The AHRF’s approach is to engage actively in progressive social change by promoting philanthropy for social justice. The Fund strives to ensure that its priorities, program content and goals emerge from within the region as identified by actors in the field.  

The Fund does the following:

• Operates across the Arabic-speaking region and in Arabic-speaking communities in adjacent countries
• Supports organizations with a demonstrated record of excellence and also new groups that show that they have the potential to carry out excellent and sustainable work, for example, informal groups, start-ups and initiatives
• Supports organizations or individuals working in enforced exile
• Considers proposals across the spectrum of human rights issues and constituencies
• Supports a variety of approaches where such activities represent strategic and effective strengthening of human rights
• Considers unsolicited proposals
• Conducts targeted grant making

The Fund is open to new ideas and opportunities and focuses on potential grantees’ use of new methods and strategies to defend and promote human rights. It liaises closely with grantees to identify the outcome of their work strategies and the most effective use of resources. 

On receipt of grant applications, the AHRF Programme Officer and the Executive Director assess them and prepare a proposal for the Board, the final decision-making body.

After a project proposal is approved, grantees receive a grant contract specifying funding and reporting obligations.

In the initial stages of its operations, the AHRF is able to provide support for small grants of up to $25,000 per year.

Grantees are required to submit annual progress reports.

After the completion of the grant period, the Programme Officer formulates an evaluation of the completed project in coordination with the grantee.