, Open Technology Fund, IFEX network), individual donations, and mission-related services. The organization accepts donations through Global Voices.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rising Voices is the outreach initiative of Global Voices, providing digital inclusion programs for marginalized and Indigenous language communities. Core offerings include peer learning networks (Catalyst Program), microgrant funding, training in participatory media tools, multilingual resource toolkits (including a UNESCO co-developed Indigenous languages toolkit), participatory research projects on digital security and language rights, and an open directory of Indigenous language digital initiatives.

Product overview

RISING VOICES is the outreach initiative of Global Voices, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and resources focused on digital inclusion for marginalized and Indigenous language communities. Core offerings include the Catalyst Program (peer learning networks with stipends and mentors), the Activismo Digital de Lenguas Indígenas directory platform, and rotating social media campaigns (@DigiAfricanLang, @AsiaLangsOnline, @EuroDigitalLang, @NativeLangsTech, @ActLenguas). Supporting resources include the UNESCO-partnered Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages Toolkit, Media and Information Literacy curriculum (Rising Frames/Reframed Stories), and the Digital Security + Language research program covering 18 communities. The organization convenes annual Mayan Languages Digital Activism Summits (ADLM) and conducts participatory research projects like Mosaic of MENA Languages. A microgrants program provides funding to community-based digital projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Catalyst Program: Rising Voices' flagship peer learning network program gathering participants with projects related to Indigenous language revitalization through digital media.
• Digital Security + Language
• Media and Information Literacy (MIL)
• Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages
• Mosaic of MENA Languages

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 100 underrepresented communities supported since 2007
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, minor, core and flagship.

• La Sandía DigitalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026La Sandía Digital provided facilitation team and digital security help desk at ADLM26, including Kiado Cruz (Zapotec communicator) and facilitators for AI workshops.
• Na Bolom FoundationsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Na Bolom Foundation's La Enseñanza venue hosted the ADLM26 Summit in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
• Association for Progressive Communications (APC)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026APC contributes content and updates to Rising Voices, with 55 posts attributed to APC as an author on the platform.
• Tequio CollectiveminorOthers · 1 January 2026Tequio Collective provided logistical support for the ADLM26 Summit in Chiapas.
• Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ELDP collaborated with Rising Voices on community documentation workshops for Mayan language speakers in Chiapas as part of ADLM26.
• Wikimedia CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Rising Voices partnered with five Wikimedia communities (Igbo, Dagbani, Irish, Javanese, and Angika) for language digital activism workshops and edit-a-thons to strengthen Wikipedia content in Indigenous languages.
• UNESCOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Rising Voices partnered with UNESCO to create the 'Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages' toolkit resource featuring eight Key Approaches for leveraging digital tools to promote and revitalize Indigenous languages. Available under Creative Commons license in English and Spanish.
• Indigenous Journalism School (Bolivia)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with the Indigenous Journalism School in Charagua, Bolivia for implementation of Roipea taperaɨ media literacy workshop in July 2022.
• Endangered Languages ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Coordinated the @NativeLangsTech Twitter campaign with the Endangered Languages Project within the context of the International Year of Indigenous Languages 2019.
• NewsFrames (Global Voices)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaboration with NewsFrames (Global Voices' data journalism initiative) to apply media and information literacy tools to representation issues for marginalized communities, beginning in Spring 2017.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wikimedia Foundation: The foundation behind Wikipedia and sister projects. Rising Voices has partnered with five Wikimedia language communities on edit-a-thons and workshops to grow Indigenous-language content on Wikipedia.
• UNESCO (Languages Programme): The UN agency coordinating the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032). UNESCO is a flagship partner that co-developed Rising Voices' Digital Initiatives for Indigenous Languages toolkit.

Direct peers

• Global Voices: Rising Voices' parent organization. Global Voices is a global citizen media network that aggregates and amplifies underrepresented perspectives, with Rising Voices specifically focused on Indigenous/minoritized language communities.
• First Peoples' Cultural Council: A Canadian First Nations-led organization supporting Indigenous language revitalization through grants, training, and resources. It serves a comparable function for Indigenous language communities in North America.
• Endangered Languages Project: A collaborative digital platform documenting and supporting efforts to preserve endangered languages. Rising Voices co-coordinated the @NativeLangsTech Twitter campaign with this project during the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages.
• Endangered Languages Documentation Programme (ELDP): Funded by the Arcadia Fund and hosted at SOAS, ELDP supports documentation of endangered languages worldwide. ELDP collaborated with Rising Voices on community documentation workshops for Mayan language speakers in Chiapas as part of ADLM26.
• Association for Progressive Communications (APC): An international network of civil society organizations focused on digital rights and inclusion. APC is a content contributor to Rising Voices with 55 attributed posts and shares overlapping concerns around digital inclusion for marginalized communities.

Emerging players

• Mozilla Foundation (Mozilla Indigenous AI): Mozilla's work on trustworthy AI includes Indigenous-led AI initiatives that intersect with Rising Voices' focus on AI literacy, accountability, and self-determination for Indigenous language communities.
• Language Conservancy: A nonprofit focused on Indigenous and endangered language revitalization, including app and curriculum development. It addresses overlapping needs in digital language tools but operates with a different geographic and programmatic focus.

Others

• IFEX (International Freedom of Expression Exchange): A global network of organizations defending freedom of expression. IFEX funded Rising Voices' Mosaic of MENA Languages research on Kurdish, Assyrian, Armenian, Nubian, Soqotri, and Tamazigh communities, linking digital rights and language preservation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RisingVoices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rising-voices

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RISING VOICES