September 15, 2025
Accurately tracking turnout rates is a challenge Accurate information on who votes in the United States is crucial for evaluating the quality of our democracy.…
Ideas
Explore insights, lessons, and resources from our work
Democracy Fund staff — alongside grantees, researchers, and other field experts — regularly develops resources and shares lessons on strengthening democracy. Here you will find guides, reports, and insights from our team and network.
September 10, 2025
Political violence has become all too common in America. It must be condemned absolutely and in no uncertain terms wherever it occurs. While full details…
September 4, 2025
In January, I published a pledge describing how I hoped Democracy Fund would approach the emergency facing our democracy. That pledge hangs above my desk.…
July 29, 2025
No matter their missions, nonprofits across every sector are experiencing heightened pressure. Democracy Fund's Kalpana Simhan and Dan Gurmankin explain how we’re charting new territory to…
External Content
How BIPOC-Led Philanthropy Is Rising to the Challenge
June 23, 2025
BIPOC-led philanthropy is leading the way to transform giving, invest where it matters, and respond to the ever-changing landscape of pro-democracy funding, Democracy Fund's Lauren…
Blog
Authoritarian Playbook in Play: What Funders Need to Know About Domestic Deployment of the Military
June 20, 2025
The recent deployment of the United States Marines and National Guard to Los Angeles is a new stage in the democratic backsliding of our country.…
June 14, 2025
We are devastated by the tragic loss of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and we hope for the swift recovery of…
May 8, 2025
The social sector needs new models for understanding what impact might be possible when systems fall apart. Read the full article at Stanford Social Innovation…
Blog
How All by April Improved 2024 Election Funding — and How Nonprofits Say Philanthropy Can Go Further
April 24, 2025
In early 2024, Democracy Fund launched the successful All by April campaign, urging funders to make nonpartisan election-related grants by the end of April. We…
Announcement
Authoritarian Attacks on Philanthropy are Coming. Here’s How We Can Stand Strong for Our Grantee Partners.
April 10, 2025
These are scary times — by design. Authoritarians are using a deliberate strategy meant to instill fear, suppress dissent, and fracture civil society. We know…
March 27, 2025
Will philanthropy rise to the occasion? It’s a question many are asking just a few months into this new era in which Americans are seeing…
March 19, 2025
Our people are at the core of living our mission every day — and we are excited to announce a new member of our board…
January 30, 2025
Local news has a growing need for robust infrastructure. As authoritarian movements threaten journalists and pro-democratic news organizations, better infrastructure can strengthen existing newsrooms, provide…
January 17, 2025
Inside Philanthropy’s choice to recognize the success of last year’s All by April campaign by naming me “Foundation Leader of the Year” was a surprising…
December 16, 2024
I want to end the year on a note of gratitude and pride for the many ways our community came together to defend and advance…
November 7, 2024
As a leader of a foundation committed to a more inclusive multiracial democracy, I want to acknowledge the pain, fear, and exhaustion that so many…
October 30, 2024
We are just one week away from Election Day in the U.S., and in this week, good information matters more than ever — from coverage…
October 29, 2024
We are seven days away from the 2024 election. You can feel the combination of excitement, anxiety, and fatigue in the air. In any given…
October 24, 2024
The 2024 election cycle, marked by disinformation and the spread of authoritarian rhetoric, has exposed the deep polarization in American society. While the divisions in…
October 15, 2024
Studies have long demonstrated that strong local journalism can encourage higher voter turnout, counter polarizing narratives, expose corruption, and lead to people feeling a strong…