$60M Ford Foundation democracy push expands support for voting rights and civic trust initiatives

The Ford Foundation has announced $60 million in new funding to strengthen democracy by supporting voting rights, civic participation, and rule-of-law initiatives through nonpartisan organizations. The New York-based foundation is deploying the multiyear commitment across grantees focused on protecting election integrity, countering polarization, and reinforcing civic infrastructure in the United States and beyond. The investment expands its broader democracy portfolio aimed at safeguarding free and fair elections and improving trust in institutions. Ford president Heather Gerken aligns the fund with the wider philanthropic push to stabilize democratic systems amid rising political fragmentation and election stress.