U.S. Democracy

Program Overview

We make grants to strengthen our shared national community through nonpartisan support for our governing institutions. In doing so, we seek to build public trust in a durable democracy where all Americans have a meaningful opportunity to thrive. In 2024, the program awarded $48M through 123 grants.

Grants

Priorities

Improve and modernize the way the executive branch and Congress function so our government works better for all Americans.
Ensure the federal government can attract and retain a committed, talented workforce that is representative of all the country’s citizens in a reformed civil service.
Strengthen local and state elections infrastructure to ensure all eligible voters can readily and securely cast a ballot.
Support the development of policies and practices that build trust in elections.

Strategies

National Governing Institutions

Our National Governing Institutions strategy seeks to improve the functioning of our nation’s legislative and executive branches so that our federal government works better for all Americans.

The people most affected by the shortcomings in our governing institutions are those with lower incomes, in small towns and big cities alike, who are least able to bear the burden of ineffective government. Our grantmaking supports organizations working to foster more nimble, efficient, and well-managed governing institutions that can make and administer laws and policies that reflect and respect dialogue across difference, represent the people’s preferences, and are responsive to their needs.

Read the strategy

Trustworthy Elections

Our Trustworthy Elections strategy makes grants to ensure that U.S. elections are secure, accessible, and worthy of the public’s trust.

We support professionally managed elections in which officials are equipped to communicate effectively with the public, every eligible voter can readily access trusted election information and easily cast a ballot, and in which all citizens both believe and abide by the results of free and fair elections.

Read the strategy