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Civil Society

Protection of the Sector

We strengthen the philanthropic ecosystem and support civil society defenders.

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Why It Matters

A resilient philanthropic sector and empowered civil society organizations are essential to driving meaningful, lasting change in society.

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Our Approach

We support innovation, research and tools that strengthen philanthropy and protect civil society defenders, enabling them to respond effectively to emerging needs and challenges.

We have two strategies to achieve our goals:

Strengthening U.S., regional and global philanthropic ecosystems.

Our grant funding supports:

  • Research, monitoring and analysis to inform policies that enable nonprofits and philanthropy.
  • Global and regional organizations working to defend and strengthen civic space. This includes advocacy for policies that help, not hinder, the work of nonprofits.

Increasing frontline support for civil society defenders in challenging environments.

Our grant funding supports

  • Information, knowledge and tools for civil society on security, digital resilience and emerging technology, including artificial intelligence and the impact of counterterrorism measures on civil society.
  • Groups that provide physical, digital, psychosocial and other forms of protection for civil society defenders.
We must fight to protect civil society and democracy; they do not defend themselves.”
Lucy Bernholz headshot. LUCY BERNHOLZ

News

All Civil Society News

Inside Mott’s new Civil Society program plan:
A Q&A with Shannon Lawder
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Inside Mott’s new Civil Society program plan:
A Q&A with Shannon Lawder

The Mott Foundation’s Civil Society Program Director, Shannon Lawder, shares in a Q&A how her team’s new grantmaking strategy seeks to build common ground, expand access to justice and protect the nonprofit sector at a time of rising polarization and increasing threats to the sector.

Recent Grants

All Protection of the Sector Grants

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