The Human Rights Law Centre uses strategic legal action, policy solutions and advocacy to support people and communities to eliminate inequality and injustice and build a fairer, more compassionate Australia.

Mannifera grants received:

2024 Signature Grant (dis/misinformation), $40,000

2023 Signature Grant, $40,000

2022 Signature Grant, $55,000

What we funded: 

Within this funding area, Mannifera provided seed funding to support the staff time necessary to seize a time-limited political opportunity to target digital platforms in Australia and expose their impact on the spread of dis/misinformation and hate speech online. 

In 2024, the Albanese Government
committed to pursuing three relevant
reform opportunities: the
Mis/Disinformation Bill, reforms to the
Online Safety Act, and significant privacy
reforms. With Mannifera’s support HRLC is working to achieve greater alignment among
legal and tech experts to ensure there is a
shared position about what good reform
looks like. HRLC will then upskill civil society
advocates around this position and make the public case in simple terms.

Mannifera has also provided HRLC support through its Open and Accountable Government funding focus area.

The Australian Democracy Network works for a healthy democracy which puts people and planet first. ADN brings people and organisations together to share resources and strategy to achieve the changes that make our democracy more fair, open, participatory, and accountable.

Grants received: 

2024 Signature Grant, $50,000 x 2 (multi-year)

2024 Signature Grant (dis/misinformation), $50,000

2023 Signature Grant, $50,000

2022 Signature Grant, $70,000

2021 Rapid Response Grant, $20,000

2021 Signature Grant, $100,000

2020 Signature Grant, $100,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera has provided core and responsive multi-year funding to ADN, and was ADN’s first philanthropic backer. Within our Quality Public Debate funding focus area, Mannifera has provided support to build out ADN’s flagship collaborations: 

1. #OurDemocracy, a movement of people and organisations working to address state capture and get big money out of our political system.
2. Stronger Charities Alliance, a group of 100 Australian charities that successfully blocked ACNC legislation that would be prevented charities from engaging in advocacy.

Mannifera has also supported ADN’s work on protecting the democratic right to protest through our focus on Political Participation. As part of the 2024 Signature Grant round Mannifera is supporting ADN with core multi-year funding. ADN also received funding in a 2024 rapid response grant round on dis/mis-information.

Public Interest Journalism Initiative (PIJI) is a specialist think tank researching how Australia can secure the future of public interest journalism. Their work informs practical policy solutions and public conversation on the importance of an effective, pluralistic news media of all sizes. 

Grants received: 

2021 Signature Grant, $40,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera funding supported PIJI to build a complete baseline picture of public interest journalism production and ownership in Australia. This data, in combination with PIJI’s existing Australian Newsroom Mapping Project, will provide a more detailed view of the changing nature of news production, media ownership, and the influence of global trends on the Australian landscape.

WA+ is an alliance of like-minded organisations with the shared goal of WA becoming a more cohesive, compassionate, caring, courageous, creative, curious, and confident society by 2029. 

Grants received: 

2024 Signature Grant, $20,000

2023 Signature Grant, $40,000

What we funded: 

In line with Mannifera’s commitment to geographic equity, WA+ received funding to build a coalition of civil society partners in Western Australia that will work closely with the state government to influence large-scale systems change addressing critical environment, social and economic issues.

Original Power is a community-focused organisation that aims to build the power of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through collective action.

Grants received: 

2020 Signature Grant, $50,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera supported Original Power (in partnership with Australian Progress) to research and develop a persuasive new narrative to build public and political support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and justice.

Australian Associated Press (AAP) is Australia’s national news agency providing a crucial newswire service that underpins journalism and reporting across print, radio and other broadcast media.

Grants received: 

2020 Rapid Response Grant, $20,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera provided rapid response funding to help transition AAP into a non-profit business. Through this, AAP was able to unlock $3 million in philanthropic funding followed by $5 million in federal funding to support its transition to a sustainable, independent national newswire.

Tomorrow Movement is a movement of young people fighting for a society with good jobs, great public services and a safe climate for all. They build the power of young people to contribute to public debate and organise to win real solutions to the jobs and climate crises. 

Grants received: 

2021 Rapid Response Grant, $20,000

What we funded: 

In the lead-up to the election, Tomorrow Movement built momentum for the Climate Jobs Guarantee (CJG) through organising and training young people across Australia, while also working to boost the enrolment of young voters. Mannifera was proud to back this work. 

Justice Connect designs and delivers high-impact interventions to increase access to legal support and achieve social justice. Their work focuses on people disproportionately impacted by the law and the organisations that make our community thrive. 

Grants received: 

2021 Rapid Response Grant, $20,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera was the first funder to back Justice Connect’s #FixFundraising campaign, which led to a national agreement to reform fundraising and level the playing field for charities. 

Established in 2017 following the release of
Australian journalist Peter Greste from
imprisonment in Egypt, the Alliance for
Journalists’ Freedom (AJF) fights for the
rights of journalists, and is a leading voice
advocating for Australian legislation to
support media freedom. AJF is working to establish Journalism Australia, a professional association for
journalists committed to professional
standards and ethics. This professional
body will be recognised in a Media
Freedom Act that AJF is also drafting, which
would protect legitimate reporting while
distinguishing it from less reliable content,
and raising ethical standards that improve
public trust.

Grants received: 

2024 Signature Grant (dis/misinformation), $40,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera funded AJF for the first time as part of the 2024 grant round on dis/mis-information.

Australian’s for a Murdoch Royal
Commission (AFMRC) campaigns for
ambitious reforms that will improve
diversity and accountability in Australian
media. Mannifera provided campaign funding
to AFMRC for two discrete projects. The first,
focused on narrative building, will build
narrative around News Corp as a unique
and powerful contributor to disinformation,
support the Murdoch Media Inquiry Bill
(expected to be brought to vote in Senate
mid 2024) and elevate disinformation
findings from the Murdoch Referendum
Accountability Project. The second will
coordinate the civil society sector to
respond to dis/misinformation.

Grants received: 

2024 Signature Grant (dis/mis-information), $40,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera funded AMRC for the first time as part of the 2024 grant round on dis/mis-information.