The Ford Foundation has announced $60 million in new grants to support nonpartisan nonprofit organizations working to protect democracy and uphold the rule of law in the United States. The funding, released within the first 100 days of Heather Gerken’s presidency, aims to reinforce efforts to safeguard democratic systems and promote civic participation nationwide.
Over the past decade, the foundation’s Civic Engagement and Government program has distributed more than $1 billion to nonpartisan organizations across the country. This latest round of funding will support initiatives focused on increasing voter participation, ensuring fair election administration, and protecting voting rights across all 50 states.
Among the recipients are organizations such as Pillars of the Community, Veterans for All Voters, All Voting is Local, Campaign Legal Center, and We the Veterans Military Foundation. These groups represent a wide ideological spectrum and are engaged in efforts ranging from strengthening election integrity to encouraging civic engagement and leadership.
The funding includes targeted support for veterans and military-family-led initiatives aimed at building public confidence in elections and expanding opportunities for civic leadership. President Gerken allocated the funds from her presidential reserves, emphasizing the urgency of supporting organizations that uphold democratic values and processes.
Speaking on the initiative, Gerken highlighted the foundation’s long-standing commitment to democracy, noting that for nearly 90 years, the organization has worked to advance democratic principles. She emphasized that this latest investment reflects a continued effort to support critical work being carried out across the United States at a pivotal time.
One of the funded groups, Pillars of the Community, is led by election law experts Ben Ginsberg and Bob Bauer, who have formed a bipartisan partnership to strengthen trust in the electoral system. Their work focuses on supporting election officials and ensuring voters have confidence in how elections are conducted.
Veterans for All Voters, another key recipient, brings together a broad coalition of veterans working to reduce political polarization and protect voting rights. The organization engages veterans and military families in election processes, including serving as poll workers, while promoting civic responsibility and participation.
The Campaign Legal Center, founded by Trevor Potter, continues to advocate for policy reforms that expand access to voting and ensure a fair democratic process at federal, state, and local levels.
This latest grantmaking effort reinforces the Ford Foundation’s broader mission to defend democratic values and institutions. It also reflects a growing emphasis on supporting grassroots and nonpartisan organizations that play a critical role in maintaining the integrity and resilience of democratic systems in the United States.
