Human Rights Philanthropy: A Panel Discussion with Article 3 Advisors

What is human rights philanthropy, and how does it work? What are the major human rights challenges that philanthropy can help address, and how can philanthropy be most effective in addressing them? How has human rights philanthropy evolved and adapted to shifting challenges, opportunities, and threats? Article 3 Advisors (A3A), a not-for-profit consultancy working at the nexus of human rights & strategic philanthropy, will discuss these and other questions in what we hope will be an engaging conversation on the past, present, and future of human rights philanthropy.

Panelists:

Darian Swig, Founder & President

Darian Weltman Swig is deeply engaged in the field of international human rights and the discipline of strategic philanthropy.  Darian’s life experience has been shaped by extensive global travel with NGO led missions to refugee camps, migrant centers, landmine/de-mining fields and clinics, post man-made and natural disaster crises locations, as well as post-genocide reconciliation and reintegration facilities and communities.  Darian dedicates her time and resources – personally and professionally – to promoting universal human rights and in doing so, has helped to build a robust human rights ecosystem among philanthropists in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 Article 3 Advisors, a not-for-profit consultancy focused on human rights philanthropy, is the culmination of Darian’s extensive experience in human rights related causes and projects.  Darian believes that effective philanthropy has the potential to narrow the gap between pressing humanitarian needs and government responses to those needs, thereby increasing human dignity. 

Prior to A3A, Darian worked for over a decade in the field of international protocol and consular corps relations, specializing in dignitary coordination and head of state visits. Darian has developed a personal and professional perspective on the importance of strengthening diplomacy, fostering cultural understanding and prioritizing peace-building measures as a means to realizing human security and sustainable peace.

Darian currently serves on the International Board of Human Rights Watch.  She also serves on the advisory boards of the Human Rights Center at the University of California, the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Global Witness, is the chair of the US Program's Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch and sits on their Africa Advisory Committee. In addition, she is a member of International Human Rights Funders Group, Global Philanthropy Forum, Clinton Global Initiative and The Philanthropy Workshop Alumni. Darian is a  past founding board member of The Philanthropy Workshop, past trustee of the World Affairs Council, Commonwealth Club, USA for UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency), past board member of the Fund for Global Human Rights, and a founding board member of Genocide Intervention Network. She has also served as the Human Rights Watch Voices for Justice San Francisco dinner chair for seven years.

Darian holds dual master’s degrees in Political Science and International Area studies from the University of California at Berkeley, Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution, with an emphasis on human rights and mass atrocity crimes. She is also an early and ardent supporter of advancing the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework.

Born in Germany, Darian resides in San Francisco, California with her husband, Rick Swig.

David Keller, Chief Solutions Officer

David Keller is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology. Additionally he earned an AS degree in Electrical Engineering from Mission College. He worked in a variety of industries including medical services, heavy manufacturing and social services, before settling into a career in high-tech in Silicon Valley. He worked at increasing levels of responsibilities at ROLM Corporation from 1979-1989 and at Cisco Systems from 1989-2002. His work experiences included manufacturing management, process and systems engineering, product development and strategic development.

Since 2002, David has been an independent business consultant with a focus on product development methodology and business and organizational development and strategy. David offers his time, experience and financial support to a number of organizations including Human Rights Watch and The Philanthropy Workshop. Additionally, David now works with Article 3 Advisors as a human rights focused philanthropic advisor.

David established a family foundation in 2002 and since that time has been actively engaged in philanthropy. While recognizing that there are no easy answers and more than one approach – human rights, as the cornerstone of peace and justice as well as political, social and economic development has emerged as our focus.

Caitlin Heising, Research & Project Manager

Caitlin Heising is Vice Chair of the Heising-Simons Foundation, where she focuses on human rights, immigration, and criminal justice reform in the U.S. She works with Article 3 Advisors, a human rights and strategic philanthropy consultancy based in San Francisco. Caitlin serves on the international Board of Directors and U.S. Program Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch. Previously, she co-founded and co-chaired the Human Rights Watch Young Professionals Network in San Francisco, which has now grown to include a chapter in Silicon Valley. She is also a founding member of Maverick Collective, a global community of philanthropists and advocates working to end extreme poverty by improving the health and rights of women and girls around the world. Caitlin is a member of The Philanthropy Workshop, a leader in ongoing strategic philanthropy education and networking. She began her career at Brunswick Group, an international corporate communications partnership that helps businesses and other organizations address critical communications challenges. Caitlin graduated from Brown University in 2012 with a BA in international relations and a focus in politics, culture, and identity.