The CIVICUS Solidarity Fund (CSF) is a solidarity mechanism founded in 2019 to promote civil society diversity and resilience by providing meaningful resources and support to CIVICUS members from across the globe through flexible grants. The CSF focuses on supporting small and even informal civil society groups on the frontlines of change, whose mission is critical to their communities. The CSF is led and resourced by CIVICUS members and provides support to approximately 10 individual activists, movements, organisations or groups per year.

As a solidarity mechanism that follows a participatory grantmaking approach, the CSF has a decision-making body, called the Member Advisory Group (MAG), composed of 10 CIVICUS members selected through an open call process. They are experienced individuals from diverse backgrounds and are leaders in their communities, movements, groups or sectors. The MAG is in charge of selecting the CSF grantee-members and plays a key role in strengthening the Fund by providing advice and strategic guidance on priorities and next steps to ensure a transparent, participatory and inclusive process.

Solidarity and collective action inform all aspects of the CSF’s operations, sources of funding and decisions. Beyond only providing a financial contribution, the CSF is committed to creating the best conditions to strengthen our members’ agency and impact.