BY Dion Cartwright, The Funders Network, and Nathaniel Smith, Partnership for Southern Equity
The Funders Network stands with communities across the country working to protect and preserve the fundamental right to vote, fair representation, and a functioning democracy.
We are deeply troubled by the Supreme Court’s recent decision, which weakens the Voting Rights Act yet again by making it harder to challenge unfair district maps. For decades, the law has allowed challenges based on whether district lines reduced voters’ voice and voting power.
Last week’s decision raises the bar for such challenges by placing greater emphasis on proving intent to discriminate. We see this as shifting the burden onto the very voters bearing the consequences of exclusion.
The truth is, discrimination rarely announces itself. That makes intent difficult to prove. It shows up in stark gaps between who lives in a place and who has a real opportunity to be elected to represent them.
To understand what this decision means, it is worth taking stock of what’s already been lost. There used to be a requirement that jurisdictions with a history of voting discrimination receive federal approval before changing election laws or maps. That protection was effectively dismantled in 2013. There used to be a path to challenge partisan gerrymandering in federal court. That option was eliminated in 2019.
Taken together, these changes leave fewer and fewer ways to challenge unfair districting at the national level, making it more important than ever that philanthropy fill critical gaps, bridge grassroots power with state and national advocacy, and support coordinated strategies that can move across systems.
In the near term, last week’s ruling will immediately affect Louisiana and other Southern states already moving to redraw district lines. But the implications are national.
In California’s Central Valley, Latino communities remain underrepresented in elected office. In Minnesota, Hmong communities continue working toward leadership that reflects their growing presence. In many places, changing demographics are still not reflected in political structures designed decades ago. These patterns are not new, and they will not change without sustained effort.
Racial equity is central to our work at The Funders Network, and we take seriously how decisions like this affect representation for communities of color. Many of our members are already deeply engaged in this work, but greater coordination, continued action and long-term commitment are still needed.
Protecting the vote has always required persistence and solidarity. That work is far from over.
What Funders Can Do
As it becomes harder to challenge unfair maps in court, philanthropy has an important role to play in sustaining the work that remains possible. We encourage our members to:
- Invest in long-term organizing power by supporting community-based organizations and coalitions working to protect voting access and advance fair representation, including research that documents disparities and strengthens the evidence base for reform
- Support engagement across state and local contexts, where many of the most consequential decisions on maps, elections and voting rules are now made
- Provide flexible, sustained funding to organizations navigating rapidly shifting legal and political conditions, so they can respond quickly while building lasting capacity
These investments help ensure that communities most affected by these decisions have the resources and power to shape outcomes over time.
Resources and Opportunities for Action
We are continuing to compile statements, resources and opportunities for engagement from TFN members, partners and others in the field. These include:
- Statements from civil rights and democracy organizations responding to the decision
- Opportunities to support organizations advancing voting rights and fair representation
- Upcoming briefings and conversations with leaders working on the frontlines of this issue
We will continue to share updates and ways to stay connected as this work evolves. To contribute a statement or resource with our network, please contact TFN’s Senior Associate for Communications and Engagement Brooke McPherson at brookem@fundersnetwork.org.
Dion Cartwright is President and CEO of TFN and Nathaniel Smith, who is Founder and Chief Equity Officer at Partnership for Southern Equity, is a member of TFN’s Board of Directors.