The Stephanie
Kleine-Ahlbrandt Fund
The Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt Fund has been established to honor the indomitable spirit of ILF friend and Board Member Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt. Stephanie’s tireless advocacy for human rights, gender equality, and social justice, combined with her boundless talent and passion, has led to extraordinary progress in promoting access to justice for people affected by conflict.
In February 2021, Stephanie was diagnosed with a rare and terminal cancer. She remains vital and active and has identified this Fund as her legacy priority given her deep commitment to the ILF—and her belief in the power of individuals to drive transformative, global change.
About the Fund
The Fund presents a unique opportunity to build on Stephanie’s legacy by enabling the ILF to scale up its support to local lawyers around the world who work on the frontlines of the fight for justice and equality. Lawyers working in conflict-affected societies face incredible obstacles in their day-to-day work and lives. The ILF’s volunteer International Fellows and mentoring programs help them to navigate these challenges and provide the training, coaching, and support they need to creatively approach legal and political issues; engage in litigation that advances human rights and challenges racial, ethnic and gender discrimination; and increases their resilience and wellbeing so that they can continue their important work for the long-haul.
Through the Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt Fund, the ILF aims to raise $100,000 to help fund the costs of the ILF’s International Fellows, trainers, and other expert mentors. If our goal is reached, we expect this fund to support this work for at least 15 years.
I have worked with many organizations in conflict-affected situations around the world. In my experience, there is none that has more impact than the ILF in delivering justice for the most marginalized people in countries racked by war.
At a time when the international community is discussing the need to localize assistance, the ILF is ahead of the curve. Since day one, the ILF has pioneered a model of supporting local advocates and leaders, enabling them to more effectively fight for justice in their communities. This fund will help ensure that vital work can continue.
- Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrant
About Stephanie
Stephanie has more than 25 years of experience in human rights protection, conflict prevention and resolution, and peacebuilding. She has served as the U.S. expert on the United Nations Panel of Experts established to monitor the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea, as Asia-Pacific Director at the U.S. Institute of Peace, and as founding Director (for six years) of the Northeast Asia office of the International Crisis Group in Beijing, China. Stephanie was also an International Affairs Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and worked for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for a decade, covering the Asia-Pacific region and Africa.
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Stephanie was seconded by the U.S. Department of State to the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, investigated genocide and other human rights violations for the UN in Rwanda, and worked with the Legal Affairs Directorate of the Council of Europe. Her writings have been published in Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Le Monde, Die Zeit, and The International Herald Tribune, as well as in various edited volumes and a monograph.
Most recently, Stephanie began yet another phase of her life, taking the lessons learned in responding to crises around the world and sharing them through her coaching practice, Activus Coaching & Consulting. She founded Activus to support leaders and organizations in making the inner transformations necessary to realize the largest possible global impact.
Stephanie has served on the ILF’s Board of Directors for over 10 years and continues to provide coaching support to our teams as they navigate major crises.
Your Contribution Matters.
A group of generous donors has pledged to match dollar-for-dollar all donations made this year, up to $25,000. If you would like to join this group of founders with a donation of $2,500 or more, please email Leah Conklin at lconklin@theilf.org.
If you would like to donate by check, please make your check payable to The International Legal Foundation and mail it to ATTN: Tara Mullaney at The International Legal Foundation 315 West 39th St. Suite #507, New York, NY 10018.
The ILF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. You will receive a donation receipt via email upon successful completion of your donation.
If you have question or comments about the fund, please contact Leah Conklin at lconklin@theilf.org.