Park Foundation Grants: Civic Participation

The Park Foundation Grants for Civic Participation aim to enhance democracy through active civic engagement. Focused on mobilizing voters and protecting their rights, this program supports grassroots organizations addressing social injustices. By fostering year-round involvement rather than just election-focused efforts, the foundation seeks to empower communities and ensure robust participation in the democratic process, ultimately contributing to a more equitable society.

NOTE: Prospective applicants may want to consider submitting a Letter of Inquiry as a preliminary step before submitting a full proposal.  Letters of Inquiry (LOI) are accepted at any time. Once an LOI is submitted, please do not submit a full proposal unless contacted by a staff member. If you have recently (within the last year or two) received a grant from Park Foundation, it is not necessary to submit an LOI before submitting a renewal proposal.
We are principled, strategic and fearless in our grantmaking, collaborative with our partners, and nimble and innovative in our approach.
Our Funding Priorities
The Park Foundation funds a variety of non-profit partners, from local Tompkins County grassroots programs to initiatives with national impact.
EnvironmentCivic ParticipationMediaDemocracyCommunity NeedsSustainable IthacaAnimal WelfareSchool Food & Nutrition
The Civic Participation Program supports the implementation of democracy through exercise of the franchise and other direct forms of civic involvement.
The focus is not just on elections, but on how the vote can affect issues people care deeply about. Addressing racial, environmental, and economic injustice requires responsive elected leadership, which in turn depends on robust and widespread involvement by the electorate.
Priorities include support for:

• state-based organizations that are educating, motivating, and mobilizing voters
• national and state groups protecting voters' rights and election integrity
• groups thwarting attempts to suppress participation in the democratic process

This program supports year-round work to mobilize active engagement, not limited to election-season get-out-the-vote campaigns. This program does not fund academic research, tech development, book projects, individual fellowships, or programs and conferences unrelated to on-the-ground organizing.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations must be classified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.Unless you have a fiscal sponsor, your organization must be recognized as a 501(c)3 or 509(a)2 under IRS guidelines. In addition, as a private foundation, we may not grant to an organization for a total of more than two-thirds of its annual budget (see "public support test" under IRS guidelines). This program supports year-round work to mobilize active engagement, not limited to election-season get-out-the-vote campaigns.

Ineligibility

This program does not fund academic research, tech development, book projects, individual fellowships, or programs and conferences unrelated to on-the-ground organizing.