Nick Grono

Build a Supportive, Active Board: 3 Proven Tactics Seasoned leaders share advice on what it takes to create a healthy dynamic between nonprofit boards and executives.

An engaged and supportive board has been a critical ingredient in @freedomfund.bsky.social's impact and growth. I spoke with @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social about the role nonprofit leaders can play in building healthy board relations. My thoughts here: www.philanthropy.com/solutions/bu...

Why Collaborative Funds Give Me Hope Right Now | The Center for Effective Philanthropy New research reveals a key factor behind the success of highly rated collaborative funds: how they partner with grantees.

Collaborative funds are a bright spot in philanthropy, and it's more than just a warm and fuzzy feeling. Jehan Velji of Hewlett Foundation explains why on the Center for Effective Philanthropy blog: cep.org/blog/why-col...

‘Invisible’ children born in the brothels of Bangladesh finally get birth certificates Destined to a perilous life with no right to an education or to vote, state recognition ‘gives them hope’, campaigners say

For years, children born in Bangladesh's brothels have lacked birth certificates. But @freedomfund.bsky.social’s work with frontline partners is enabling them to secure the documents they need to access school, healthcare & basic rights. @theguardian.com reports: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Webinar: Purpose, People and Partners: A Practical Framework for Nonprofit Leadership In this free webinar, Nick Grono shares a practical, purpose-centered framework tailored to the challenges and opportunities of nonprofit leadership.

Last week I had the pleasure of leading a webinar on nonprofit leadership through Niche Academy. Using the framework set out in my book, I shared about the importance of centering people, purpose and partners to drive sustainable change in the world. Watch here: www.nicheacademy.com/blog/webinar...

Thousands of workers flee Cambodia scam centres, officials say Amnesty International deeply concerned for scores of people ‘walking around in search of assistance’

Reports from Cambodia indicate that thousands of workers have fled or been released from online scam centers, many of them suspected survivors of trafficking. Their protection should be highest priority. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

MacKenzie Scott Gave Us $60 Million. We're Giving It Away. This marks the second unrestricted gift the organization has received from the billionaire philanthropist.

For a new piece in @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social, I shared about @freedomfund.bsky.social's experience of receiving our 2nd MacKenzie Scott gift and why we'll be directing as much funding as possible to 190+ frontline partners. More on our thinking: www.philanthropy.com/solutions/ma...

It's been a busy (and inspiring) few months at @freedomfund.bsky.social. We've just launched a quarterly newsletter capturing some recent highlights, including a new short film, our recent gift from MacKenzie Scott and a corporate accountability seed fund in SE Asia. READ: mailchi.mp/freedomfund/...

Trafficking humans is the drug-gangs’ grimmest business Mass migration and sex tourism are causing a new wave of exploitation across Latin America

Organised crime is increasingly turning to human trafficking to generate outsized profits. @economist.com shows that gangs in Latin America are trafficking people into industries like gold mining and commercial sex, and they’re doing it at scale: www.economist.com/the-americas...

Renewable Energy Still Comes at the Cost of Forced Labor. It Needs to Be Stopped. Despite dominating global production, China has a polysilicon problem. Having subsidized and encouraged production of this critical ingredient in solar cells and panels, the country now faces massive ...

25% of the polysilicon in solar panels comes from China’s Uyghur region. While the global solar industry is on the rise, so is forced labour in the sector. New piece from @chinafile.bsky.social on ensuring the green transition doesn't come at the cost of slavery: www.chinafile.com/reporting-op...

Tranformative gift from MacKenzie Scott | Freedom Fund The Freedom Fund is delighted to share the news of a landmark $60 million unrestricted gift to the Freedom Fund from MacKenzie Scott.

There are many wonderful moments in my job, but few are as wonderful as receiving the news of a big, second, unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott! Read how this gift will enable @freedomfund.bsky.social to better support 190+ frontline partners: www.freedomfund.org/news/gift-ma...

