Funding search · Social science
Foundations that fund democracy and civic engagement research
15 private foundations with a record of paying for democracy and civic engagement, taken from their IRS Form 990-PF filings. These are grants already made — evidence of what a funder backs, not an open call.
THE FORD FOUNDATION
114 grants · $26.9M · through 2023
Largest: $200,000 to TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE — core support for the center for information and research on civic learning and engagement to strengthen partnerships and youth-led civic engagement campaigns
IRS filings for EIN 131684331THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
103 grants · $30.3M · through 2023
Largest: $50,000 to HIP HOP CAUCUS EDUCATION FUND — promoting civic engagement and health in california: to support civic engagement capacity by strengthening the ability of new and infrequent young voters, particularly youth of color, to become engaged in civic participation and advocate for health-promoting policy, systems and environmental outcomes in california.
IRS filings for EIN 954523232CATENA FOUNDATION
65 grants · $17.5M · through 2023
Largest: $175,000 to ONE AMERICA MOVEMENT — civic engagement & protecting democracy - matthew 5:9 fellowship and general operating support
IRS filings for EIN 813783868THE GAP FOUNDATION
141 grants · $1.0M · through 2023
Largest: $50,000 to CIVIC SPACE FOUNDATION — for civic & community engagement
IRS filings for EIN 942474426THE SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION
50 grants · $14.0M · through 2023
Largest: $450,000 to INDIVISIBLE CIVICS — strengthening civic engagement
IRS filings for EIN 204170342FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY
56 grants · $20.7M · through 2023
Largest: $500,000 to NEO PHILANTHROPY INC — to support the civic engagement research and dissemination hub, a fiscally sponsored project of the grantee that provides support for non-partisan civic engagement research and analysis, especially related to historically marginalized communities
IRS filings for EIN 263753801THE HEARTHLAND FOUNDATION
36 grants · $13.9M · through 2023
Largest: $250,000 to NEW VENTURE FUND (VOTING RIGHTS LAB C3) — civic engagement & gotv
IRS filings for EIN 954016320MURRAY AND AGNES SEASONGOOD
49 grants · $533,861 · through 2024
Largest: $30,000 to CORNERSTONE RENTER EQUITY — civic engagement
IRS filings for EIN 311220827POPPLESTONE FOUNDATION
28 grants · $66.6M · through 2023
Largest: $750,000 to SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC — democracy & civic engagement - supporting voting rights & civic engagement
IRS filings for EIN 043528004NAOMI AND NEHEMIAH COHEN FOUNDATION
34 grants · $2.2M · through 2023
Largest: $50,000 to ROCK THE VOTE — civic engagement
IRS filings for EIN 201135004WK Kellogg Foundation
30 grants · $5.8M · through 2022
Largest: $450,000 to MISSISSIPPI VOTES — provide general operating support to help the organization advance its mission of cultivating and encouraging a culture of civic engagement, empowering young people, and educating communities on voting rights through place-based grassroots organizing
IRS filings for EIN 381359264WELLSPRING PHILANTHROPIC FUND INC
30 grants · $18.4M · through 2022
Largest: $1.0M to ACCELERATE CHANGE INC — digital civic engagement innovation and research project
IRS filings for EIN 223692921The McKnight Foundation
29 grants · $1.9M · through 2023
Largest: $125,000 to African Career Education and Resources — for general operating support - acer promotes racial and economic equity, empowering african diaspora and bipoc communities, and addressing disparities in housing, health, civic engagement, and community development.
IRS filings for EIN 410754835THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS
31 grants · $3.2M · through 2023
Largest: $95,000 to FAIR ELECTIONS CENTER — to help colleges and universities in the region build strong cultures of voting and civic engagement for young people and to monitor and litigate voting rights laws
IRS filings for EIN 251721100John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)
24 grants · $9.9M · through 2023
Largest: $300,000 to New Venture Fund — in support of its project aapi civic engagement fund
IRS filings for EIN 237093598
This page is one keyword. PaperOrbit reads your actual paper — population, methods, outcomes — and searches on all of it, then explains why each funder fits.
Start with one paperSource: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, filing years 2019–2023. Foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.