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Bright Future Fund at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Bright Future Fund

BRIGHT FUTURE FUND is dedicated to a brighter future for all americans.

$182M
Granted FY2024still arriving
53
Grants FY2024still arriving
13
States reached
$21M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01FY2024 · 53 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $50k–250k6 grants · $780k
  • $250k+47 grants · $181M
$2,000,000
Median grant
13
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FUTURE FORWARD USA ACTION$20,835,000
OUR AMERICAN FUTURE ACTION$20,000,000
WORKING AMERICA$14,500,000
RAPID RESIST ACTION$12,400,000
WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC$10,000,000
WORKING AMERICA EDUCATION$10,000,000
FORWARD MAJORITY ACTION$7,790,000
CENTER FOR VOTER INFORMATION$6,700,000
WORKMONEY INC$6,500,000
PRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN$6,000,000
MAJORITY FORWARD$5,350,000
FOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY ACTION$4,500,000
PIVOTPAC$4,330,000
FUTURE NOW ACTION$4,000,000
LOCAL JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND$3,750,000
02The need
02

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY24–24, $10.0M) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%WORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC: $10.0M → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
NV
CA
MD
DE
NC
DC
TX
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Democracy Works Inc

The organization's mission is to leverage web-technologies to improve civic engagement and voter education.

Civil Rights
2
Democracy Forward

See schedule o.this organization seeks to build collective power to defend and advance a vibrant democracy that benefits all people.

—
3
One for Democracy Action Fund

One for democracy unlocks resources to build a healthy democracy by fostering meaningful relationships between philanthropists and the democracy leaders of our time.

—
4
Democracy Matters

Democracy matters was formed to connect and build a community of pro-democracy donors.

Civil Rights
5
Defend the Vote Action Fund

To sustain and support the prioritization of comprehensive voting rights and democracy reform legislation at all levels of government.

—
6
Network for Civic Action

Network for civic action advocates for the protection of democracy and encourages civic engagement. it evaluates programs and educates donors about how their donations can best serve those goals.

—
7
Voteamerica

The mission of voteamerica is to strengthen united states democracy by increasing voter turnout.

Civil Rights
8
Commission On Presidential Debates

Organize general election presidential and vice-presidential debates

Civil Rights
9
Advance American Democracy Inc

To protect democracy by advocating for policies to strenghten democracy, educating the public about threats to our democracy, and highlighting the unpopularity of federal policies that places money and power over the rights and freedom of…

—
10
Fair Fight Action Inc

Fair fight action promotes fair elections in georgia and around the country, encourages voter participation in elections, educates voters about elections and their voting rights, and advocates for progressive issues.

Education
11
The Campaign Legal Center Inc

The nonpartisan campaign legal center advances democracy through law at the federal, state and local levels, fighting for every american's rights to responsive government and a fair opportunity to participate in and affect the democratic…

Crime & Legal
12
Issue One Action

Issue one action is uniting republicans, democrats, and independents to protect our elections and fix our political system. we are committed to free, fair, and secure elections and reducing the influence of well-financed special interests…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Pro-Democracy Campaign; the most unlike its peers is Civic Nation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

44 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 44 of the 53 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

11
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
44/44
Grantees still filing
8/44
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

