The past year has been marked by great sadness, with the passing of our founder Dr. Robert Russell.

In a gesture of fond remembrance and great generosity, our long-time treasurer Carl Nelson has agreed to match up to $5,000 given by donors during this year’s Pledge Drive. In other words, every dollar in the first 5K raised will be doubled!

Those funds will help us support the next recipient of the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award, to be announced on World Press Freedom Day – May 3rd 2027.

Caricature in memory of Robert "Bro" Russell, founder of Cartoonists Rights Network International by Pedro X.Molina
Caricature in tribute to Bro drawn by Pedro X. Molina, a past award recipient.

Our Pledge Drive opens officially on Giving Tuesday, December 1st and runs until the 31st.

Robert Russell, founder of Cartoonists Rights Network International, seated with multiple past board members and clients of the organization.
Bro Russell (center) with multiple board members and clients, as his retirement was announced at the AAEC convention 2019.

Robert Russell, who was known to a host of clients worldwide as “Bro”, founded Cartoonists Rights Network International in 1999 having worked for many years on humanitarian and democracy-building projects in the Global South, and there coming to an appreciation of the special contribution editorial and political cartoonists can make as well as the problems they encounter under repressive and intolerant regimes.

Every holiday season we ask for your direct support in aid of our mission to defend cartoonists whose freedom of expression is threatened simply because of what they draw, leading to their criminalization, displacement, judicial harassment, physical or verbal abuse, or worse.

Your donations help us help them: travel and housing expenses for cartoonists forced into exile; medical bills for those who have been injured; assistance with legal matters; representations to governments and local authorities, and more!

Please use the online portal below to make a credit or debit card payment. You may chose to give monthly, quarterly, annually, or make a one-off donation.

Note that added “tips” to the Givebutter philanthropic payment system are discretionary.

Alternatively checks may be sent to our PO box. Or click here for our bank details.

US DONORS: we are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, federal tax ID 54-1982242. Your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent allowable. Please note online payment is by far our preferred method, and the only option for supporters overseas. Those in the USA who still wish to donate via check or money order may do so, made payable to “Cartoonists Rights Network International” and sent to: PO Box 2200, Wilson Blvd Ste 102-254, Arlington, VA 22201-3397