Forced labour concerns: US bans import of Giant’s Taiwan-made bikes by Peter Bengtsen (Le Monde diplomatique - English edition, October 2025)

The forced labour import ban on Taiwanese bike maker Giant shows how bans & advocacy can drive industry change. Workers faced recruitment fees & labour abuses, and after a Withhold Release Order by CBP, Taiwan’s government & other companies are taking action. For more: mondediplo.com/outside-in/g...

Environmental Advocates Are on the Frontlines of Democracy Protection in the Amazon Americas Program Senior Associate Xanthe Scharff describes the role of environmental defenders in democracy promotion in the Amazon and urges for stronger protections amid repression.

Environmental defenders aren’t just protecting ecosystems—they’re defending democracy. Xanthe Scharff's new piece for @csis.org calls us to listen to Indigenous leaders in the Amazon, like those supported by @freedomfund.bsky.social.

Read it here: www.csis.org/analysis/env...

Survey of Donors to Philanthropic Collaboratives This research sheds light on donor motivations, benefits, and barriers while underscoring the potential of increased contributions to collaborative initiatives.

Collaborative funds are one of the most powerful philanthropic models we have to tackle global challenges. The results of @bridgespangroup.bsky.social's new donor survey highlight both the promise of and barriers to collaborative funding: www.bridgespan.org/insights/sur...

Import bans are vital to the fight against forced labour Import bans are one of the few ways to hit companies where it hurts. Critics should think twice before undermining them

Import bans are powerful tools that should not be dismissed. In a new piece for @opendemocracy.net, @freedomfund.bsky.social partners @htlegalcenter.bsky.social argue that advocacy for import bans is a critical strategy to target abuses in supply chains: www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Fast Fashion, Slow Justice: Labor Conditions in Shein’s Supply Workshops Kangle Village, Guangzhou : China Labor Watch Download Report

What are workers really worth to fast fashion companies? China Labor Watch has just released a report on labour conditions in Shein’s supply chain in Guangzhou, China, where workers receive as little as 7 cents per garment: chinalaborwatch.org/fast-fashion...

Centring survivors’ voices in the fight against modern slavery | Freedom Fund Learning from the past and shaping the future of the Survivor Leadership Fund People with lived experience of exploitation are uniquely positioned to lead the fight against modern slavery. The Survivo...

In 2021, @freedomfund.bsky.social launched the Survivor Leadership Fund with a clear belief: survivor-led organisations deserve better. 4 years and 100+ unrestricted grants later, we're sharing what we've learned: www.freedomfund.org/news/centrin...

Empowering child domestic workers through Photovoice Discover how photovoice can empower child domestic workers to document their lives, share their struggles, and advocate for change

A bowl of potatoes, a pink slipper, a family dinner. When @freedomfund.bsky.social gave cameras to child domestic workers in Ethiopia, they captured these and much more: the harsh realities of work, hopes for the future and changes in their living conditions. www.freedomfund.org/news/through...

Beneath the Surface | Bangladesh | Freedom Fund Report explores the socio-economic risks faced by street-connected boys in Bangladesh—migration, abuse, exploitation, and protection needs.

Thousands of boys live on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Freedom Fund’s new report exposes the harsh realities these children face: exploitation, hunger, violence, and a constant struggle to survive. Read more: www.freedomfund.org/news/beneath...

The Many Paths to Launching and Scaling a Collaborative Fund | The Center for Effective Philanthropy Freedom Fund CEO argues that the way a collaborative fund is launched and who joins along the way matters deeply to its long-term impact.

Why do some collaborative funds thrive while others stall? In my latest piece for the Center for Effective Philanthropy, I explore the various ways collaborative funds are formed, the different donor types they attract, and how these factors can shape their long-term impact: cep.org/blog/the-man...

What the Anti-Slavery Movement Can Offer for a Livable Climate (SSIR) Climate change and slavery form a vicious cycle. Collective action for a free and livable future is an opportunity to combat both at once.

