MacArthur Foundation Commits $100 Million to Protect U.S. Democracy
March 25, 2026 · 2 min read
Arthur Griffin
The MacArthur Foundation announced a $100 million commitment on March 12 to fund nonpartisan organizations working to protect democratic institutions in the United States. The initiative represents one of the largest single philanthropic investments in democracy protection this year, with initial grants already distributed and an open application process planned for later in 2026.
Where the First Grants Are Going
Seven organizations received the first round of funding:
- Campaign Legal Center — $10 million
- Democracy Forward Foundation — $10 million
- PolicyLink — $5 million
- Issue One — $4 million
- Defending Democracy Together Institute — $3.25 million
- The Heartland Fund's Rural Democracy Initiative — $1 million
- State Infrastructure Fund (NEO Philanthropy) — $1 million
The grants support work across voting rights, election safety, civic engagement, civil and human rights, and rule-of-law protections. MacArthur specifically emphasized "nonpartisan" organizations, signaling that ideologically neutral civic infrastructure is the priority.
An Open Call Is Coming
MacArthur stated it will "share more later this year about an open call to apply for funding to support projects that help protect our democracy." No application portal is live yet, but nonprofits working in election integrity, voter access, civic education, and rights protection should begin preparing proposals now.
The foundation's decision to front-load major grants while planning an open solicitation follows a pattern seen across philanthropy in 2026: large foundations are moving faster and deploying bigger checks as multiple funders mobilize around election integrity ahead of the 2026 midterms.
What Nonprofits Should Do Now
Organizations aligned with MacArthur's priority areas—particularly those with demonstrated track records in nonpartisan civic work—should monitor the MacArthur Foundation grants page for the open call announcement. Building a documented impact record and establishing referral networks with current grantees will strengthen future applications.
For ongoing tracking of foundation funding announcements and deadline alerts, visit the Granted blog for in-depth coverage.