Democracy Fund Relaunches 'All by April' to Front-Load Election Grants
March 24, 2026 · 2 min read
David Almeida
The Democracy Fund has relaunched its "All by April" campaign for the 2026 midterm cycle, calling on foundations and philanthropists to commit and distribute nonpartisan election funding before April — months earlier than the traditional philanthropy timeline.
The initiative, first launched in 2024, mobilized $155 million in new grants and accelerated payments to voting and civic engagement organizations. For 2026, the campaign aims to exceed that figure as election infrastructure faces new pressures in battleground states.
Why Early Funding Changes Outcomes
The premise behind All by April is straightforward: election-protection nonprofits need money before election season peaks, not during it. Late funding forces organizations into reactive hiring and compressed timelines that undermine program quality.
Democracy Fund President Joe Goldman has made the case bluntly: "We're really hoping to focus philanthropy's attention on the 2026 elections now — rather than the spring or summer, when effective, impactful giving is too late." Gilda Pedraza of the Latino Community Fund Georgia reinforced this, noting that receiving support six weeks before an election enables comprehensive planning that last-minute funding cannot.
About 20 philanthropy leaders have already agreed to make all or most of their grant commitments available by the end of April through the campaign.
Which Foundations Are Moving
The Movement Voter Fund, an independent fund within Tides Foundation, has committed $12 million to support voter education, staff hiring, and volunteer recruitment in Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Georgia. The Ford Foundation, under president Heather Gerken, maintains election protection as a strategic priority focused on securing election infrastructure.
The broader trend represents a philosophical shift: philanthropy is treating election protection less as emergency response and more as ongoing civic infrastructure.
What Nonprofits Should Do
Organizations working on voter education, election administration, or civic engagement should approach foundations participating in All by April now — before the window closes. The campaign's website at allbyapril.org lists participating funders. Deeper analysis of how philanthropic strategy is shifting is available on the Granted blog.