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Billie Goodman

Grants Program Director

Billie manages the Access Now Grants program, which supports civil society organizations and activists working to advance digital rights and human rights and protect users at risk around the world. She comes to Access Now from American Jewish World Service, where she supported grassroots organizations working for justice, equality and accountability in Asia. Previously she has worked with Ashoka in Washington, DC and has lived and volunteered in Thailand and Palestine. She holds a MA in International Development Studies from George Washington University and a BA in Anthropology from Boston University. She credits her time spent in Palestine, Sri Lanka and Burma/Myanmar for inspiring her commitment to the security of human rights activists under threat and her belief in the power of grassroots social movements.
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Access Now Grants: How we support the activists who defend our rights during conflict and crisis

23 May 2022

In 2021, Access Now Grants supported grassroots, frontline, and feminist digital rights organizations and human rights defenders.

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Access Now Grants: How we support the activists who defend our rights during conflict and crisis
23 May 2022
Access Now Grants: How we support the activists who defend our rights during conflict and crisis
Image: Access Now Grantees in digital civic space|The Technology for Democracy Cohort of the U.S. Summit for Democracy (S4D)

Digital civic space: how Access Now Grants built resilience in 2020

28 Jul 2021

In 2020, Access Now Grants provided $979,059 to 34 grassroots organizations across 27 countries in the digital civic space.

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Digital civic space: how Access Now Grants built resilience in 2020
28 Jul 2021
Digital civic space: how Access Now Grants built resilience in 2020

Meerim Ilyas to help Access Now Grants target support for digital rights activists at the front lines

14 Oct 2020

We’re excited to welcome Meerim Ilyas to the Access Now Grants program’s Advisory Board, and to share her reflections on the human rights challenges we face and how funding organizations should respond.

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Meerim Ilyas to help Access Now Grants target support for digital rights activists at the front lines
14 Oct 2020
Meerim Ilyas to help Access Now Grants target support for digital rights activists at the front lines

Human rights are the ballast: how we’re supporting the activists defending your rights

18 Jun 2020
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Human rights are the ballast: how we’re supporting the activists defending your rights
18 Jun 2020
Human rights are the ballast: how we’re supporting the activists defending your rights
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Community Voices: Don’t miss these Access Now grantees at RightsCon Toronto

10 May 2018

With so many amazing sessions to choose from, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the contribution that Access Now grantees are making to the program and to the RightsCon community.

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Community Voices: Don’t miss these Access Now grantees at RightsCon Toronto
10 May 2018
Community Voices: Don’t miss these Access Now grantees at RightsCon Toronto
Image: Access Now Grantees in digital civic space|The Technology for Democracy Cohort of the U.S. Summit for Democracy (S4D)

How we spent $1 million for digital rights in 2017: empowering the grassroots across the globe

22 Dec 2017

Here’s how the Access Now Grants program supported the grassroots in 2017.

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How we spent $1 million for digital rights in 2017: empowering the grassroots across the globe
22 Dec 2017
How we spent $1 million for digital rights in 2017: empowering the grassroots across the globe
Image: I love digital rights

On International Human Rights Day, we’re celebrating those who defend rights at home

7 Dec 2017

Help us #StandUp4HumanRights by giving to grassroots digital rights groups across the globe.

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On International Human Rights Day, we’re celebrating those who defend rights at home
7 Dec 2017
On International Human Rights Day, we’re celebrating those who defend rights at home
Image: I love digital rights

When you give, we give to digital rights defenders

27 Nov 2017

By making a contribution, you’ll provide much-needed resources to help ensure everyone — especially those most at risk — can freely and securely exercise their rights online.

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When you give, we give to digital rights defenders
27 Nov 2017
When you give, we give to digital rights defenders

Access Now Grants welcomes Abir Ghattas to advisory board

24 May 2017

We will rely on the expertise and contextual knowledge of Ghattas and her colleagues to determine how best to use our grant funds.

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Access Now Grants welcomes Abir Ghattas to advisory board
24 May 2017
Access Now Grants welcomes Abir Ghattas to advisory board

What would you do with a million dollars for digital rights?

15 Mar 2017

Access Now Grants is growing, and we want your advice on how best to empower the global digital rights community.

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What would you do with a million dollars for digital rights?
15 Mar 2017
What would you do with a million dollars for digital rights?