Clare Gibson Nangle shares her thoughts on fundraising, leadership, and how we can turn this moment of crisis into an opportunity for deeper collaboration.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Well, my name is Clare Gibson Nangle. I’m a nonprofit leader and I’m both a resource mobilizer and a resource activist.
I joined the Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR) 10 years ago and have been working on our strategic partnerships during that time, including leading the team for many years, because I believe deeply in the importance of ensuring that funding reaches those who are best positioned to help create the world we want.
I’m also a Latin Americanist. Here at FGHR, I had the privilege of working on our Latin America portfolio for eight years. I worked previously at the Center for Justice and International Law and currently sit on the board of Cristosal.
What brought you to human rights work?
I was raised with a strong belief in social justice and the inherent dignity of every person, values that were shaped in part by my upbringing in the Catholic Church. As I studied social work and international affairs, those beliefs deepened into a commitment to addressing inequality and expanding rights and opportunities for all. While I’m no longer religious, I’ve always been drawn to mission-driven work because it gives me a sense of purpose and the opportunity to play a small part in creating a more just world.
What makes you most excited about your new role?
What’s energizing me at the moment is this whole conversation about turning a crisis into an opportunity is starting to feel more concrete. For me, this means building new partnerships, and inviting in new resources to fund the movement. Collaboration is truly the solution as we continue to turn this crisis into an opportunity. So, I very much look forward to working with all of you!
What does resource mobilization mean to you?
Resource mobilization is about relationships. Right now, the funding landscape is incredibly difficult. But that doesn’t mean it has to be more competitive. I believe that collaboration is key to navigating this moment successfully—fundraising is truly a team sport.
It is also about leveraging opportunities. Despite the challenges we face today, something really interesting is happening in this environment: donors want to feel closer to the work. That has enormous implications for mobilizing resources. Whether through co-creation processes, inviting donors to see the work in action, or finding new ways to connect donors with our colleagues leading the programmatic work, fundraising can’t exist in a silo anymore—we must approach organizational sustainability in a more holistic way.
What informs your approach to leadership?
I adhere to feminist leadership principles, with a heavy focus on healthy, supportive dynamics and deep collaboration. It is so important to me that colleagues are able to show up authentically and collaborate in the pursuit of collective objectives. This makes us better at the work we do.
What is something people might not know about you?
I’m a very open and transparent person, so sometimes I feel like everyone knows everything about me! But outside of work, I am a mother and a member of a vibrant community in the Washington, DC, area. I enjoy cooking, long walks, Pilates, and I’m a little obsessed with nutrition—in a second career, I’d probably be a nutritionist.
What is something you’re looking forward to?
We have so many exciting things coming up! I’m looking forward to deep collaboration with peers during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC in September.
After that, I’m excited to see all of my colleagues from around the world at our upcoming staff convening. It will be so re-energizing to all be together in a room again, and I can’t wait to see what emerges from it.
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