About Future Now Institute
To achieve the American Promise by promoting effective government, fair markets, personal freedom, and representative democracy through high-impact state-level interventions.
Focus Areas
Civic engagementPublic policyState government reformDemocracy and governanceGood government
Who They Fund
general publicpolicymakers and government officialseducators and civic institutions
Funding Style
nonpartisan supportpolicy research fundingpublic education/outreachevidence-informed public policy
About Future Now Institute
The Future Now Institute’s recent grantmaking is defined by one very large commitment: $5.2 million to Future Now Action in 2025 for nonpartisan education, following a $500,000 grant to the same organization in 2024. That pattern points to a funder centered on sustained public-facing work rather than scattered one-off awards. The institute’s stated purpose is to achieve the American Promise by promoting effective government, fair markets, personal freedom, and representative democracy through high-impact state-level interventions. Its focus areas include civic engagement, public policy, state government reform, democracy and governance, and good government. The recent grants list also shows smaller awards to policy research and public education grantees such as Beacon Media, Partners in Democracy, Michigan Future Inc., and Global Impact, suggesting a grantmaking approach that combines a major operating-style relationship with a broader set of modest program grants. With annual grants of $5.77 million and total assets of $10.58 million, the institute operates at a meaningful scale within that policy and civic education niche.
What Future Now Institute Funds
A clear thread in the grant list is nonpartisan civic education. The institute gave $5.2 million to Future Now Action in 2025 for nonpartisan education, and it had already provided $500,000 to the same group in 2024 for the same purpose. Another recurring theme is policy research and public education: Beacon Media received $20,000 in 2025 for policy research/public education, as did Partners in Democracy. The same grant purpose also appears in support for Michigan Future Inc., which received $20,000 in 2025. Global Impact received $10,000 in 2025 for policy research/public education, showing that the institute also funds organizations working on public understanding and analysis beyond a single geography or issue silo.
How Future Now Institute Gives
Typical grants cluster around $20,000 at the lower end, with a median of $20,000 and a 75th percentile of $380,000. The distribution is highly uneven because one 2025 grant to Future Now Action reached $5.2 million. The recent record suggests repeat support: Future Now Action appears in both 2024 and 2025 with separate awards, while several 2025 awards sit at the same $20,000 level. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent grant list is entirely U.S.-based, and the giving profile fits a regional foundation using both a major recurring relationship and smaller policy-oriented grants.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.1M
Total Assets
$19.7M
Total Revenue
$15.3M
Total Expenses
$7.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $380K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$380K
Geographic Reach
National5 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
LAUREN ELLIS
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