Why we fund
We’re building a different culture
Americans are living through a time of extraordinary uncertainty, as we navigate major changes in the ways we make a living, understand the world, and govern ourselves. We need each other more than ever for our communities to thrive, yet it can feel like America is defined by its divisions. New Pluralists focuses on three cultural dynamics that undermine our ability to build a shared, flourishing civic life.
disconnection
Social ties are fraying, and people report feeling lonely, isolated, and alienated from their neighbors.
distrust
People feel ignored and misunderstood and don’t trust each other or institutions to have their best interests in mind.
dehumanization
We are increasingly willing to see people with different beliefs, backgrounds, or ways of life as existential threats—leading us to deny their dignity and justify their exclusion.
What we fund
Two Funding Priorities
New Pluralists is an ecosystem catalyst—which means that we find and connect the key players needed to solve this complex problem and then help them get organized to make progress together.
Infrastructure Grants
Building the tools and connections that help pluralism leaders work together
We support:
- Shared tools, research, and data that help people to measure progress, understand what works, and adapt to a changing environment
- Networks and convenings that help practitioners, researchers, and storytellers build relationships and coordinate their efforts
- Communications capacity that expands reach and strengthens commitment to pluralism
Ecosystem Assessment
We supported a survey to understand the health and vibrancy of the pluralism ecosystem—the first of its kind focused on pluralism—which yielded recommendations for how to strengthen it.
Read the impact story →Breakthrough Grants
Strengthening and spreading the practices that make pluralism real in communities
We support:
- Collaborations where groups join together to act on timely opportunities to advance pluralism and make broader, more durable impact
- Leadership of people and communities who are expanding civic participation and reshaping what we imagine in possible
- Storytelling and evaluation that show how pluralism makes a tangible difference in people’s lives and communities
all in
We were an early investor of All In, a grassroots alliance among residents and local organizations in the Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut, who work together to make their voices heard on issues that matter to their whole community.
Read the impact story →Want to see more examples of our work?
Explore our impact stories →
How We work
Our Collaborative Approach
We work in partnership with a community of funders, who pool resources and learn alongside pluralism practitioners, researchers, and storytellers.
- First, we collaborate with funders and field leaders to understand where our dollars can make the biggest difference.
- We solicit grant proposals through a combination of direct invitations and open calls and all grants are reviewed and awarded by participating funders.
- Finally, New Pluralists staff work alongside grantees to learn from and amplify their efforts, connect them to a broader network, and surface insights that can help philanthropy and the pluralism ecosystem act more strategically.