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HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION INC

EIN 20-2669700 NEW YORK, NY

Revenue 2024
$38,718,664
Expenses 2024
$39,817,874

Program services were 90.4% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
R60
Classification
1200
Street
350 5TH AVE STE 6500

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE IS TO UNITE PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND IDEOLOGICAL ORIENTATIONS IN THE COMMON CAUSE OF DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROMOTING LIBERAL DEMOCRACY GLOBALLY. THE MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT FREEDOM IS BOTH PROMOTED AND PROTECTED.

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO PROTECT AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS GLOBALLY WITH A FOCUS ON CLOSED SOCIETIES.

  • GLOBAL ADVOCACY - HRF DEFENDS HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGH GLOBAL ADVOCACY, EXECUTING INNOVATIVE CAMPAIGNS AND DEPLOYING INTERNATIONAL LEGAL MECHANISMS TO INFLUENCE INSTITUTIONS AND POLICYMAKERS.IN 2024, HRF'S IMPACT LITIGATION PROGRAM FILED ELEVEN COMPLAINTS, TWO URGENT APPEALS, AND ONE JOINT PETITION BEFORE THE UN, AND RECEIVED TWO FAVORABLE DECISIONS FROM THE UN WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION. FOR THE 2024 SESSIONS OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, HRF SUBMITTED 10 UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEWS. HRF'S TYRANNY TRACKER (FORMERLY, THE POLITICAL REGIME PROJECT) CONTINUED TO TRACK AUTHORITARIANISM ACROSS THE WORLD, FINISHING RESEARCH REPORTS FOR 96 COUNTRIES. THE TYRANNY TRACKER CLASSIFIES COUNTRIES AS DEMOCRATIC, HYBRID AUTHORITARIAN, OR FULLY AUTHORITARIAN USING A UNIQUE METHODOLOGY DEVELOPED BY HRF.HRF'S GLOBAL ADVOCACY CONTINUED TO ADDRESS REGIONAL ISSUES AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS. IN 2024, THE UKRAINE SOLIDARITY FUND AND BELARUS SOLIDARITY FUND REACHED FUNDRAISING AMOUNTS OF $2.4 MILLION AND $1.1 MILLION, RESPECTIVELY, IN GRANTS FOR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS. IN THE WAKE OF WIDESPREAD PROTESTS RESPONDING TO DICTATOR NICOLS MADURO PROCLAIMING A FRAUDULENT VICTORY IN 2024, THE VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY FUND RAISED $419,000 TO PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COURAGEOUS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO SECURE A PEACEFUL TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY. MEANWHILE, THE CHINESE COMMUNITY PARTY (CCP) DISRUPTION INITIATIVE CONTINUED TO WORK AGAINST XI JINPING'S BRUTAL REGIME, HOSTING A UYGHUR YOUTH MOBILIZATION WORKSHOP AND UNITING WITH THE HONG KONG DIASPORA AT THE UK-HK SYMPOSIUM. HRF'S KOREA DESK'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE OPPRESSIVE DICTATORSHIP IN NORTH KOREA CONTINUED WITH THE LAUNCH OF NK INSIDER (NKIN), THE FIRST ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWS PLATFORM ABOUT NORTH KOREA WRITTEN BY NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS. IN ITS FIRST YEAR, NKIN PUBLISHED 169 ARTICLES THAT REACHED 4,900 READERS IN 105 COUNTRIES. ALSO UNDER HRF'S KOREA DESK, THE FLASH DRIVES FOR FREEDOM INITIATIVE GRANTED MORE THAN 22,000 NORTH KOREANS ACCESS TO 42,000 HOURS OF FOOTAGE AND 1 MILLION HOURS OF READING MATERIALS. FINALLY, THE MENA DESK SUPPORTED CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS BY GRANTING $10,000 TO GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS IN LEBANON TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO LEBANESE CITIZENS CURRENTLY DISPLACED BY CONFLICT.HRF FURTHER EXPANDED ITS RESEARCH ON ISSUES INTERSECTING WITH AUTHORITARIANISM IN 2024. THE POLICY TEAM PUBLISHED TWO BRIEFS EXPOSING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND AUTHORITARIANISM. IN ITS SECOND SUCCESSFUL YEAR, THE COMBATING KLEPTOCRACY PROGRAM EXPOSED HOW DICTATORSHIPS USE FINANCIAL SECRECY AND INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS TO SMOTHER DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION AND ENRICH THEMSELVES, WITH OP-EDS, REPORTS, AND AN INTERACTIVE "KLEPTOCRACY LAUNDROMAT" EXPO BOOTH. MEANWHILE, THE CELEBRITIES & DICTATORS PROGRAM BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE NECESSITY OF ABSTAINING FROM PARTICIPATION IN DICTATORS' ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE THEIR IMAGES THROUGH TOURISM, SPORTS, AND MUSIC.HRF IS UNIQUE IN ITS DIRECT SUPPORT OF DISSIDENTS ADVOCATING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. IN 2024, THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM PROGRAM GAVE GRANTS TO 96 PROJECTS THROUGH THE BITCOIN DEVELOPMENT FUND AND LONG TERM ACTIVIST SUPPORT, SUPPORTING INITIATIVES TO MAKE FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGIES MORE SECURE, PRIVATE, AND RESILIENT TO BETTER SERVE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISM.

