Фонды выделили миллионы долларов на укрепление демократии и повышение явки избирателей в Пенсильвании

As the site of where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed, Pennsylvania is often referred to as “the birthplace of American democracy.” It’s where the Gettysburg Address was delivered. It’s where the first daily newspaper was published and where the first commercial radio station went on the air. Today, it’s also an important swing state, carrying the most electoral votes of all the current battlegrounds. It’s no surprise, then, that Pennsylvania’s democracy organizations receive a substantial amount of funding from national philanthropies during election years. (Though as advocates often stress, funders need to support civic engagement and democracy early and year-round, and not just during election cycles.) The New York-based Scherman Foundation, for instance, names Pennsylvania as one of its democracy funding priorities. And intermediaries like NEO Philanthropy’s State Infrastructure Fund, Tides Foundation and the New Venture Fund have also directed millions of dollars to the state. This work appears to have been making a difference. Voter turnout in Pennsylvania has increased steadily since 2008, with a record-breaking 76.7% of all registered voters — and 69.1% of the voting age population — turning out for the 2024 election. There’s still a lot of work to be done in the state, including addressing racial and ethnic disparities in voter participation. While Black voter turnout in Pennsylvania is similar to — and has at times surpassed — that of white voters, Asian and Latino voters don’t turn out at higher rates. Only 49% of voting age Latino Pennsylvanians voted in the 2024 election compared to 71% of white Pennsylvanians. As important as support from national democracy funders can be in swing states like Pennsylvania, state-based funders are also key players. To that end, we take a non-exhaustive look at some of the Pennsylvania-based funders supporting democracy in the Keystone State. William Penn Foundation Based in Philadelphia, the William Penn Foundation has a dedicated Democracy and Civic Initiatives program, whose general goal is to enable more people, especially those from underrepresented communities, to participate in the democratic process and to find collaborative ways for funders to accelerate improvement. The program’s objectives include increasing voter participation, fair redistricting, census participation, and increasing confidence in a responsive local government. Since 2024, the foundation has awarded more than $7.3 million to advance voter participation in Pennsylvania. Some of its 2026 grantees include All Voting is Local, the Center for Empowered Politics Education, Democracy Works, Public Rights Project, A Healthier Democracy, Asian Americans United, and 1Hood Media Academy. The organizations’ work includes software to allow residents to apply more easily for vote-by-mail ballots, building sustained civic infrastructure, and voter outreach efforts. Critically, the William Penn Foundation also supports grantees that are working on election protection for this year’s midterms — an increasingly important area of democracy giving in an era of heightened threats, including potentially from the federal government itself. The Pittsburgh Foundation The Pittsburgh Foundation, a community foundation serving the greater Pittsburgh area, seeks to support civic participation and community organizing through its Equity and Social Justice grantmaking area. This foundation-directed funding includes a voter engagement strategy that aims to help nonprofit organizations engage eligible voters from historically underrepresented populations and communities that have low voter turnout. Critically, the time frame of this work extends beyond specific election cycles to ensure all voters have a voice in democracy at all levels. The foundation points out that voter suppression efforts have surged in recent years. As such, its work includes supporting voter access, including advancing reforms that protect existing voter rights and support inclusive ballot initiatives. It also supports nonpartisan voter education, including educating people about the electoral process, how governments work, the candidates, and relevant issues during election cycles; and nonpartisan registration and turnout, including GOTV, canvassing and initiatives to eliminate barriers to voting. Past grantees include 1Hood Media Academy, the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburg, Pittsburg Interfaith Impact, and the New PA Project Education Fund. The Heinz Endowments The Heinz Endowments, whose grantmaking focuses on southwestern Pennsylvania, has long supported democracy work. Through its now concluded Democracy and Civic Participation initiative, it funded things like voter education, voting rights, redistricting and election security, awarding more than $4.6 million. In 2025, Heinz launched its Civic Participation initiative, which is focusing on strengthening local democratic processes — or “everyday democracy” — rather than broader election work. Heinz plans to commit $7.4 million a year through at least 2031. The three core pillars of the new strategy are: building stronger civic infrastructure, helping local governments be more responsive, and increasing access to reliable journalism and information. “We believe healthy democracy begins in our neighborhoods and communities,” Heinz wrote, noting elsewhere that data has shown increasing mistrust in government institutions and polarization driving communities apart. However, data also shows that trust in local institutions, governments and media is high among people in southwestern Pennsylvania. Heinz hopes its shift to “everyday democracy” will strengthen collaborative local governance, and increase trust and belonging. Intermediaries and other funders The PA Alliance Foundation is a public charity and funding intermediary that focuses on civic engagement and advancing democracy across Pennsylvania, primarily through voter engagement, voter registration and voter education work. Its grants include 501c4 support. The Henry L. Hillman Foundation had a Strengthening Democracy portfolio supporting high-quality public media, increased civic engagement and participation, and encouraging policy progress and innovation across its other priority focus areas. Strengthening Democracy is no longer listed as one of Hillman’s “strategic portfolios,” but it did announce a $200,000 grant to the Committee of Seventy in 2025 for civic education. The HealthSpark Foundation is a private foundation in Greater Philadelphia’s Montgomery County. It has a Building Community Power Fund designed to help people in the county gain influence and control over the policies, programs and practices that impact their lives. Some of the activities the fund supports include providing nonpartisan voter education and registration, hosting educational or advocacy events, and creating educational materials to inform decision-makers and the public. There are several other funders to note in the state without specific democracy-related programs that nonetheless work toward civic engagement, civic information and other democracy-related issues. These include the Samuel S. Fels Fund, the POISE Foundation, the Bread & Roses Community Fund, the Philadelphia Health Partnership and the Philadelphia Foundation. Related Inside Philanthropy Resources: For Subscribers Only