Luminate
Luminate is a global philanthropic organisation established in 2018, spun out from the Omidyar Network (founded by eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar) to focus specifically on civic empowerment and open governance. It operates globally with offices in London, Washington DC, Nairobi, São Paulo, and other cities.
Luminate's grantmaking focuses on four interconnected areas:
- Civic Tech & Participation — funding platforms and tools that enable citizens to engage with government and each other; includes support for civic tech ecosystems in the Global South
- Independent Media — supporting journalism and media that enables citizens to hold power accountable, with a particular focus on investigative reporting
- Data & Digital Rights — protecting citizens' rights in the digital environment; addressing surveillance, data exploitation, and algorithmic accountability
- Government Transparency & Accountability — supporting open government initiatives, freedom of information, and anti-corruption work
Luminate makes grants to organisations across the world and is one of the primary international funders active in the civic technology and democracy design space. It funds organisations working on everything from participatory governance platforms to digital rights advocacy.
For organisations working in civic tech, participatory governance, or democratic media, Luminate is a key funder to be aware of — alongside the Open Society Foundations and the Hewlett Foundation.
Links
- Website: luminategroup.com
- Grants: luminategroup.com/grants