Grants Database

Democracy Fund collaborates with our grantees, donors, and other partners to strengthen and expand the movement for an inclusive, multiracial democracy. We are proud to have supported more than 400 organizations doing this work.

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Elections and Voting
General and Field Building
Governance
Just and Inclusive Society
President's Office
Public Square
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Civil & Human Rights Online
Constructive Politics
Digital Democracy
Ecosystem News
Empowering Congress
Engaged Journalism
Equitable Civic Infrastructure
General
Investigative Journalism
Journalism & Power Building
News & Information Ecosystems
Oversight and Accountability
Power Building in Marginalized Communities
Press Freedom
Preventing Authoritarian Abuse of Power
Previous Strategy
Pro-Voter Reform
Representative Institutions
Representative Leadership
Resilient Elections
Rights and Dignity
Roadmap for American Democracy
State and Local Accountability
Trust in Elections
Voter-Centric Election Administration
Voting Power
Organization Name (A-Z) Grant Amount Type Program Area Year
  • Institute for Local Self Reliance Inc
  • $325,000.00
  • Project
  • Public Square
  • 2023

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance is a national research and advocacy organization building local power to fight corporate control. The Tribal Broadband Bootcamp project builds Tribal capacity to take advantage of federal investment and coordination with states on new broadband networks.

Project:

Tribal Broadband Bootcamp

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Media Access and Policy

Grant Length:

Oct 2023 to Sep 2025

Strategy:

Equitable Civic Infrastructure
  • Institute for Local Self Reliance Inc
  • $450,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2024

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national research and advocacy organization that partners with allies across the country to build an American economy driven by local priorities, accountable to people and the planet.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Media Access and Policy

Grant Length:

Jul 2024 to Sep 2027

Strategy:

Civil & Human Rights Online
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $700,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2023

The Institute for Nonprofit News strengthens and supports more than 425 independent news organizations that are nonprofit, nonpartisan and dedicated to public service. From local news to reporting on global issues, members of the INN Network tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism

Grant Length:

Dec 2023 to Dec 2026

Strategy:

News & Information Ecosystems
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $300,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2022

The Institute for Nonprofit News is a critical anchor organization, providing support, training and networking for America’s almost 250 nonprofit journalism organizations.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism Education and Training

Grant Length:

Dec 2022 to Nov 2023

Strategy:

News & Information Ecosystems
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $600,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2016

INN’s mission is to help nonprofit news organizations produce and distribute stories with impact; to achieve cost efficiencies by pooling resources and services; and to develop new revenue streams that will help member organizations become sustainable, mission-driven, nonprofit businesses.  

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media

Grant Length:

Aug 2016 to Jul 2018

Strategy:

Ecosystem News
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $530,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2013

INN’s mission is to help nonprofit news organizations produce and distribute stories with impact; to achieve cost efficiencies by pooling resources and services; and to develop new revenue streams that will help member organizations become sustainable, mission-driven, nonprofit businesses.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism

Grant Length:

Dec 2013 to Dec 2015

Strategy:

Previous Strategy
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $48,956.00
  • Network Grant
  • Public Square
  • 2013

For a project to organize a two day in-depth training session for reporters on the latest tools and techniques for following the money in the 2014 elections.

Project:

Mini-Grant

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism, Campaigns, Elections, and Voting/Campaign Finance

Grant Length:

Jan 2014 to Jan 2015

Strategy:

Previous Strategy
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $300,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2018

This renewal grant will provide general operating support for the Institute for Nonprofit News. The Institute for Nonprofit News is a critical anchor organization, providing support, training and networking for America’s 200+ nonprofit journalism organizations. 

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism Education and Training, Media/Journalism

Grant Length:

Dec 2018 to Nov 2019

Strategy:

Ecosystem News
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $156,230.00
  • Project
  • Public Square
  • 2019

The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) will create and revise resources on libel and defamation insurance for nonprofit news organizations. INN will expand their insurance program and partner with nonprofit organizations to develop short- and long-term solutions to lowering the cost of insurance for nonprofit journalists so that they are protected against lawsuits related to their reporting.

