SepTember 3, 2025
PRESS RELEASE: FORGE Launches New Round of Democracy at Work Fund to Strengthen Global Worker Power
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 3, 2025
Funders Organized for Rights in the Global Economy (FORGE) today announced a new Call for Proposals for the Democracy at Work Fund, a pooled fund supporting grassroots worker organizations in the Global Majority.
The fund supports worker organizing across six countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. It backs efforts that build worker power, especially among informal workers, women, and underrepresented groups. It prioritizes initiatives working at the intersection of workers’ rights, gender justice, racial justice, and climate justice, as well as those addressing major crises and transitions.
"Grassroots workers’ organizations are on the frontlines of today’s biggest social, labor, and environmental challenges," said Jana Morgan, Executive Director of FORGE.
"This Fund fills a critical gap in international social justice funding by investing directly in groups building power for the global majority."
The Call for Proposals is open as of today, September 3rd, will be accepting applications until 5pm ET on October 27th 2025. Organizations based in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil are eligible to receive grants of up to $80,000. Full application guidelines are available here.
The inaugural round of the Democracy at Work Fund, coordinated by Fundación Avina, supported 19 organizations across eleven countries. Initiatives ranged from supporting migrant content moderators in Kenya to protecting banana workers in Ecuador, and amplifying trade union voices in Brazil’s climate discussions. Full details on these initiatives can be found at democracyatworkfund.org.
We invite new funders to join us in supporting future rounds of this impactful collaborative fund.
About FORGE:
FORGE is a collaborative of philanthropic donors working to advance a global economy that works for all. By pooling expertise and resources from different funders, we enable community and worker-led movements to catalyze change at the intersections of the world’s most pressing issues.
Contact:
Maeve GALVIN, Program Director, Democracy at Work Fund, FORGE
+353851914411