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HUNGARIAN HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION
New York, NY · EIN 133254319 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P20 · Human Services · Small ($100K-$1M) · hhrf.org
revenue
$229K
expenses
$261K
net assets
$1.5M
employees
2
volunteers
7
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

HHRF's major activities are documenting and reporting on the human rights conditions of these Hungarian minority communities; providing in-depth analyses for decision makers and expert testimony before U.S. and international forums, including various committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, OSCE Review Meetings; facilitating meetings for representatives of Hungarian minority communities in the U.S.; and various youth-focused initiatives such as human rights training and internship opportunities, as well as our ReConnect family of programs.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Hungarian Human Rights Foundation (HHRF) is a New York-based nonprofit founded in 1976 that documents and advocates for the rights of Hungarian minorities in Central and Eastern Europe. It produces research, provides expert testimony before U.S. and international bodies, and supports cultural and educational initiatives, including youth programs that reconnect diaspora youth with their Hungarian heritage. The organization also facilitates advocacy efforts and distributes information on human rights violations affecting these communities.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $15K
    PUBLICATIONS, LECTURES & INFORMATION SERVICES: PRODUCED ELECTRONIC ISSUES OF THE HHRF NEWSLETTER ON THE MAJOR, TIMELY DEVELOPMENTS EFFECTING HUNGARIAN MINORITIES IN THE REGION DISSEMINATED TO 5,000 EMAIL ADDRESSES.
  2. #2 $31K
    REPRESENTATION AT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FORUMS: CONTINUOUSLY INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS ON ROMANIA'S ONGOING FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY RESTITUTE THE DENOMINATIONAL PROPERTIES OF THE COUNTRY'S HUNGARIAN MINORITY. BRIEFED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA AND UKRAINE.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Human Rights Internship and Exchange Program
Offers 3–12 month internships in New York, Washington D.C., and Budapest for global youth to gain experience in international minority rights advocacy.
Publications, Lectures & Information Services
Produces electronic issues of the HHRF Newsletter on developments affecting Hungarian minorities, disseminated to 5,000 email addresses; serves as a source for media and human rights organizations.
ReConnect Hungary – Hungarian Birthright Program
Cultural immersion program for American and Canadian youth of Hungarian ancestry (ages 18–28) to reconnect with their heritage; includes ReConnect Transylvania, ReConnect Hungary 29+, and ReConnect Transylvania Plus scholarship internship.
Representation at Domestic and International Forums
Provides expert testimony before U.S. Congressional committees, OSCE meetings, and other international forums on human rights violations affecting Hungarian minorities.
Support for Minority Cultures and Civil Society
Provides funding and in-kind support to cultural and educational institutions serving Hungarian minorities in Eastern Europe, including Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
    • Advocate for EU Minority Safepack Citizens Initiative
      Launched a worldwide information campaign on the EU Minority Safepack Citizens Initiative in collaboration with European partner organizations to promote minority rights protections.
  • Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
    • Conduct human rights workshops for Hungarian minorities
      Conducts educational workshops to inform and engage participants on human rights issues affecting Hungarian minorities in East Central Europe.
  • Charitable Grantmaking to Specific Causes 1 activity
    • Fund cultural and educational initiatives in East-Central Europe
      Forwarded over $150,000 since 1990 to support more than ten cultural and educational initiatives in East-Central Europe.
  • Nonprofit Internship Programs 1 activity
    • Host interns for minority rights advocacy training
      Hosts international interns in New York and Washington, DC, providing hands-on experience in minority rights advocacy; 73 interns hosted since 1984.
  • Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
    • Maintain historical archives on Hungarian minority rights
      Maintains archival collections covering the period from 1976 to the present, preserving historical records related to Hungarian minority rights advocacy.
  • Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
    • Produce and distribute newsletter on Hungarian minority issues
      Produces electronic issues of the HHRF newsletter covering major developments affecting Hungarian minorities, disseminated to 5,000 email addresses.
  • Documentary Film Production 1 activity
    • Produce documentary films on human rights figures
      Produced a 50-minute documentary film about co-founder Hámos László, released in 2020 with English subtitles.
