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Democracy and Rule of Law

Upholding the rule of law, the premise that we all play by the same rules and get equal opportunity in return, is a shared responsibility. We support the people, ensuring everyone can access and shape the laws governing their lives.

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A low-angle shot of a grand architectural dome featuring an intricate, coffered ceiling with teal and gold floral patterns. A large semi-circular arched window with a geometric metal grid looks out to a soft sky. — Getty

Featured Stories

A stylized, blue-tinted image of the U.S. Supreme Court building set against dramatic black and white halftone clouds. The graphic illustrates the judicial branch, constitutional law, and legal rulings, representing the Ford Foundation's analysis of critical court decisions impacting democracy.

In the press – Chronicle of Philanthropy 14 April 2026

Why the Ford Foundation Has Committed $60M in New Funding to Protect Elections

Ford’s new leader, Heather Gerken, a constitutional law scholar, outlines a grant-making strategy designed to battle polarization’s gale-force winds.

A line of people waiting to enter a room, viewed from behind. This image represents voter participation, civic engagement, and democratic access, illustrating the Ford Foundation's commitment to strengthening democracy through new funding for inclusive representation and social justice initiatives.

News 14 April 2026

Ford Foundation Adds $60 Million in New Funding to Strengthen Democracy

Ford Foundation announced additional grants to nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations protecting and advancing democracy and the rule of law in the United States.

A group of nine smiling individuals place their hands together in a central huddle indoors. This image captures community building, collective action, and local civic engagement, illustrating the "infrastructure of trust" within rural American grassroots democracy movements.

Stories 18 March 2026

The Infrastructure of Trust: How Local Civic Hubs Are Rebuilding Democracy Across Rural America

Trust for Civic Life invests in civic hubs–locally led organizations that allow communities to come together– to rebuild trust and strengthen democracy across the U.S. Heartland.

Big Ideas 26 March 2026

The National Women’s Law Center

A legal organization advocates for equal pay for women and closing the wage gap across America.

Young people play soccer on a field in Blinkpan, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The nearby coal mine Koornfontein was closed, leaving many people unemployed. — Getty

Communities Powering a Just Energy Transition

Ford grantees in South Africa, Indonesia, and Colombia are leading solutions that demonstrate it’s possible for the energy transition to expand access to quality jobs, make energy more affordable and support communities to build economic futures on their own terms.

Learn about the solutions