In this refreshed democracy give guide, we recommend four nationally focused pooled funds, four California–focused organizations, and one local Bay Area fund. While several of these recommended organizations do have an affiliate 501(c)(4) organization, which donors are welcome to support via personal funds, SFF DAFs may only make gifts to 501(c)(3) public charities.
NATIONAL FOCUS
Resourcing key geographies to engage in this election:
Tides Foundation
The Tides Foundation hosts multiple high–impact nonpartisan pooled funds that support effective and strategic community organizations in this election cycle and beyond. The two we list below focus on the most federally relevant states in 2024, which include the presidential battleground states, US Senate priority states (Montana and Ohio), and organizations in regions with competitive US House races. Beyond this election cycle the funds support community organizations with year-round programs that build sustainable long-term power for civic engagement in these communities. Following are some of the strengths of each fund.
Movement Voter Fund supports a very wide range of primarily 501(c)(3) community organizations. MVF has specific funds for supporting organizations that specialize in LGBTQ+, Muslim & Arab communities, immigrants, and more in case donors are interested in specific constituencies.
Healthy Democracy Fund specializes in using charitable dollars to support 501(c)(4) community organizations’ nonpartisan voter engagement programs. This approach allows (c)(4) organizations to have greater flexibility and efficiency in how they deploy harder to come by (c)(4) resources. HDF is a major funder of the reproductive rights ballot measures in Nevada, Florida, Colorado, Missouri, and Montana. HDF can specialize in this very hands-on, complex grantmaking thanks to the Tides Foundation’s in-house compliance infrastructure.
Grantee: Tides Foundation
Purpose: for the [Movement Voter Fund OR Healthy Democracy Fund]. Choose one of these funds. If you would like to support both projects, please recommend a separate donation.
Organizing in rural America:
Heartland Fund
The Heartland Fund, a pooled donor fund hosted at the Windward Fund, focuses on nonpartisan voter engagement among rural voters, who are often overlooked by both political parties. This fund prioritizes grantmaking for organizing white working-class voters as well as communities of color in rural areas, towns, and small cities toward a multiracial democracy.
Grantee: Heartland Fund
Fiscal Sponsor: Windward Fund
Purpose: for the Heartland Fund.
Integrity in our voting systems:
Trusted Elections Fund
As we’ve learned over the past few elections cycles, America’s distributed and complex elections systems and the laws surrounding them have several vulnerabilities to attack and manipulation. Pro-democracy organizations are identifying these vulnerabilities and addressing them through scenario planning, policy advocacy, lawsuits, mass mobilization, and more.
Trusted Elections Fund, a pooled donor fund at the New Venture Fund, invests in key groups in the states and nationally that will serve as a bulwark against election sabotage; supports tracking and resilience work to lessen the impact of potential political violence; convenes the field to understand the most likely scenarios ahead and sets plans in motion to protect the 2024 election. At this stage, they are focused on rapid response grantmaking to address emerging crises.
Grantee: Trusted Elections Fund
Fiscal Sponsor: New Venture Fund
Purpose: for the Trusted Elections Fund.
CALIFORNIA FOCUS
Resourcing work at home that will make California a more equitable and inclusive home state:
Million Voters Project
The Million Voters Project, part of the California Calls Education Fund is a multiracial, multigenerational alliance that reaches out to millions of voters across the state. Since 2015, they have collectively built a base of nearly 2.1 million supportive voters and political infrastructure designed to win statewide and regional races. They organize Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Latinx, and young voters and employ voter outreach programs with cultural competency and in multiple languages. MVP works with its 120+ local affiliates and thousands of grassroots leaders to lead year-round organizing that builds political power in communities most impacted by economic and social inequality. Their year-round organizing work accelerates in election years, and ensures voters and residents are engaged beyond single election cycles.
Grantee: California Calls Education Fund
Purpose: for the Million Voters Project.
Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH)
Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) is a strong voice and advocate for affordable housing in the Bay Area and across the state. They have passed bills in Sacramento to make funding, land, and permit processes more accessible and available to build affordable housing across our state. NPH is one of the lead organizations advancing Prop 5: a statewide measure to update the threshold to pass local housing and infrastructure bonds to 55%, the same threshold as school funding measures.
Grantee: Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California
Purpose: for general support.
Bay Rising
Bay Rising, a project of the Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund, is a regional organization anchored by Oakland Rising, San Francisco Rising, and Silicon Valley Rising. Their collective constituencies include tens of thousands of low-income and working-class immigrant, Black, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities. They work to increase civic engagement, educate voters, build the capacity to run electoral campaigns, and develop local leaders. Bay Rising provides needed backbone infrastructure and coordination to local, grassroots community groups across our region- including narrative and leadership development. They recently launched an academy focused on co-governance to ensure progressive policies are not just successfully passed, but also successfully implemented. Bay Rising also pools resources and distributes them to affiliated networks (San Francisco Rising, Oakland Rising and Silicon Valley Rising) across the region.
Grantee: Bay Rising
Fiscal Sponsor: Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund
Purpose: for the Bay Rising project.
Faith in Action Bay Area
Faith in Action Bay Area is a network of congregations and community leaders working to uphold the dignity of all people. Focused on San Mateo and San Francisco counties, they work to develop shared leadership and move policies prioritized by their congregations, promote civic engagement, and lift up faith values to confront power and transform systems.
Grantee: Faith in Action Bay Area
Purpose: for general support.
Bay Area readiness for emergent post-election needs:
Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building
In the wake of the 2016 election, SFF launched our Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building. As we approach the 2024 election, the fund stands ready to address potential challenges that may emerge. This crucial resource provides swift financial support to frontline social justice organizations, empowering low-income residents and people of color to have their voices heard. The fund has distributed over $3 million meeting urgent local needs, and we are ready to respond, whether it’s mobilizing communities, shaping narratives, or supporting grassroots media efforts. Gifts to the RRF help foster resilience and promote equitable civic engagement in these critical times.
Grantee: San Francisco Foundation
Purpose: for general support of the SFF Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building (Fund 8396).
Take action beyond giving:
- Election Protection: 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline volunteering
- State Voices Texting Program
- Visiting neighboring states to engage voter turnout for reproductive justice:
