Public Rights Project receives William Penn Foundation grant to bolster its defense of democratic and civil rights nationwide

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2025

Media Contact: Jackie Jena, jackie@publicrightsproject.org

OAKLAND, CA — To shore up nonprofits facing diminishing resources and unjust federal policies and actions, the William Penn Foundation has awarded $150,000 to Public Rights Project. The grant will help the legal advocacy nonprofit strengthen its assistance to local governments using litigation to defend civil rights and scale its support for election integrity.

“We’re grateful for foundations that are boldly defending democracy,” said Jill Habig, CEO and founder of Public Rights Project. “As the federal administration tries to reverse decades of progress through a slew of illegal actions, cities and counties have a unique role in standing up for our rights and well-being. This critical support from the William Penn Foundation will help local leaders protect their communities.”

This comes at a moment when Public Rights Project is ramping up legal challenges against the federal government. This year alone, the national legal advocacy organization has filed 11 lawsuits to defend $22 billion in federal funding. The New York Times describes one of these lawsuits, which seeks to prevent the White House from withholding federal funds from jurisdictions it deems “sanctuary cities,” as “one of the most ambitious cases against the Trump administration this year trying to resist the president’s immigration policy.”

Public Rights Project provides litigation assistance, legal representation and training to a network of over 1,300 partners, including elected officials and 227 government offices across all 50 states. The nonprofit is also continuing to grow its national network of local governments, including in Philadelphia. Additionally, it provides legal assistance for local election officials to ensure free and fair elections.

“This moment requires all of us to do what we can to uphold truth, equity and justice,” said Shawn McCaney, William Penn Foundation executive director. “We’re proud to support Public Rights Project and the important work they do to fight for civil rights and protect democracy as the independence of local governments and the integrity of future elections are called into question.”

This grant is part of the foundation’s $10 million in special grants to supplement recipients of its regular grantmaking programs. The funds will support 19 organizations working to defend democratic values, respond to emerging federal actions and support nonprofit organizations in crisis. According to the foundation, the grants were developed in direct response to the needs articulated by their grantees and nonprofit leadership around the region.

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 About Public Rights Project

As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, Public Rights Project helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We do this by building their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convening and connecting them on issues of civil rights, and providing legal representation to governments to help them win in court on behalf of their residents. Since our founding, we’ve built a network of over 1,300 partners, including elected officials and 227 government offices across all 50 states.

www.publicrightsproject.org