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.…
philanthropy
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.
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
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…
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 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…
October 14, 2024
Our grantees are in for the long haul. So are we.
October 10, 2024
Readers of this blog have undoubtedly heard of Project 2025 by now. The 900-page document has been widely criticized for its ambitious and extreme plans…
October 10, 2024
Americans have witnessed our democracy lurch from crisis to crisis in recent years. The stakes have become higher in each election, and our country remains…
October 9, 2024
Our grantees are on the frontlines of the 2024 election, doing everything they can to ensure free, fair, and representative elections for our country. We…
October 4, 2024
Earlier this year, Democracy Fund joined with funders from across the philanthropic community to commit to making their election-related grants by the end of April.…
October 3, 2024
In 2020, our Digital Democracy portfolio (DDP) wanted to find a way to learn more about our grantees’ challenges while also being mindful of their…
September 24, 2024
Not only are people from the U.S. territories unable to vote or access government benefits, they’re also largely ignored by grant makers.