  • Uncategorized 18 activities
    • Advocate for ethnic Hungarian minority education rights in Romania
      Supported policy change in Romania to prioritize original Hungarian-language textbooks over translated materials for Hungarian minority students.
    • Advocate for monument protection in Transcarpathia
      Advocated for the inclusion of five historical monuments in Transcarpathia into Ukraine's State Register of Immovable Monuments, resulting in enhanced state protection.
    • Advocate for property restitution in Romania
      Advocated for the return of 2,140 Hungarian religious and community properties confiscated during communism in Romania.
    • Advocate for religious worship rights in Oradea
      Addressed concerns regarding the eviction of a Hungarian Catholic abbot in Oradea, highlighting implications for religious worship rights of Hungarian minorities.
    • Brief U.S. Congress on property restitution for Hungarian minorities
      Briefed members of U.S. Congress on human rights violations and inadequate restitution of denominational properties for Hungarian minorities in Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
    • Co-organize Congressional briefings on property restitution
      Co-organized a briefing on property restitution for staff of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in April 2003.
    • Coordinate international support for Sapientia University
      Acted as official coordinator for international support to Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania since October 2001, collecting over $100,000 in funding and in-kind donations.
    • Digitize and provide access to human rights archives
      Made HHRF archives digitally accessible and searchable in collaboration with MTATKKI to support research and documentation of minority rights issues.
    • Distribute medical supplies to post-communist Romania
      Distributed ten tons of medical equipment and supplies from Texas hospitals to Romanian hospitals in the two years after communism fell.
    • Facilitate international visits for human rights leaders
      Organized a three-week North American visit for Bishop László Tőkés in March 1990, including meetings with U.S. President George Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
    • Operate humanitarian relief programs in Transylvania
      Operated a Transylvania Relief Fund from November 1987 for two years, delivering food, clothing, and medicine to families in need via clandestine networks.
    • Organize demonstrations on human rights issues
      Organized 12 demonstrations since 1976, including a 17-country, 36-city global demonstration on November 15, 1988, opposing Ceaușescu's village demolition plan.
    • Preserve Hungarian cultural centers in the U.S.
      Played a decisive role in preserving and developing the Hungarian House of New York and Kossuth House in Washington, DC, as cultural and community hubs.
    • Provide emergency medical support for persecuted individuals
      Collected $38,564 in 1990 for the medical care of Hungarian writer András Sütő after he was attacked and blinded in one eye.
    • Publish books and reports on minority rights
      Published twelve books in English, Hungarian, and Romanian and provided information to international human rights organizations and UN bodies.
    • Submit testimony to U.S. Congressional committees
      Presented over 1,000 pages of written testimony and delivered oral testimony 27 times before U.S. Congressional committees between 1976 and 1986 on human rights issues affecting Hungarian minorities.
    • Support freedom of expression for questioning Beneš Decrees
      Reported on and raised awareness about criminal proceedings initiated against Örs Orosz in Slovakia for questioning the Beneš Decrees, advocating for freedom of expression.
    • Support legal defense of ethnic Hungarian activists in Slovakia
      Reported on and supported the dismissal of legal charges against three ethnic Hungarian activists in Slovakia following an act of civil disobedience.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$229K
Contributions & grants$229K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$261K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$30K
Grants paid out$35K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.53M
Cash$1.08M
Investments$448K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.53M
Liquid reserves70.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +48.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Emese Latkoczy Executive Director 40 $30K
board members · 3
  • Daniel Hamos — Secretary
  • Peter Jozsa — Treasurer
  • Zsolt Szekeres — President
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • America-Hungary Foundation Partner — Collaborates with HHRF in supporting Hungarian minority communities.
  • American Hungarian Library and Historical Society Partner — László Hámos served as President of this 64-year-old organization in New York.
  • Amnesty International Network — HHRF has served as an information source for Amnesty International on human rights issues affecting Hungarian minorities.
  • Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza Funder — Major benefactor and board member of HHRF until his death.
