Referral network

A community of over 60 partners refer at-risk defenders and organisations to our rapid response mechanism for holistic security support. This includes a wide range of nonprofits, foundations, and protection organisations, including both high-profile and grassroots organisations around the world.

We in turn are a referral partner for Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline, Amnesty Security Lab, and Cloudflare’s Project Galileo.

In 2025, we partnered with ALLIED and KERI to strengthen the mental health and psychosocial support ecosystem for Indigenous, land, and environmental defenders in the Philippines. We also partnered with two regional protection hubs in Southeast Asia – Exile Hub and Tifa Foundation – supporting them through capacity-sharing and mentoring, while learning from their local knowledge and experience.

We are also part of the security working group of the Defenders in Development campaign.

Funding partnerships

We work with funders as a grantee, service provider, and strategic partner.

Foundations trust us to deliver sustained impact alongside responsible stewardship of resources. Current and recent funding partners include Luminate, the National Endowment for Democracy, Packard Foundation, Oak Foundation, Mott Foundation, Equation Campaign, Waterloo Foundation, Christensen Fund, and Bernina Initiative.

As a provider, we support foundations seeking to strengthen protection for at-risk grantees and improve their own approaches to risk management, data protection, and staff care.

Working across these roles gives us a clear view of emerging risks, practical constraints, and what effective protection and philanthropy require. We use that perspective to contribute to more resilient and responsible funding practice.

Alliances and coalitions

Open Briefing is part of a wider ecosystem where collaboration and complementarity matter. We play an active role in civil society networks and multilateral bodies that support defenders and protect civic space, alongside relevant professional associations and private sector initiatives.