OUR AMERICAN FUTURE ACTION: $20,000,000 · OtherOUR AMERICAN FUTURE ACTIONWORKING AMERICA: $14,500,000 · OtherWORKING AMERICAFORWARD MAJORITY ACTION: $7,790,000 · OtherFORWARD MAJORITY ACTIONWORKMONEY INC: $6,500,000 · OtherWORKMONEY INCMAJORITY FORWARD: $5,350,000 · OtherMAJORITY FORWARDFOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY ACTION: $4,500,000 · OtherFOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY ACTIONPIVOTPAC: $4,330,000 · OtherLOCAL JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND INC: $3,750,000 · OtherPEOPLE'S ACTION POWER: $3,450,000 · OtherDEMOCRACYFIRST: $2,940,000 · Other+13 more: $9,840,000 · Other+13 moreRAPID RESIST ACTION: $12,400,000 · Civil RightsRAPID RESIST ACTIONCENTER FOR VOTER INFORMATION: $6,700,000 · Civil RightsCENTER FOR VOTER INFORMAT…PRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN: $6,000,000 · Civil RightsPRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGNMICHIGAN CIVIC EDUCATION FUND: $2,700,000 · Civil RightsMICHIGAN CIVIC EDUCATION …FOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY FUND: $2,500,000 · Civil RightsFOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY FUNDUNITED FOR DEMOCRACY: $2,500,000 · Civil RightsUNITED FOR DEMOCRACYFAIR DEMOCRACY: $2,000,000 · Civil RightsALL VOTING IS LOCAL: $1,500,000 · Civil Rights+8 more: $4,510,000 · Civil Rights+8 moreFUTURE FORWARD USA ACTION: $20,835,000 · Public BenefitFUTURE FORWARD US…FUTURE NOW ACTION: $4,000,000 · Public BenefitFUTURE NOW ACTIONSTATE ENGAGEMENT FUND: $1,000,000 · Public Benefit+5 more: $1,967,500 · Public Benefit+5 moreWORKING AMERICA EDUCATION FUND: $10,000,000 · EducationCivic Nation: $2,500,000 · EducationWORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC: $10,000,000 · Human ServicesBUSINESS FORWARD FOUNDATION: $2,500,000 · Arts & CultureLEXINGTON OBSERVER INC: $2,000,000 · Arts & CultureSIXTEEN THIRTY FUND: $3,500,000 · Environment
Other$82,950,000Civil Rights$40,810,000Public Benefit$27,802,500Education$12,500,000Human Services$10,000,000Arts & Culture$4,500,000Environment$3,500,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetFUTURE FORWARD USA ACTION: $20,835,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetOUR AMERICAN FUTURE ACTION: $20,000,000 over 1y, 9.7% of budgetWORKING AMERICA: $14,500,000 over 1y, 32% of budgetRAPID RESIST ACTION: $12,400,000 over 1y, 69% of budgetWORKMONEY FOUNDATION INC: $10,000,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetWORKING AMERICA EDUCATION FUND: $10,000,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetCENTER FOR VOTER INFORMATION: $6,700,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetWORKMONEY INC: $6,500,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetPRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN: $6,000,000 over 1y, 39% of budgetMAJORITY FORWARD: $5,350,000 over 1y, 4.2% of budgetFOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY ACTION: $4,500,000 over 1y, 28% of budgetFUTURE NOW ACTION: $4,000,000 over 1y, 21% of budgetLOCAL JOBS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND INC: $3,750,000 over 1y, 20% of budgetSIXTEEN THIRTY FUND: $3,500,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetMICHIGAN CIVIC EDUCATION FUND: $2,700,000 over 1y, 21% of budgetFOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY FUND: $2,500,000 over 1y, 10% of budgetHOPEWELL FUND: $2,500,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetCivic Nation: $2,500,000 over 1y, 8.8% of budgetUNITED FOR DEMOCRACY: $2,500,000 over 1y, 37% of budgetBUSINESS FORWARD FOUNDATION: $2,500,000 over 1y, 45% of budgetLEXINGTON OBSERVER INC: $2,000,000 over 1y, 49% of budgetFAIR DEMOCRACY: $2,000,000 over 1y, 21% of budgetALL VOTING IS LOCAL: $1,500,000 over 1y, 10% of budgetClear Choice Action Inc: $1,250,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetVOTE REV ACTION FUND: $1,000,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetSTATE ENGAGEMENT FUND: $1,000,000 over 1y, 5.3% of budgetPUBLIC RIGHTS PROJECT: $1,000,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetCENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE ACTION: $887,500 over 1y, 13% of budgetNORTH FUND: $610,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetAmerica Votes: $550,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetEQUISLABS: $470,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetCivic Nation Action: $450,000 over 1y, 49% of budgetTHE ACT NOW PROJECT: $400,000 over 1y, 8.8% of budgetDEMOCRACY PLANNING & ENHANCEMENT FUND: $250,000 over 1y, 4.5% of budgetGround Game Texas: $250,000 over 1y, 33% of budgetBATTLE BORN PROGRESS: $250,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetDEMOCRACY SENTRY: $250,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetVOTE FORWARD: $250,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetHOUSE MAJORITY FORWARD: $200,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSOUTHERN VISION ALLIANCE: $120,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMTG RESEARCH INC: $110,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetWESTERN STATES STRATEGIES: $100,000 over 1y, 48% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Our American Future A…Sixteen Thirty FundFuture Forward USA Ac…Hopewell FundOpen Society Action F…Tides AdvocacyAmerica VotesOakw FundOur Children Our Futu…Brick by Brick Founda…Advocacy Action Fund …Way to Win Action Fun…
Our American Future ActionDC44.6× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Our American Future Action · Sixteen Thirty Fund · Future Forward USA Action · Hopewell Fund · Open Society Action Fund Inc · Tides Advocacy · America Votes · Oakw Fund · Our Children Our Future · Brick by Brick Foundation · Advocacy Action Fund Inc · Way to Win Action Fund Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Bright Future Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Bright Future Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 60%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    6get no government money at all
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Bright Future Fund?

    Find your warmest path to Bright Future Fund through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 53 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2024, the most recent year this funder made grants.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Bright Future’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home