Democracy Fund Voice Inc
Democracy Fund Voice Inc is a Washington, DC–based organization established in 2014 to conduct and support advocacy for an inclusive, multiracial democracy. It supports organizations working to counter threats to democracy, build people’s power to shape their communities, and advance a democracy that works for everyone. Its filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
Key facts about Democracy Fund Voice Inc
In short: Democracy Fund Voice Inc gave $12.6M across 50 grants in 2024 (avg $252K), top state District of Columbia. 53% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 46-5051755
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,591,041
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- Average grant
- $251,821
- Median grant
- $200,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (25 of 47, 2024)
- Total assets
- $16,389,132
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$16.4M
-19.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.6M
-8.8% YoY
Grant Count
50
-10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$252K
+2.2% YoY
Is Democracy Fund Voice Inc open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 25 of 47 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $216K; repeat grants $327K. How we count
Medians: $200K first-time, $300K repeat.
- 43% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to conduct and support advocacy that will produce a stronger, healthier democracy in the United States. Its work includes support for organizations pursuing political and legislative strategies to block abuses of power and build democratic resilience, strengthen communities’ power to push for systemic change, and reimagine democracy. It also engages in direct advocacy.
The organization identifies four program areas:
- Free and Fair Elections: Supports groups empowering communities and strengthening election infrastructure.
- Vibrant and Diverse Public Square: Invests in organizations and leaders working to make accurate, accessible information available to communities.
- Representative and Accountable Governance: Seeks to defend against threats to democracy and advance structural changes that shift power to the people.
- Just and Inclusive Society: Elevates intersectional movements supporting refugees, migrants, and communities of color.
Examples of supported organizations reflect a range of missions. Common Defense Civic Engagement says it promotes civic engagement among veterans and military families. Local Progress Policy Action describes itself as a movement of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda. Ballot Initiative Strategy Center says it conducts research on public attitudes and the role ballot measures play in democracy. Defending Democracy Together says it works to protect and defend democratic norms and institutions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Democracy Fund Voice reported 50 grants totaling **$12,591,041**. Grant amounts ranged from **$30,000 to $825,000**, with a median of **$200,000**.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in the District of Columbia received 41% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 19%, California at 8%, Virginia at 3%, and Illinois at 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $12.6M (2024) to $13.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 50 grants totaling $12.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc ($1.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
256 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 134 grants of 256 (52%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc New York, NY | Program support for More Equitable Democracy Action | $825,000 |
| Campaign for Community Change Washington, DC | Program support for Fight Back Table Action | $793,041 |
| Common Defense Civic Engagement New York, NY | General support | $770,000 |
| Local Progress Policy Action Washington, DC | General support | $700,000 |
| Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Inc Washington, DC | General support | $500,000 |
| Field Foundation of Illinois Inc Chicago, IL | Program support for the Journalism & Storytelling Portfolio | $400,000 |
| Tides Advocacy San Francisco, CA | Program support for Center for Ballot Freedom | $400,000 |
| Public Citizen Inc Washington, DC | Program support for Democracy Protection program | $375,000 |
| Defending Democracy Together Washington, DC | General support | $350,000 |
| Right to Democracy Action Washington, DC | General support | $350,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,389,132 | $13,312,671 | $16,867,909 | $12,591,041 | 50 |
| 2023 | $20,306,508 | $28,799,967 | $20,332,900 | $13,803,000 | 56 |
| 2022 | $9,579,184 | $23,547,364 | $18,719,284 | $13,270,000 | 56 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,389,132 | $20,306,508 | $9,579,184 |
| Revenue | $13,312,671 | $28,799,967 | $23,547,364 |
| Expenses | $16,867,909 | $20,332,900 | $18,719,284 |
| Net Investment Income | $247,971 | $300,186 | $-493,735 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patricia L Christen as Chairman; Robinson Jacobs and K Sabeel Rahman as Directors; and Joseph Goldman as President & CEO. It also lists Deepa Isac as General Counsel & Secretary, Robin Thompson as Treasurer & Senior Director of Finance, Thomas Glaisyer as Executive Advisor, Laura Chambers as Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Reed as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, and Lara Flint as Managing Program Director.
Democracy Fund Voice Inc is led by Joseph Goldman, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph Goldman
President & CEO
President & CEO → President, 2021
President → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia L Christen
Chairman
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lara Flint
Managing Program Director
Managing Director & Programs → Managing Program Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Thompson
Treasurer & Senior Director of Finance
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robinson Jacobs
Director
On filings since 2023
2.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
K Sabeel Rahman
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sanjiv Rao
Managing Program Director
New on the 2024 filing
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Chambers
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Glaisyer
Executive Advisor
Managing Director & Programs → Managing Program Director, 2023
Managing Program Director → Executive Advisor, 2024
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deepa Isac
General Counsel & Secretary
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Reed
Deputy Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Lauren Strayer (2020–2023) — Managing Communications Director
- Former: Stacy Donohue (2020–2023) — Director · Filing note: Through March
- Former: Deepak Bhargava (2023) — Director · Filing note: As of March
- Former: Jeff Alvord (2023) — Director · Filing note: Through March
- Former: Jeffrey Alvord (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Adam Ambrogi (2020–2021) — Program Director
- Former: Isaiah Castilla (2020–2021) — General Counsel & Secretary
- Former: Pierre Omidyar (2020–2021) — Chairman
- Former: Lindsay Daniels (2020) — Program Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 1200 17Th St Nw 300, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 420-7943
Website: https://democracyfundvoice.org
Frequently asked questions about Democracy Fund Voice Inc
How much does Democracy Fund Voice Inc give each year?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc gave $12.6M across 50 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $13.8M across 56 grants.
What is Democracy Fund Voice Inc's typical grant size?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $251,821, across 50 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Democracy Fund Voice Inc that year got $216K on average.
Where does Democracy Fund Voice Inc give grants?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were New York (19%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (18 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Democracy Fund Voice Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Democracy Fund Voice Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Democracy Fund Voice Inc's largest grantees?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc's largest 2024 grantees include NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc ($1,025,000 across 2 grants), Common Defense Civic Engagement ($800,000 across 2 grants) and Campaign for Community Change ($793,041), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Democracy Fund Voice Inc?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc reported $16.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $13.3M.
What does Democracy Fund Voice Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to conduct and support advocacy that will produce a stronger, healthier democracy in the United States. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Democracy Fund Voice Inc?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check democracyfundvoice.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Democracy Fund Voice Inc's EIN?
Democracy Fund Voice Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5051755. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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