What does it take to give funders a clear-eyed view of one of the most complex intersections in American civic life?
A Complex Intersection, and a Timely Opportunity for Funders
Faith communities are among the most powerful forces in American civic life — there are over 350,000 religious congregations and 228,000 faith-inspired nonprofits in the United States, making up 35% to 40% of the entire nonprofit field. They build bridges, sustain local infrastructure, provide resilience in crisis, and shape the values and civic behaviors of millions. Yet for many funders, the intersection of faith and democracy feels too complex, too politically charged, or too risky to engage with confidently. The result is a critical potential partnership left on the table.
Mapping the Landscape, Building the Framework
Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) turned to Third Plateau and Democracy Funders Network to help change that, commissioning research that could meet funders’ hesitation with evidence rather than advocacy.
Third Plateau served as the research team for a comprehensive funder’s guide designed to go deeper than conventional narratives around religious engagement in public life. The research surfaced both the democratic promise of faith-inspired work and the legitimate concerns that give funders pause — addressing each directly, with evidence and practical frameworks rather than platitudes.
“Third Plateau was a true partner to PACE. Their expert team was highly responsive and genuinely collaborative. Together, we developed a funding guide on faith and democracy that translated a complex and sensitive topic into a clear, practical resource.”
— Dr. Siri Erickson, Senior Director, PACE
Frameworks, Peer Learning, and Room to Practice
The resulting guide, A Funding Guide for Faith and Democracy, gives funders concrete tools to understand their existing orientation to faith and democracy and map out their next steps. It speaks directly to democracy funders looking to expand their impact, to faith-inspired supporters seeking a deeper understanding of their grantees’ civic role, and to anyone navigating this intersection in their philanthropic work. At a moment when faith communities are playing an increasingly visible and contested role in American public life, the guide offers something rare: a nuanced, evidence-based resource that helps funders move from hesitation to informed action — and in doing so, strengthens the broader ecosystem of democracy philanthropy.
Interested in commissioning research that helps your foundation navigate complex philanthropic terrain? Reach out to start the conversation.