    Expenses $26,858,411 · Grants $19,277,041 · Revenue $401,009

  • COMMUNITY OUTREACH - SINCE ITS FOUNDING, HRF HAS CULTIVATED A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, CONNECTING ACTIVISTS, DISSIDENTS, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDUSTRY LEADERS WHO SHARE IN THEIR DEDICATION TO THE PROTECTION OF DEMOCRACY.IN 2024, IN THE FORM OF MICROGRANTS, HRF PROVIDED FUNDING TO ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON THE FRONTLINES OF DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN 12 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. THROUGH TARGETED SKILLS-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, HRF AUGMENTED THE ABILITIES OF AT-RISK ADVOCATES, ARTISTS, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE WORKING TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY IN COUNTRIES RULED BY AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES. THE ANNUAL FREEDOM FELLOWSHIP PROVIDED A COHORT OF NINE HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES WITH THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK THROUGH HANDS-ON TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP SESSIONS, INCLUDING A WEEK-LONG WORKING RETREAT IN COSTA RICA. IN AUGUST 2024, HRF ALSO HELD ITS FIRST-EVER RESILIENCE RETREAT IN COSTA RICA, EQUIPPING 20 ACTIVISTS FROM 12 COUNTRIES WITH THE RESOURCES AND PRACTICES NECESSARY TO BECOME RESILIENCE MOVEMENT LEADERS. IN DECEMBER, HRF AND 14 ACTIVISTS FROM SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ASSEMBLED IN GHANA FOR THE THIRD EDITION OF THE GEORGE AYITTEY DEMOCRACY RETREAT, WHERE THEY LEARNED ABOUT BEST PRACTICES FOR ADVOCACY IN THE FACE OF AUTHORITARIANISM, AND STRENGTHENED SOLIDARITY ACROSS THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.HRF'S OSLO SCHOLARS PROGRAM EXPANDED SIGNIFICANTLY, PROVIDING 26 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH INTERNSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AT NINE DIFFERENT CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS.FINALLY, THE 2024 OSLO FREEDOM FORUM (OFF), HRF'S 16TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN OSLO, PROVIDED A PLATFORM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH A GLOBAL AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 1,400 ATTENDEES. AT THE EVENT, HRF HONORED THREE DISSIDENT ARTISTS WITH THE HAVEL PRIZE AND RECOGNIZED THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LATE ALEXEI NAVALNY WITH THE MASEKO PRIZE.

    Expenses $7,540,612 · Grants $786,441 · Revenue $112,587

  • AUDIENCE EDUCATION - THROUGH CREATIVE CAMPAIGNS, IMPACTFUL STORYTELLING, AND STRATEGIC MEDIA COVERAGE, HRF CONTINUED TO EDUCATE GLOBAL AUDIENCES ON THE THREAT OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN 2024. HRF HIGHLIGHTED THE INTERSECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WITH VARIOUS SECTORS, AMPLIFYING THE STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM ACROSS INDUSTRIES AND AUDIENCES.HRF AUGMENTED ITS MEDIA PRESENCE ACROSS VARIOUS PLATFORMS IN 2024, GARNERING 22,000 MEDIA MENTIONS, 82 BILLION GLOBAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, AND 24 MILLION SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS. HRF'S WORK WAS FEATURED IN TOP INTERNATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE NEW YORK TIMES, REASON, FOREIGN POLICY, NPR, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THE ECONOMIST, AND OTHERS.HRF'S PUBLIC-FACING PROGRAMS CONTINUED TO EXPOSE BROAD AUDIENCES TO HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES. TWO COLLEGE FREEDOM FORUM EVENTS IN 2024 CONNECTED STUDENTS AT UNIVERSIDAD FRANCISCO MARROQUN (IN GUATEMALA) AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY WITH RENOWNED ACTIVISTS WORKING TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS. HRF REPRESENTATIVES SPOKE AT CONFERENCES SUCH AS SXSW, RIGHTSCON, AND THE BITCOIN CONFERENCE. WITH THE RELAUNCH OF THE DISSIDENTS & DICTATORS PODCAST, HRF REACHED 91,000 LISTENS BY 2,500 LISTENERS WITH STORIES AND ANALYSES FROM ACTIVISTS, JOURNALISTS, ARTISTS, AND SCHOLARS ON THE FRONTLINES OF DEMOCRACY.

