A growing number of national funders and granting organizations are turning to the Karsh Institute of Democracy as a trusted partner in strengthening the foundations of civic life. From supporting research on voter behavior and attitudes and the health of local news ecosystems to expanding programs that help students engage across differences, these investments reflect a belief that the Institute is well positioned to lead cross-sector efforts to address democracy’s most pressing challenges.
With a strong track record of producing actionable insights, the Karsh Institute has become a trusted partner for funders from across the country seeking meaningful, evidence-based programs and research that can lead to solutions. At the same time, continued philanthropic support is essential to the Institute’s growing and ambitious work.
“Funders want to work with the Karsh Institute because we can leverage the expertise that resides across UVA and apply it to public problems,” said Research Director Jessica Kimpell Johnson. “Some funders have looked to our research enterprise to produce information and findings that can guide interventions and actions, while others have supported our work because they have wanted to bridge research and practice.” Many of these projects also provide students with opportunities to participate directly in faculty-led research, sharpening their analytical skills and cultivating the next generation of democracy scholars and practitioners.
This rise in support reflects broader national trends in both individual and foundation giving. Democracy-focused philanthropy has grown significantly in recent years with foundations and donor-advised funds investing an estimated $9.7 billion in democracy-related efforts in 2022—nearly double the total from 2018. Indicators suggest this upward trajectory has continued, driven by heightened concern over polarization, declining public trust, and questions about election integrity in an increasingly divided nation. Funders are recognizing that a healthy democracy requires sustained investment in civic habits, reliable information systems, and the institutional capacities that support public life.
The Karsh Institute’s work sits squarely in this expanding field, offering both scholarly rigor and practical application. Some grants have strengthened research capacity, while others have enabled ambitious, practice-focused initiatives that reach students, journalists, policymakers, and communities.
Strengthening Civic Culture: The Civic Cornerstone Fellowship
One of the Institute’s most ambitious and fast-growing programs—the Civic Cornerstone Fellowship—is supported by a three-year, $800,000 grant from Wake Forest University’s Educating Character Initiative (ECI). Designed to equip students with the habits of democratic life, the Fellowship teaches skills required to engage across differences, navigate conflict, and participate constructively in pluralistic communities.
What began as a small pilot program has quickly become one of the Karsh Institute’s signature initiatives. This year, more than 400 students from all 12 UVA schools signed up to participate. Fellows meet in small, ideologically diverse groups for structured dialogue and shared meals designed to foster curiosity, humility, and civic skill-building.
The ECI investment is accelerating the program’s growth and impact. In 2026, the Fellowship will expand to two additional campuses, UVA Wise and Bowdoin College, with other institutions already expressing interest. The grant also supports research led by UVA School of Education and Human Development Associate Professor Rachel Wahl, whose work aims to determine what approaches to civic dialogue education most effectively strengthen democratic engagement and understanding.
For Karsh Institute Program Director Stefanie Georgakis Abbott, ECI’s support reflects a shared vision for strengthening democratic culture on college campuses nationwide. “The ECI grant has allowed us to scale up the Civic Cornerstone Fellowship in a way that would not have been possible otherwise,” she said, noting that the partnership also provides connections to a national network of institutions committed to renewing democratic practice.
Improving Information Ecosystems: Mapping Local News in Virginia
A healthy democracy depends on the availability of trusted, accessible information. Yet local journalism, long serving as the backbone of community accountability, is under enormous strain. To better understand how this affects Virginians, the Karsh Institute joined with Virginia Humanities to conduct the first-ever Virginia Local News Ecosystem Study, supported by the American Press Institute, More Perfect, and the PATH Foundation.
The study identified 277 news outlets across Virginia, including newspapers, TV and radio stations, digital outlets, and student-run publications. Although most outlets are for-profit organizations, nonprofit and student-led outlets are increasingly filling key gaps in coverage, suggesting that higher education institutions now play an unexpectedly significant role in sustaining local news. At the same time, the research revealed sizable disparities in coverage, particularly in rural communities and among underrepresented groups.
Funders supported this work in response to growing concern about the shrinking availability of reliable local information. The study provides a clearer picture of where coverage is strong, where it is limited, and where targeted investment could make the greatest difference. Building on this foundation, the Karsh Institute hopes to launch a second-phase study to deepen understanding by examining the sources Virginians actually rely on for news and information.
The report arrived at a critical moment. Another survey conducted by the Karsh Institute in 2024 showed that while 65 percent of Americans trust local news more than national media, many rely heavily on social media platforms they don’t even trust. This paradox underscores the importance of the local news study, which offers the first comprehensive map revealing where information ecosystems are flourishing in Virginia, where they are faltering, and where strategic investment may have the greatest impact.
For journalists, funders, and civic leaders, the findings provide a foundation for strengthening the state’s information infrastructure. They also provide actionable insights for anyone working to ensure communities have access to the news they need to participate meaningfully in civic life.
Advancing Democratic Participation: Election 2024 National Survey
Understanding how Americans vote, and how they experience the voting process, is essential to improving participation. With support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, professors Jennifer L. Lawless and Paul Freedman, in partnership with the Karsh Institute, conducted a two-wave national survey before and after the 2024 presidential election.
The results reveal the depth of today’s partisan divides as well as surprising areas of commonality. Although Democrats and Republicans entered the election with sharply different views of the 2020 results and of U.S. institutions, both groups reported overwhelmingly positive experiences at their polling places. More than 90 percent of respondents described their polling place as “very well run,” rated the performance of poll workers as “good” or “excellent” and were confident in the “safeguards to protect against fraud using mail ballots.” These findings challenge the basis of some public narratives that large swaths of voters distrust voting procedures and election administration.
At the same time, significant differences remain on questions of trust in institutions and media and commitment to some democratic norms. These insights offer a clearer picture of the beliefs and concerns that shape voter behavior. “Hewlett saw real relevance in this work for people in the field,” Kimpell Johnson said. “The findings can inform voter education and engagement work around trust in elections and commitment to democratic norms.”
Looking ahead, the Karsh Institute hopes to continue this work. Another national election survey would allow researchers to capture trend data, which would deepen understanding of how Americans’ experiences and attitudes are evolving. Such knowledge is essential for policymakers, educators, and civic leaders seeking to address concerns about electoral integrity and strengthen participation in the years to come.
Across these projects, funders are looking for institutions that combine rigorous research with the capacity to put ideas into practice. The Karsh Institute meets that ideal, bringing scholarship to the real world and tackling democracy’s toughest challenges. Funders have helped make this progress possible, and continued partnership will be essential to sustaining and expanding the full breadth of the Institute’s efforts to strengthen democracy.