Democracy from the Ground Up: The Intermountain West Renewal

When USAID was unceremoniously shut down, we were in Africa—standing beside partners who had just lost decades of hard-won progress overnight and individuals who didn't know where they were going to get their ARVs anymore. We’ve long known that democracy is an upstream issue, shaping every outcome we care about—from health and education to livelihoods and climate resilience—but that day in February, we felt it in a freshly acute way. We wanted our community to feel supported, to know they were not alone in navigating the ripple effects of instability that began far beyond their borders.

That experience brought a truth closer to home: democracy doesn’t just falter elsewhere. Here in the U.S., we’ve watched deepening polarization, intimidation, and the corrosive effects of personality-driven governance. And, heartbreakingly, political violence has followed. These moments have made it clear that renewal is necessary.

We believe that renewal can start in Utah. As both a global development and Utah-based funder, we see how deeply this state’s civic values—its independent spirit, faith in community, and pragmatic bridge-building—can model what a healthy democracy looks like. That’s why our new strategy, Democracy from the Ground Up: The Intermountain West Renewal, places its boldest bets on local leaders across Utah and the broader West who are proving that democratic strength grows from the ground up.

Why Utah and the West

This year has not been an easy one for Utah. Across the state, we’ve felt strains on community trust and witnessed the pain that political violence inflicts on our shared civic life. These moments remind us how fragile trust can be—and how vital it is to rebuild it through patience, empathy, and local relationships that cross divides. Yet even in this difficult time, we’ve seen the best of Utah’s spirit: people showing up for one another, choosing dialogue over division, and proving that renewal begins when communities refuse to give up on each other.

And of course, we are—and have always been—a Utah-based funder, deeply rooted in the civic and cultural fabric of this region. The Intermountain West offers something rare in American public life: a culture of deep community ties, cross-ideological respect, and faith-based bridge-building that still runs strong.

Utah’s civic fabric shows what’s possible when neighbors still talk across divides and when leadership grows from trust rather than partisanship. This region continues to model the quiet strength of civic responsibility—something the rest of the country can learn from.

At the same time, these communities are often overlooked by national funders who chase short-term, partisan wins in swing states. We see an opportunity to change that—to make Utah and the Intermountain West a proving ground for how democracy can be renewed from the ground up, through local relationships, shared values, and steady, long-term investment.

Our Approach

Our strategy connects two time horizons and two levels of engagement:

Near-Term: Defend. We’ll strengthen the capacity of local leaders and civic institutions to protect election integrity, build community resilience, and stand firm for democratic norms. That means investing early—before crises hit—and supporting networks that keep communities informed, connected, and safe.

Long-Term: Renew. We’ll help grow new leadership pipelines and reform coalitions that reflect the character and needs of Western states. Renewal isn’t about importing ideas; it’s about cultivating the talent, courage, and creativity already here. Over time, these local networks can become engines of broader reform and civic renewal.

At the same time, we’ll make selective, time-limited national investments that reinforce, rather than overshadow, this regional fieldwork. The goal is a healthy ecosystem where national expertise amplifies local action—not the other way around.

Our Guiding Principles

• Start early, stay long. Build relationships before election cycles—not during them.

• Nonpartisan integrity. Support only authentically nonpartisan efforts that strengthen trust across divides.

• Value local expertise and share power. Ask grassroots partners to identify leaders and priorities, making funding decisions participatory and grounded in lived experience.

• Patience over flash. Sustainable reform takes time. Short-term wins can backfire if they weaken long-term momentum.

• Transfer lessons from global work. Across contexts, lasting progress depends on humble, capable leaders and long-term trust.

Beware the Pitfalls

• Chasing short-term wins. Democracy work rewards patience, not speed.

• Neglecting balance. Near-term defense and long-term renewal must reinforce each other.

• Risk in waiting to fund. The next 18–24 months matter. Delays could cost a generation.

Looking Ahead

This strategy is both pragmatic and hopeful. It begins in Utah, but its implications reach far beyond. The work of democracy renewal will be slow, local, and deeply human—and that’s exactly why it just might last.