    Expenses $1,059,939 · Grants $3,820

  • OTHER PROGRAMS

    Expenses $530,205 · Grants $50,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • GARRY KASPAROV

    CHAIRMAN THRU MAY 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • RONALD M JACOBS

    SECRETARY THRU MAY 2024

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • DAN GROSSMAN

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ALEXANDER LLOYD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • YEONMI PARK

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • CAMERON COLBY THOMSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KONSTANTINA YANEVA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • THOR HALVORSSEN

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $341,079
    From this org
    $312,735
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,344
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $312,735
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,344
    Filer's total
    $341,079

  • CELINE BOUSTANI

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $344,091
    From this org
    $329,588
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,503
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $329,588
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,503
    Filer's total
    $344,091

  • JAVIER EL-HAGE

    CHIEF LEGAL AND POLICY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $279,580
    From this org
    $249,988
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,592
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $249,988
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,592
    Filer's total
    $279,580

  • SANDRA GERMAINE

    CHIEF TALENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $239,491
    From this org
    $221,846
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,645
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $221,846
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,645
    Filer's total
    $239,491

  • ALEXANDER GLADSTEIN

    CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $283,225
    From this org
    $268,138
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,087
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $268,138
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,087
    Filer's total
    $283,225

  • ROBERTO GONZALEZ

    CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $269,013
    From this org
    $236,888
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,125
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $236,888
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,125
    Filer's total
    $269,013

  • CHRISTIAN KEROLES

    DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM

    Total calculated
    $189,661
    From this org
    $177,955
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,706
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $174,911
    Bonus
    $3,044
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,706
    Filer's total
    $189,661

  • OMAR AL-FOTIHI HEAD OF

    VIDEO AND MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION

    Total calculated
    $128,616
    From this org
    $115,680
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $12,936
    Hours/week
    40

  • MICHELLE GULINO

    DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AND PROGRAM

    Total calculated
    $131,002
    From this org
    $119,373
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,629
    Hours/week
    40

  • MALAAK JAMAL

    DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND RESEARCH

    Total calculated
    $130,232
    From this org
    $118,603
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,629
    Hours/week
    40

  • CASEY MICHEL

    COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $110,330
    From this org
    $110,231
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $99
    Hours/week
    40

  • ELISHA MALDONADO

    COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $157,817
    From this org
    $146,188
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,629
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $144,188
    Bonus
    $2,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,629
    Filer's total
    $157,817

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $38,718,664
    Expenses
    $39,817,874
    Contributions
    $29,668,013
    Grants paid
    $20,117,302
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $17,478,062
    Expenses
    $25,327,045
    Contributions
    $17,175,391
    Grants paid
    $10,008,303
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $28,840,839
    Expenses
    $13,296,276
    Contributions
    $30,593,821
    Grants paid
    $3,346,683

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $22,408,926
    Expenses
    $8,910,973
    Assets (EOY)
    $22,212,219

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $21,263,159
    Expenses
    $15,403,580
    Assets (EOY)
    $8,727,199

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $12,829,475
    Expenses
    $12,682,947
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,721,783

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $8,529,774
    Expenses
    $7,709,041
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,705,817

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $5,173,493
    Expenses
    $5,323,508
    Assets (EOY)
    $2,148,459

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $4,083,671
    Expenses
    $3,911,618
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,956,011

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,161,345
    Expenses
    $2,766,180
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,752,684

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,161,345
    Expenses
    $2,766,180
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,752,684

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $3,281,323
    Expenses
    $2,817,240
    Assets (EOY)
    $1,287,818

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $1,892,776
    Expenses
    $2,172,966
    Assets (EOY)
    $752,853

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.