The Haynes Foundation is seeking applications for its Governance & Democracy Initiative.
Donor Name: Haynes Foundation
State: California
County: Los Angeles County (CA), Orange County (CA), Riverside County (CA), San Bernardino County (CA), Ventura County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/13/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
This new initiative is firmly rooted in the Haynes Foundation’s rich history, enduring mission, and near-century of work bridging high-quality academic research and public action to identify and advance solutions to complex challenges within the region.
This specific focus on governance and democracy emerged from conversations around the own board table and beyond, in gatherings and interviews with nearly forty diverse experts and leaders across multiple sectors and subject areas. What emerged from these future-focused conversations was a shared recognition that the public systems have not kept pace with the rapid, ever-changing environment.
The Foundation will support solution-focused research that provides data to shape innovative, evidence-based problem solving. Under this initiative, the Foundation will fund research to:
- Add significantly to knowledge and understanding of governance and democracy issues in the Los Angeles region (Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties).
- Help influence policies and practices.
- Offer promise of helping to improve the lives of people and the communities.
They expect academic researchers to seek opportunities to collaborate with community-based organizations and/or policymakers. They are open to all fields of study and disciplines that address governance and democracy in the Los Angeles region.
Funding Information
- Planning grants are made for up to one year for up to $100,000.
- Research-to-action grants can be made for up to two years, with a third-year renewable that may be considered. The grant maximum is $250,000 per year. Depending on the nature of the research-to-action project, consideration may be given to a larger award.
Criteria
Priority will be given to a proposal that actively involves researchers and policymakers from governmental institutions together with affected community stakeholders that address implementation, action, and positive change, and:
- Is focused in the five-county Los Angeles region or a portion of the region to advance good governance and/or strengthen democracy.
- Presents a straightforward research question and a quality research methodology.
- Features a research question or questions selected in collaboration with the stakeholders most affected by the problem.
- Includes outreach and/or collaboration with a researcher, stakeholder, andpolicymaker, including community-based organizations to improve the likelihood that the research will be implemented to solve the challenge identified.
- Presents a clear plan for utilizing the data developed to drive solutions to challenges within the Los Angeles region.
- Defines progress, success, and a timeline for addressing the challenge(s) identified.
- Explains how Haynes Foundation funds, which are limited, might be used to leverage the funding of others or to work in collaboration with others.
- Includes a plan and process for evaluating the impact of the research and implementation.
- Is written in clear, plain, and accessible language.
For more information, visit Haynes Foundation.
