Funding search
Find who already funds work like yours.
Private foundations don’t post open calls, so nobody can search them. We read IRS filings instead — 9.6 million grants from 174,053 foundations and grantmaking charities, searchable by what the money was actually for.
12 funders with a record of paying for “democratic”
Where the money went
Largest: $500,000 to WINDWARD FUND — support to protect and expand democratic systems - heartland fund
Largest: $2.1M to CENTRAL EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY — to support the establishment of the osun forum on democracy & development, a collaborative research platform structured around five thematic hubs centered on critical themes pertai…
Largest: $1.0M to SOUTHERN AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY AND RESEARCH — core support for the democratic governance project to advance democratic governance and delivery by the government of zambia and to strengthen the capacities of public economic ins…
Freedom HouseWashington, DCCharity · may take applications
54 matching grants · $123.7M · through 2024Largest: $250,168 to FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT — supporting human rights, democratic initiatives and/or rule of law
National Endowment for DemocracyWashington, DCCharity · may take applications
36 matching grants · $210.6M · through 2023Largest: $34.1M to NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS — education, communication, & culture + democratic governance & political parties
Largest: $370,000 to University of Minnesota Foundation — to support the center for urban and regional affairs community programs to nourish an ecosystem for reparative policy change through data, research, organizing, and leadership deve…
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of AmericaWashington, DCCharity · may take applications
23 matching grants · $2.4M · through 2024Largest: $375,000 to Democratic Governors Association — political contribution
Largest: $100,000 to CASIMIR PULASKI FOUNDATION — to produce and disseminate research and educational materials to support ukraine's european integration, foster european union and ukraine relations and address the eu accession co…
Largest: $500,000 to NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL — for support of gender, women and democracy work
Largest: $961,368 to EMPOWERS AFRICA — to support the general operations of virunga national park, democratic republic of congo.
Largest: $143,051 to CLARK UNIVERSITY — 82475 expanding the study of how 501(c)(3)-(c)(4) hybrid organizations build community power, enhance leadership, and strengthen democratic processes
Edison Electric InstituteWashington, DCCharity · may take applications
15 matching grants · $610,000 · through 2024Largest: $125,000 to DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION — contribution/program support
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Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV and Form 990 Schedule I, tax years 2019–2025. These are grants already paid, a record of what an organization funds rather than an open call. Private foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications and the route in is usually a program officer; grantmaking charities and associations more often run real application cycles, so check their website. How this data is built, and its limits →