Project:

Nonprofit News Insurance Program

Foundation Center Topic:

Media, Media/Media Access and Policy

Grant Length:

Nov 2019 to Jan 2023

Strategy:

Press Freedom
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $900,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Public Square
  • 2019

This renewal grant will provide general operating support for the Institute for Nonprofit News. The Institute for Nonprofit News is a critical anchor organization, providing support, training and networking for America’s almost 250 nonprofit journalism organizations.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism Education and Training

Grant Length:

Dec 2019 to Nov 2022

Strategy:

Ecosystem News
  • Institute for Nonprofit News
  • $200,000.00
  • Project
  • Public Square
  • 2015

The purpose of this grant is to provide funds to the INNovation Fund which supports projects proposed by nonprofit news organizations to advance the economic sustainability of their newsroom.

Project:

INNovation Fund Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism

Grant Length:

Dec 2015 to Nov 2016

Strategy:

Ecosystem News
  • Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
  • $500,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2019

The purpose of this grant is to provide general operating support for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) as it conducts research, raises awareness, and works with partners to enable more understanding of the American Muslim community.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Other

Grant Length:

Sep 2019 to Aug 2023

Strategy:

General
  • Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
  • $50,000.00
  • Project
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2020

To support the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding’s (ISPU) collaboration with the Pulitzer Center on covering the American Muslims confidently, creatively, and fairly. 

Project:

Covering American Muslims Confidently, Creatively and Fairly - a Collaboration between ISPU and the Pulitzer Center

Foundation Center Topic:

Media/Journalism Education and Training, Other

Grant Length:

Mar 2020 to Jun 2021

Strategy:

General
  • Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
  • $75,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2017

To provide general operating support for the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding as they seek to continue to conduct research around the American Muslim community, the challenges the communities face, and to produce a series of online training for media professionals that are covering issues effecting the community.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Other, Media/Media Access and Policy

Grant Length:

Jun 2017 to May 2018

Strategy:

General
  • Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
  • $100,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2018

The purpose of this grant is to provide general operating support for the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) as it conducts research, raises awareness, and works with partners to better understand the American Muslim community. 

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Other

Grant Length:

Sep 2018 to Aug 2019

Strategy:

General
  • Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
  • $255,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2023

The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) conducts research, raises awareness, and works with partners to better understand the American Muslim community.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Civic Participation/Civic Education and Leadership, Media/Journalism Education and Training, Media, Other

Grant Length:

Sep 2023 to Aug 2025

Strategy:

Power Building in Marginalized Communities
  • Instituto Lab LLC
  • $150,000.00
  • General Operating Support
  • President's Office
  • 2023

Instituto’s mission is to build sustained political power with low-income and communities of color in Arizona. They believe that every community has the inherent leadership, capacity, and resources to create their own solutions, and that all it takes to build power is to facilitate connections and training.

Project:

General Operating Support

Foundation Center Topic:

Civic Participation/Civic Education and Leadership, Other

Grant Length:

Dec 2023 to Nov 2024

Strategy:

General
  • Interfaith Youth Core
  • $60,000.00
  • Project
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2021

The Interfaith Innovation Fellows program provides training and funding for Interfaith Youth Core Alumni who are leading projects at the intersection of racial equity and interfaith cooperation.

Project:

Support for Interfaith Fellowship Program

Foundation Center Topic:

Civic Participation

Grant Length:

Apr 2021 to Mar 2022

Strategy:

General
  • Interfaith Youth Core
  • $50,000.00
  • Project
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2019

To support Interfaith Youth Core’s Alumni Fellowship Program. The organization will provide fellowships to at least five individuals from their alumni network to create innovative new interfaith civic engagement projects focused on promoting pluralism in their communities. 

Project:

Interfaith Innovation Fellowship Program

Foundation Center Topic:

Civic Participation/Civic Education and Leadership, Civic Participation/Public Participation

Grant Length:

Nov 2019 to Oct 2020

Strategy:

Constructive Politics
  • International Refugee Assistance Project Inc.
  • $500,000.00
  • Project
  • Just and Inclusive Society
  • 2019

To provide project support to the International Refugee Assistance Project’s (IRAP) family reunification, community lawyering, and impact litigation work.  

Project:

Project Support for IRAP

Foundation Center Topic:

Civic Participation/Civic Education and Leadership, Civic Participation/Naturalization and Immigrant Civic Integration, Other

Grant Length:

Nov 2019 to Oct 2023

Strategy:

General
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