The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Gears Up for the Fall Election - Inside Philanthropy

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 Ayman Haykal/shutterstock The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is once again set to play a major role in pro-democracy funding in advance of the U.S. elections in 2024. It’s long been one of the largest funders in the ecosystem — it dispersed $96.9 million in democracy-related grants from 2014 to 2018 — and second only to the Ford Foundation when it comes to giving in the space. This year, it’s on track to move a fresh $45 million out the door to strengthen America’s electoral processes and governing institutions, according to US Democracy Program Director Ali Noorani . 

 A private foundation with an endowment of approximately $13 billion, Hewlett also long has been an influential thought leader in the field of democracy funding, which includes support for elections, civic participation and government performance. In 2014, it launched the Madison Initiative , which committed a total of $150 million to uphold key values of U.S. democracy, strengthen Congress as an institution and improve campaign finance and election processes to curb polarization . In 2020, that initiative was succeeded by the U.S. Democracy program, which effectively doubled down on two components of Hewlett’s previous work. 

 During a May conversation, Noorani walked IP through how that work has continued into 2024. The program’s first strategy, Trustworthy Elections , aims to “ensure officials execute elections so voters feel they are trustworthy, so they can take that experience and extrapolate to their perception of elections writ large,” he said. The program’s second strategy, National Governing Institutions , funds organizations that strengthen the machinery of government with the aim of promoting trust in government and democracy by improving citizen experiences with congressional constituent services, among other areas.

 The nonpartisan strategies are designed to complement each other and fortify the public’s faith in the country’s civic architecture over the long term. “The way I put it,” Noorani said, “is if somebody participates in an election they feel is trustworthy, and they see a national governing institution delivering on its needs, the virtuous cycle of liberal democracy lives to see another day.”

 Noorani joined Hewlett in 2022 after serving 14 years as president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, where he oversaw efforts to build coalitions around immigration reform . 

 “I came from a pretty complicated issue set, and this is certainly not puppies and babies in comparison,” he said. “What I’ve learned in this job is that it’s an incredibly complicated issue that requires a range of correct answers, and that means maintaining the diversity of the funding and organizational landscape.”

 Navigating the intersection of trust and faith 

 Hewlett’s Tru

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