Democracy Fund Inc. is a private corporation based in WASHINGTON, DC. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2024. It holds total assets of $15.8M. Annual income is reported at $99.4M. Free and Fair ElectionsVoting is the single most significant way Americans exercise our political power. Every eligible citizen should have an equal opportunity to participate in elections that are free and fair, as well as efficient and secure. Implementing accessible and trustworthy elections is an immense undertaking, but the American election system is also challenged by persistent barriers to voting for historically excluded communities and beset by unprecedented new threats. Our Elections program works toward a strong and modern voting system that increases voter confidence and engagement. According to available records, Democracy Fund Inc. has made 1,753 grants totaling $310.5M, with a median grant of $125K. Annual giving has grown from $33.8M in 2018 to $48.4M in 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2020 with $98.1M distributed across 618 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $3K to $1.5M, with an average award of $179K. The foundation has supported 407 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in District of Columbia, New York, California, which account for 61% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 39 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
Elections and VotingVoting is one of the most significant ways for people in the United States to participate in democracy. But our voting system wasn't built to support equitable participation. To develop a free, fair, and equitable election system, our Elections program supports those who are building voting power in their communities, while strengthening our election infrastructure to promote an election system that consistently produces trusted results, fairly represents the majority of voters, and makes equitable participation possible.
Expenses: $2.4M
Vibrant and Diverse Public Square ProgramReliable information is getting harder to find, leading to less informed voters and greater threats to democracy. To increase civic participation, the Public Square program invests in organizations and leaders who believe in the power of accurate and accessible information as a force for justice and democracy and work to ensure communities have access to the information they need, online and offline.
Expenses: $2.2M
Representative and Accountable GovernanceIn a healthy democracy, government institutions and officials work in service of all constituents and welcome different points of view. Governance strategies seek to strengthen the pro-democracy movement, defend against authoritarian threats, and advance long-term, structural change by shifting power to the people and away from a select few. This work requires a long-term, thoughtful approach that recognizes that anti-democratic practices aren't confined to specific geographic locations or people.
Expenses: $1.8M
Just and Inclusive SocietyPolitical and climate crises are forcing people to relocate, with communities of color disproportionately affected. The Just and Inclusive Society program works to ensure migrant and refugee communities in the United States have the resources to build and lead an intersectional social movement that protects their rights and addresses global threats.
Expenses: $1M
Free and Fair ElectionsVoting is the single most significant way Americans exercise our political power. Every eligible citizen should have an equal opportunity to participate in elections that are free and fair, as well as efficient and secure. Implementing accessible and trustworthy elections is an immense undertaking, but the American election system is also challenged by persistent barriers to voting for historically excluded communities and beset by unprecedented new threats. Our Elections program works toward a strong and modern voting system that increases voter confidence and engagement. Based on available records, the foundation has funded 1,753 grants. Its grantmaking reaches organizations primarily in DC, NY, CA.
Democracy Fund Inc. has distributed a total of $310.5M across 1,753 grants. The median grant size is $125K, with an average of $179K. Individual grants have ranged from $3K to $1.5M.
Democracy Fund Inc. typically selects its grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Democracy Fund Inc. is headquartered in WASHINGTON, DC. While based in DC, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 39 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Goldman | President & CEO | $522K | $55K | $577K |
| Deepa Isac | General Counsel & Secretary | $294K | $37K | $331K |
| Robin Thompson | Treasurer & Senior Director of Finance | $230K | $33K | $263K |
| K Sabeel Rahman As Of March | Director | $20K | $0 | $20K |
| Danielle Allen As Of March | Director | $20K | $0 | $20K |
Total Giving
$100M
Total Assets
$25.6M
Fair Market Value
$25.6M
Net Worth
$-18,235,589
Grants Paid
$77.2M
Contributions
$0
Net Investment Income
$2.5M
Distribution Amount
$0
Total Grants
1,753
Total Giving
$310.5M
Average Grant
$179K
Median Grant
$125K
Unique Recipients
407
Most Common Grant
