As we head toward November, communities across the Bay Area are thinking about what comes next. For some donors, that means helping neighbors get to the polls. For others, it’s about making sure our elections run smoothly and fairly, no matter who wins. Whatever draws you in, your support today can help strengthen the systems we all rely on — now, and in the months after Election Day.
For donors ready to protect democracy, San Francisco Foundation is highlighting two philanthropic intermediaries: Movement Voter Fund and Moxie Fund. Intermediaries are organizations that draw on broad knowledge of the field and relationships with nonprofits on the ground to direct donor resources where they can have the greatest impact as needs evolve.
These strategies were at the center of SFF’s recent Donor Dialogue, which brought donors together with Jason Franklin of Ktisis Capital, Jenny Flanagan of the Moxie Fund, and Beth Huang of the Movement Voter Fund. The conversation highlighted both the range of work required to strengthen democracy and the challenge of navigating a complex, rapidly changing landscape.
One of the clearest takeaways was a framework for understanding where nonpartisan charitable dollars can support democracy. Jason Franklin outlined six interconnected areas:
- Free and fair elections
- Nonpartisan accountability and the rule of law
- Defense of civil society
- Mass organizing and training
- Local and digital media
- Big-tent strategies that bring people and institutions together across differences
These areas reinforce one another, and the breadth of this work is one reason intermediaries can be especially useful. They combine a national view of the field with relationships and expertise on the ground, helping them identify emerging needs and move funding strategically. For Bay Area donors, that broader perspective can also help connect local and California giving to what is happening across the wider democracy ecosystem.
Movement Voter Fund is especially relevant to the immediate need for voter mobilization. It invests in local organizing and movement-building organizations, helping groups mobilize voters, develop local leaders, strengthen their organizations through training and technical assistance, and reach people through digital organizing and trusted messengers. As Beth Huang told participants at the Donor Dialogue, “We can’t just buy trust overnight.” Those relationships are built through sustained engagement with communities over time.
Moxie Fund, a nonpartisan pooled fund, supports complementary work to protect elections, strengthen nonpartisan accountability, and defend civil society. Its grants support legal preparedness, watchdog efforts, communications, and safety for civic leaders and organizations.
The need for this work will continue after November as organizations respond to post-election developments and sustain the relationships and infrastructure that support civic participation over the longer term.
Ready to act? Log in to Donor Center to recommend a grant to Movement Voter Fund or Moxie Fund.
For tailored recommendations based on the issues, communities, places, or democracy strategies you care about most, contact SFF’s Philanthropic Services team at 415-733-8590 or [email protected].
