Arkay Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Arkay Foundation supports efforts to preserve and promote democratic institutions and values in the United States and reduce the influence of money in politics. A second grantmaking area, concerned with reducing human impact on the environment, was paused recently.
IP TAKE: This modest funder conducts its grantmaking by invitation only. While it prefers to maintain its established partnerships, it does award a number of new grants each year.
It may not accept unsolicited proposals, but contact this funder, and its program director, to learn whether your foundation’s project aligns with Arkay’s philanthropic vision. The foundation might consider you for funding, if you get on its radar. This is a focused funder that only funds in a single area of giving.
PROFILE: The Arkay Foundation, established in 1995, is a private foundation based out of Berkeley California. Its overall mission is to work to create “a society characterized by strong participatory democracy, economic and social justice, and environmental protection.” It generally prioritizes “organizations and programs that have the greatest potential for leveraging change and having widespread impact.” It currently makes grants through a single program, Enhancing the Democratic Process. Until recently, it also made grants for Reducing Human Impact on the Environment.
Grants for Democracy and Civic Engagement
The Arkay Foundation’s grants for Enhancing the Democratic Process support organizations that “protect and promote participatory democracy in the United States, build a progressive infrastructure, and enhance the democratic process.” It particularly prioritizes efforts to promote citizen activism, government transparency, accuracy in media, voting rights, progressive infrastructure, and campaign finance reform. Past grantees include Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Project Vote and the Proteus Fund.
Grants for Environmental Conservation and Climate Change
Arkay’s environment grants are based on the foundation’s commitment to “reducing human impact on the environment to counteract global climate change.” Since 2012, the program’s main priority has been to engage environmental organizations in “building a broader movement to confront the undue influence of money in the U.S. political process” by “educating, engaging and mobilizing their constituencies to take action.” Past grantees include Friends of the Earth, the League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club Foundation. It is unclear if the foundation will continue to work in this giving area in the coming years.
Important Grant Details:
The Arkay Foundation’s grants generally range from $10,000 to $50,000. It only accepts a small number of new grantees each year. Grantseekers may review the foundation’s Past Grantees for more information on its recent giving habits.
The Arkay Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
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