$100K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Venture FundProgram support for Trusted Elections Fund | Washington, DC | $1.5M | 2023 |
| Borealis PhilanthropyProgram support for the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund | Minneapolis, MN | $1.2M | 2023 |
| Lawyers' Committee For Civil Rights Under LawGeneral support | Washington, DC | $900K | 2023 |
| JustfundusProgram support to increase equity and efficiency in grantmaking processes | Oakland, CA | $890K | 2023 |
| The Project On Government Oversight IncGeneral support | Washington, DC |
| Patricia Christen | Chairman | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Crystal Hayling As Of March | Director | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Sarah Steven Through October | Director | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 2018 | 990PF | View |
| 2017 | 990PF | View |
| 2016 | 990PF | View |
| 2015 | 990PF | View |
| $800K |
| 2023 |
| People'S Action InstituteGeneral support | Chicago, IL | $750K | 2023 |
| Free PressGeneral support | Washington, DC | $700K | 2023 |
| Protect Democracy ProjectGeneral support | Washington, DC | $650K | 2023 |
| Kairos Fellowship IncGeneral support | New York, NY | $600K | 2023 |
| Tides FoundationProgram support for FRIDA Young Feminist Fund | San Francisco, CA | $530K | 2023 |
| Voter Registration ProjectGeneral support | Washington, DC | $500K | 2023 |
| The Miami Foundation IncProgram support for NewsMatch | Miami, FL | $500K | 2023 |
| Georgetown UniversityProgram support for the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection | Washington, DC | $500K | 2023 |
| Center For Media JusticeGeneral support | Oakland, CA | $450K | 2023 |
| Partnership For Public Service IncGeneral support | Washington, DC | $450K | 2023 |
| Check My Ads InstituteGeneral support | Washington, DC | $450K | 2023 |
| Action Center On Race And The Economy InstituteGeneral support | Chicago, IL | $400K | 2023 |
| Public KnowledgeGeneral support | Washington, DC | $400K | 2023 |
| Proteus Fund IncProgram support for Rise Together Fund | Amherst, MA | $400K | 2023 |
| State Power FundProgram support to help social justice organizations develop new revenue streams | Kent, OH | $400K | 2023 |
| Santa Fe Community FoundationProgram support for New Mexico Local News Fund | Santa Fe, NM | $375K | 2023 |
| Neo Philanthropy IncProgram support for North Carolina Local News Lab Fund | New York, NY | $375K | 2023 |
| Multicultural Media & Correspondents AssociationGeneral support | Washington, DC | $375K | 2023 |
| Rural Digital Youth Resiliency Project IncGeneral support | Morgantown, WV | $360K | 2023 |
| Democracy 21 Education FundProgram support for the Democracy Legal Strike Force project | Washington, DC | $350K | 2023 |
| Democracy Forward FoundationGeneral support | Washington, DC | $325K | 2023 |
| Massachusetts Institute Of TechnologyProgram support for the Election Data and Science Lab | Cambridge, MA | $300K | 2023 |
| Ayni Institute IncGeneral support | East Boston, MA | $300K | 2023 |
| Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law CaucusGeneral support | San Francisco, CA | $300K | 2023 |
| George Washington UniversityProgram support for the Multiracial Democracy Project | Washington, DC | $300K | 2023 |
| Institute For Nonprofit NewsGeneral support | Beverly Hills, CA | $300K | 2023 |
| Tides CenterProgram support for Democracy Revival Center | San Francisco, CA | $300K | 2023 |
| Montclair State University Foundation IncProject support for Center for Cooperative Media | Montclair, NJ | $300K | 2023 |
| Bend The Arc A Jewish Partnership For JusticeProgram support for Funders' Collaborative on Youth Organizing | New York, NY | $300K | 2023 |
| Upturn IncGeneral support | Washington, DC | $300K | 2023 |
| President And Fellows Of Harvard CollegeProgram support for the Guinier Project | Cambridge, MA | $300K | 2023 |
| Bold ImpactGeneral support | Woodbridge, VA | $300K | 2023 |
| League Of Women Voters Education FundProgram support to build a stronger network of 501(c)(3) Leagues | Washington, DC | $300K | 2023 |
| Rose Community FoundationProgram support for Colorado Media Project | Denver, CO | $300K | 2023 |
| Common Cause Education FundGeneral support | Washington, DC | $300K | 2023 |
| Allied Media Projects IncProgram support for Detroit Community Tech Project | Detroit, MI | $300K | 2023 |
| Democracy Works IncGeneral support | Brooklyn, NY | $300K | 2023 |
| American Oversight IncGeneral support | Washington, DC | $250K | 2023 |
| Foundation For Minority Interests In Media IncGeneral support | New York, NY | $250K | 2023 |
| Informing Democracy Education FundGeneral support | Groton, CT | $250K | 2023 |
| Hope Community Center IncGeneral support | Apopka, FL | $250K | 2023 |
| Faith In Action NetworkGeneral support | Washington, DC | $250K | 2023 |
| Union Of Concerned Scientists IncProgram support for the Center for Science and Democracy | Cambridge, MA | $250K | 2023 |
| Defending Democracy Together InstituteProgram support for the Pillars of the Community project | Washington, DC | $250K | 2023 |
| State Leadership ProjectProgram support to bring new funders to the democracy and civic engagement fields. | Raleigh, NC | $250K | 2023 |
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