Reimagining Redistricting: How Philanthropy Invested in Fairer Maps, Community Engagement, and Racial Equity during the 2021 – 22 Redistricting Cycle, a new report by Bill Woodwell, tells the story of how the Fair Representation in Redistricting (FRR) collaborative formed, what participants learned, and how the FRR community’s efforts fundamentally changed the way that philanthropy engages with this foundational democratic process. 

Key takeaways from the report include:

• During the 2021-22 redistricting cycle, the FRR collaborative moved $55 million from 75 funders to more than 325 recipients across 23 states. The collaborative united funders with an unusually diverse group of interests–from democracy funders to issue- and place-based funders–in service of a common goal, and participants cited this “big tent” approach as a critical element of the collaborative’s success.
• For funders and grantees alike, connecting redistricting to census and other civic engagement activities–and keeping communities of color at the center of it all–was powerful. This approach also helped shift perceptions of redistricting from a partisan “horse race” to a critical tool for achieving racial equity and responsive government. Funders also appreciated FRR’s guidance on legal and compliance issues to help demonstrate that redistricting is a nonpartisan, non-political activity and that investing in this work is appropriate for foundations.
• Rather than a once-a-decade push, redistricting requires ongoing, multi-cycle investment to maintain infrastructure and act on the opportunities to secure fair districts that arise throughout the cycle, from litigation to policy reform. It is critical that both funders and grantees stay connected, keep learning, and continue to strategize together. The communities fighting for fair representation deserve nothing less.