Creating an Open & Just Democracy
Democracy Fund works toward an open and just democracy that is resilient in the face of change and worthy of the American people’s trust. We support partners and ideas from across the political spectrum in pursuit of a vibrant and diverse public square, free and fair elections, effective and accountable government, and a just and inclusive society. We hope you’ll join us on this journey.
The Latest See all Ideas
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BlogThere’s a Crack in the Foundation
June 18, 2021As the United States continues to reckon with the crack in its foundation, the legacy of slavery, our institutions are making small steps to finally… -
Blog
Paths Forward: Lessons in Supporting Local Election Administration and Officials
June 17, 2021Part of “Stewards of Democracy,” a series on findings from the 2020 Democracy Fund/Reed College Survey of Local Election Officials In the wake of a… -
Blog
Holding Ourselves Accountable: How Democracy Fund is Supporting Media Equity Now
June 16, 2021Last year, we published “Dear Funders: What Does it Mean to Care About Equity in Journalism?” where we outlined three priorities for foundations seeking to… -
Statement
Democracy Fund Statement on the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees Decision to Deny Tenure to Nikole Hannah-Jones
May 20, 2021We call on the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees to reverse its decision to deny Nikole Hannah-Jones tenure. We have funded Hannah-Jones’s work… -
Blog
Pursuing Diversity and Representation Among Local Election Officials
May 20, 2021Part of “Stewards of Democracy,” a series on findings from the 2020 Democracy Fund/Reed College Survey of Local Election Officials With growing recognition of the… -
Blog
When it’s Time to Learn Fast: How our Learning Processes Changed to Meet the Moment in the Summer of 2020
May 18, 2021We tried something different. As a foundation, we are only as effective as our understanding of and alignment to what is occurring in the fields…
Take a Deeper Dive
Local News Lab, electionline, and Voter Study Group are Democracy Fund initiatives that provide original, curated information on sustainable local journalism, election administration, and the changing views of the American electorate.
Examining and delivering insights on the evolving views of American voters.
Voter Study Group
Creating new kinds of collaboration between journalists, newsrooms, and communities.
Local News Lab
America’s only source for politics-free news about our nation’s elections.
electionlineWhat We Do
Democracy Fund champions the leaders and organizations who defend democracy and challenge our political system to be more open and just. We play many roles in service of the field of democracy reform, but first and foremost we are a funder, a philanthropic advisor, and an advocate.
Building an Open and Just Democracy
Our democracy is a complex, imperfect system — a continual work in progress. While our political system has proven resilient over time, it has never fully served the needs of all Americans. We must challenge it to be better.
A more open and just democracy will protect the dignity and rights of all people, hold power accountable, and ensure everyone has a say in shaping America’s future.