  • Bethlen Gábor Alapítvány Partner — Supports the organization's initiatives.
  • Budapest Government Office of the Central Hungary Regional Development Agency Government — Provides support for HHRF activities.
  • Council of Europe Government — HHRF has served as a source of information for the Council of Europe on minority rights issues.
  • Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania Partner — HHRF facilitated visits to Washington and New York for leaders of this organization in the 1990s.
  • Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) Partner — Collaborates on advocacy efforts related to minority education and rights in Romania.
  • Democratic Community of Hungarians in Voivodina Partner — HHRF assisted its president, András Ágoston, in meetings with U.S. officials and organized his participation in international conferences.
  • European partner organizations Partner — Collaborated with European partner organizations to launch a worldwide information campaign on the EU Minority Safepack Citizens Initiative.
  • Freedom House Network — HHRF has served as a source of information for Freedom House on minority rights issues.
  • Human Rights Watch Network — HHRF has provided information to Human Rights Watch regarding human rights conditions of Hungarian minorities.
  • Hungarian American Coalition Coalition — Co-founded in 1991; László Hámos served continuously on its Board and Executive Committee.
  • Hungarian American Coalition Coalition — Zsolt Szekeres is a founding member of the Hungarian American Coalition.
  • Hungarian Consulate General in New York Government — Collaborates with HHRF on cultural and community initiatives.
  • Hungarian Reformed Federation of America Partner — László Hámos served as Director and later Chairman, leading its merger with GBU Financial Life in 2011.
  • Kossuth Foundation Partner — László Hámos served as Chairman until Fall 2013.
  • Liszt Institute Partner — Partner in promoting Hungarian culture and human rights awareness.
  • MTATKKI Partner — Collaborated to make HHRF archives digitally accessible and searchable.
  • Magyar Bank Partner — Supports HHRF financially or through institutional collaboration.
  • NEB Partner — Cooperation agreement with HHRF.
  • RMDSZ Partner — Collaborates with RMDSZ, as evidenced by joint participation in events such as a delegation visit to Washington D.C. in 2023.
  • Reconnect Hungary Partner — Collaborates with Reconnect Hungary on initiatives related to Hungarian diaspora and human rights advocacy.
  • Restaurant Miko Partner — Supports HHRF through sponsorship or collaboration.
  • Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania Partner — HHRF serves as the official coordinator for international contacts and assistance to the university since October 2001.
  • Tulipan Foundation Partner — Partner organization supporting HHRF programs.
  • UN Commission on Human Rights Government — HHRF has provided information and reports to the UN Commission on Human Rights.
  • ethnic Hungarian communities Partner — Partners with ethnic Hungarian communities to advocate for their human and minority rights.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Establishing a Shared Historical Narrative
    methodology: shared_history
    By promoting a shared historical understanding in the Carpathian Basin, the organization advances human rights progress because reconciling contested histories reduces interethnic tensions and supports equitable policy-making.
  • Evidence-Based Advocacy and Expert Testimony
    methodology: evidence-based_advocacy
    By documenting human rights conditions and providing expert analysis, the organization influences U.S. and international policymakers because authoritative, fact-based reporting increases credibility and policy impact.
  • First-Hand Documentation from Underground Activists
    methodology: first-hand-documentation-from-underground-activists
    By gathering and publishing verified reports from local activists inside repressive regions, the organization produces credible evidence of human rights abuses because ground-level testimony bypasses state-controlled narratives and enables international accountability.
  • Human Rights Advocacy by Hyphenated Americans
    methodology: human-rights-advocacy-by-hyphenated-americans
    By framing advocacy through the lens of human rights, hyphenated American supporters can legitimately influence U.S. foreign policy on behalf of Hungarian minorities because human rights are a morally and legally accepted basis for intervention in international affairs.
  • Rebuilding Civil Society to Secure Minority Rights
    methodology: civil-society-rebuilding
    By supporting civil society development among ethnic Hungarians, the organization promotes democratic values and minority rights because resilient local institutions are foundational to long-term human rights protection and regional stability.