Rapid Response Fund
Rapid support for partners facing legal, physical, or political threats to their safety and operations
The Rapid Response Fund addresses urgent needs, supporting partners and organizations facing threats that require timely support, particularly in contexts of shrinking civic space, political repression, and sudden crises. Through this fund, we can rapidly mobilize funds to support partners in the face of emergent threats.
What the fund covers
The Rapid Response Fund will support work in the following categories:
Security-related costs:
Emergency legal aid, secure communication tools, preparing for digital and physical protection
Reputation defense:
Crisis communications, media strategy, counter-disinformation efforts.
Operations:
Bridge funding due to sudden funding cuts, office repairs after raids, equipment replacement.
Wellbeing support:
Psychosocial care, burnout recovery, or protective rest for rights holders.
What the fund typically does NOT cover:
Long-term salaries, programmatic expansion, infrastructure development, ongoing operations, armed protection and weapons.
The fund will also not be used to relocate individuals/groups under threat nor provide direct emergency response. Turning Tides, and the fund, is not designed to respond quickly enough to meet emergency response needs, nor are we skilled in emergency response and protection, potentially opening our partners up to increased risk.
Who can apply
Existing Turning Tides partners and any organizations receiving subgrants from Turning Tides partners. Organizations must be based in Indonesia, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania, or Senegal.