The anti-slavery and climate justice movements need one another, and philanthropy has a critical role to play. My longtime colleague Ginny Baumann's new @ssir.org article explores how community-led efforts against slavery are also essential to climate resilience.
ssir.org/articles/ent...

@humanityunitedorg.bsky.social has been a deeply valued partner to @freedomfund.bsky.social over many years, particularly in our shared efforts to tackle forced labour in the seafood industry. Their commitment to understanding and funding complex systems change has informed our own approach.

Local Leaders Are Driving Systems Change. Philanthropy Must Follow. (SSIR) Now is the time for funders to back local leaders who are making lasting improvements to people's lives and the systems that shape them, even amidst global disruption.

“Now is the time for funders to back local leaders who are making lasting improvements to people’s lives.” Co-Impact ’s Olivia Leland makes this call in her recent @ssir.org piece, drawing on case studies of systems change from around the world: ssir.org/articles/ent...

In conversation: People’s Courage International, Co-Impact, and Fund for Global Human Rights - Alliance magazine In a field increasingly defined by questions of power, accountability, and scale, guest editor Ashif Shaikh convenes a conversation across the philanthropic spectrum. Joining him are Yasmin Madan, dir...

In an insightful new Alliance Magazine conversation, Ashif Shaikh speaks with Yasmin Madan (Co-Impact) & @gabucher.bsky.social (@fundhumanrights.bsky.social) about how funders can build more effective relationships with movements on the frontlines: www.alliancemagazine.org/feature/in-c...

The 2025 James Beard Media Award Winners

Investigative journalists play a critical role in exposing forced labour and holding corporates to account. Glad to see that James Beard Foundation has recognised Ian Urbina's Outlaw Ocean Project for their courageous reporting on abuses in the seafood sector. www.jamesbeard.org/stories/the-...

Rising to lead | Freedom Rising | Freedom Fund Transforming leadership to build stronger and inclusive voices in the fight against modern slavery The Freedom Rising program, developed by the Freedom Fund, set out to foster a more inclusive and res...

An independent evaluation of @freedomfund.bsky.social's Freedom Rising program finds alumni have built confidence, skills and trust and are collaborating to change systems. Their organizations are adopting more inclusive policies and practices. Read the report: www.freedomfund.org/news/rising-...

I took the stage at @hrf.org 's @oslofreedomforum.com to speak about the role funders like @freedomfund.bsky.social can play in supporting civil society groups working in repressive environments. Congratulations to HRF for providing a powerful platform for courageous activists.

It feels like the anti-slavery sector is at a crossroads. This morning I… | Nick Grono It feels like the anti-slavery sector is at a crossroads. This morning I was honoured to provide remarks at a roundtable on contemporary forms of slavery, co-hosted by The Freedom Fund and United Nat...

The anti-slavery sector is at a crossroads. Honoured to provide remarks at today's roundtable on contemporary forms of slavery, co-hosted by @freedomfund.bsky.social and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. My full reflections on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/nickgr...

China’s economy runs on Uyghur forced labour More than 100 global brands are linked to a scheme that ships Xinjiang ethnic minorities to work in factories thousands of miles away

"It seems increasingly difficult to buy Chinese goods without running the risk of tapping into a regime of exploitation." Explosive new reporting from @tbij.bsky.social links 100+ global brands to Uyghur forced labour in China, using social media videos. www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

I'm looking forward to talking about innovative ways funders can fund frontline organisations working in repressive environments at #oslofreedomforum @osloff.bsky.social today with @gladstein.bsky.social @hrf.org

Listen Now: Proven Ways to Ger Your Board to Fundraise Board members can make a big difference to fundraising and fiscal planning, especially in today’s economic turbulence. Hear from two experienced leaders about the best ways to get the board involved.

The board-CEO relationship can be existential for nonprofits. So I enjoyed joining Stacy Palmer’s new podcast, Nonprofits Now, to discuss how leaders can work with more effectively with their boards. Thanks to @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social for hosting.

www.philanthropy.com/article/list...