Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Better Politics Fund?

The Better Politics Fund is a bold new initiative to reimagine how politics serves people—and who gets to shape it. The Fund backs political changemakers who are renewing how politics works. It is the only global fund focused on political leadership innovation.

The Better Politics Fund builds on the pioneering work of the Multitudes Foundation, supporting changemakers who are building more representative, human, and hopeful politics across Europe. Since its launch in 2023, Multitudes has become a driving force of Europe’s political innovation ecosystem, offering funding, strategic advice, practical support, and a community of practice to accelerate the efforts of those reimagining what politics can be.

A joint venture with the Better Politics Foundation brings operational excellence, a truly global network, leadership acceleration, and the ecosystem-building expertise that the Better Politics Foundation, formerly the Apolitical Foundation, has built since 2020.

Now evolving into the Better Politics Fund, the mission and values remain the same. The vision expands globally, with the resources, people, and ideas to amplify impact and drive systemic change.
We are committed to non-partisan innovation and ecosystem building. Our focus is global, with Europe as a key region in 2025-2026, as we expand opportunities for political innovators worldwide.

What is the Better Politics Fund’s theory of change?

The Better Politics Fund is grounded in a core belief: democracy is built from the bottom up, but it erodes from the top down. Who leads, how they lead, and why they lead profoundly shapes the health of our political systems. Transforming political leadership, and the conditions that enable it, has the power to transform politics itself.

We fund at every stage of the political innovation journey, from the spark of an idea to scaled solutions embedded in political systems. We invest in political changemakers who cultivate and elevate new leaders, work to reform political systems to allow diverse leaders and new ideas to thrive, and innovate to make politics more responsive to the people it serves.

Who manages the Fund?

The Better Politics Foundation serves the Fund by:

running the grantmaking process, scouting, and engaging with potential grantees;
managing all operations and communications;
administering grants;
convening and engaging with the Fund’s communities; and
fundraising.

Who makes grantmaking decisions?

Final funding decisions are made by the Better Politics Fund’s board. It is chaired by Gauri van Gulik and operates independently from the Better Politics Foundation’s board. The Fund board is informed by input from the Foundation and a global grantmaking council composed of experts and ecosystem leaders. This ensures independent governance and transparent accountability.

What types of initiatives will the Fund support?

We fund at every stage of the political innovation journey, from the spark of an idea to scaled solutions embedded in political systems.

We focus on leadership pathways that improve political representation, are locally rooted in lived realities, and globally relevant to the broader democratic ecosystem.

While approaches vary across contexts, every initiative we support shares one purpose: to reimagine how politics serves people – and who gets to shape it.

What funding approaches will the Fund use?

We will use different funding modalities, as Multitudes Foundation did, ensuring both early-stage funding via open calls and larger grants.

Our first open call for €20,000 Ideation Grants launches in Summer 2025 with a focus on European initiatives.

Ideation Grants reimagine what’s possible. We support changemakers who are questioning outdated systems and daring to imagine new ones. These grants provide time, space, and seed funding to test early-stage ideas that reimagine how people engage with politics, how leaders emerge, and how public trust is rebuilt. Grants: up to €20,000.

How is the Fund resourced?

The Fund is supported by a growing coalition of philanthropic partners committed to renewing politics, including the Daniel Sachs Foundation, Luminate Foundation, the Robert Bosch Foundation, Fondation de France and Democratie en Media.

We welcome contributions from institutional donors, individuals, and aligned organizations who share our mission.

How will the Fund measure impact?

We take a learning-first, ecosystem-wide approach to impact. Instead of rigid metrics, we co-create goals with grantees based on their context and stage. Systems change can take time but things can also move quickly in politics. We track both project outcomes and bigger shifts, like new leadership pathways, stronger community engagement, and emerging political narratives. Light-touch reporting and regular feedback keep us accountable and flexible.

We're also developing impact tools to track progress across the field.

What support do grantees receive beyond funding?

Political changemakers often face isolation, burnout, and tough systems. That’s why we don’t just fund—we back people with connection, visibility, and strategic support.

Grantees join a community of peers, get hands-on help with storytelling and strategy, and gain exposure across our network—including the 90+ members of the Political Leadership Entrepreneur Network.

Depending on their goals, we also offer tailored support like capacity-building and key introductions. We share insights through research reports and events to strengthen the broader ecosystem. This isn’t just a grant—it’s a partnership to build better politics.

What distinguishes the Better Politics Fund from other democracy or civic engagement funds?

The Better Politics Fund is the only global fund focused on political leadership innovation. Unlike funds that address civic space, participation or policy, we concentrate on who leads, how they lead, and their accountability to constituents. Committed to non-partisanship, our approach centers on transforming politics and leadership to drive systemic change.

Our team combines political entrepreneurship, governance, campaigning, behavioral science, and innovation expertise. We work closely with regional ecosystems and prioritize engaging underrepresented communities as co-creators of political solutions.