There is growing agreement in philanthropy that democracy must deliver for all people and be relevant to their daily lives. But what does that mean–and how do you fund it?

Across the field, many funders are actively grappling with these questions. Fortunately, deep, practical wisdom exists within the PACE network that we can tap into.

On July 28, 2026, PACE hosted a funders-only virtual conversation with two members who have experience grantmaking to support local government so that it can be responsive, effective, and worthy of public trust:

Attendees heard them unpack their strategies, partners, challenges, and results and engage with questions like:

• What does it mean for democracy to deliver for people? What metrics do you pay attention to locally? What are your go-to resources for getting smart in this area?

• How do you fund it at the local level? How do you build institutional support for this work?

• What have you found hard about funding in this area? What has surprised you in a good way?

• Distrust in government is on the rise and public funding has been significantly cut in many areas over the last few years. What have those two trends looked like in your respective cities, and how have they impacted how you think about grantmaking?

• As a private funder, how do you hold relationships with local government and the community in a way that allows you to be seen as a true collaborator–and not a group that fills budget gaps?

Civic Engagement in Local Government Resources:

Raphe Sonenshein and John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation

The Untapped Power of Charters in Local Government by Raphe Sonenshein

Haynes foundation podcast: https://governancematterspodcast.podbean.com/

William Penn Foundation

William Penn Foundation’s funding stream to support local government responsiveness and accountability: https://williampennfoundation.org/objective/responsive-local-government