Equity Fund for Global Gathering Relaunched!
After a brief pause in 2025 due to historic funding cuts, we are relaunching our Equity Fund. Find out how to apply below.
What is the Equity Fund?
The Equity Fund provides one-to-one travel, lodging, security, and visa assistance for individuals from at-risk communities or operating in low-resourced environments who would not be able to attend the Global Gathering. It ensures that participation is accessible to those most impacted by digital threats and operating in truly resource-limited environments.
Equity Fund Highlights:
Has directly supported over 800 individuals from at-risk, resource-limited environments in stepping into leadership roles and advancing their critical work.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, launched a psychosocial support program that provided direct therapy and wellness services to more than 120 human rights defenders.
How to Apply
This year we have a simple two step process.
First, apply for a Global Gathering ticket. You can do so at https://gathering.digitalrights.community/
Once your GG ticket has been verified and approved, we will send you a separate (and simple) application for the Equity Fund.
Please note the following:
While you wait, we highly encourage you schedule an interview with your Portuguese consulate/embassy as soon as possible, which can be done online - appointments can always be canceled at a later date. This will ensure you avoid delays, as embassies and consulates worldwide are facing significant backlogs, including the Portuguese ones.
Applications will be approved on a rolling basis, so apply as soon as possible, to ensure there are resources available to you.
We continue strengthening our visa support for ALL GG participants which includes official invitation letters, and guidance for visa rejection appeals. Please be sure to keep the GG Visa Support Team up to date with your visa application process so we can help as soon as you hit a roadblock and determine what support we are able to offer.
By removing financial, logistical, and safety barriers, the Equity Fund democratizes access to the GG, ensuring communities most affected are contributing to the conversations shaping responses and solutions to digital threats.