Michigan’s 1961-62 convention, courtesy of Eugene G Wanger Collection, Archives of Michigan.

Michigan’s 1961-62 Constitutional Convention: Rearview, Leadership, Frontview Images (Courtesy of Eugene G Wanger Collection, Archives of Michigan)

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Information related to Michigan's Nov. 2026 convention call referendum

Dark Money Contributions to Voters Not Politicians (VNP)

by | Sep 11, 2026

Introduction

The following is a report generated by Google's Gemini using its deep research tool.

The AI Query

Please itemize all the contributions that the Sixteen Thirty Fund and its allied nonprofits (e.g., North Fund, Hopewell Fund, Global Impact Fund, and Arabella Investors) have given to Voters Not Politicians from 2018 through 2026.

The AI Report

Based on state campaign finance filings, IRS Form 990 tax disclosures, and public grant reporting, the itemized contributions and grants from the Sixteen Thirty Fund and its allied non-profit network (including the Hopewell Fund, New Venture Fund, Global Impact Social Welfare Fund, and the wider Arabella Advisors network) to Voters Not Politicians (operating legally as Count MI Vote), its sister organization (Count MI Vote Education Fund), and its co-led ballot committees from 2018 through 2026 are detailed below:

Itemized Contributions & Grants (2018–2026)

1. 2018 Cycle: Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (Proposal 2)

  • Grantor: Sixteen Thirty Fund (501(c)(4))
  • Recipient: Count MI Vote / Voters Not Politicians
  • Amount: $6,000,000 (Cash contribution)
  • Purpose: Major seed and operational funding for the petition drive and statewide media campaign behind Proposal 2 of 2018, which established Michigan's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.

2. 2020–2021 Cycle: Post-Redistricting Education & Advocacy

  • Grantor: New Venture Fund (501(c)(3) – Arabella Network)
  • Recipient: Count MI Vote Education Fund (501(c)(3))
  • Amount: $100,000 (Grant)
  • Purpose: Civil rights, social action, and public education programs to train citizens on submitting testimony and community maps to the new redistricting commission.

3. 2022 Cycle: Voting Policies Constitutional Amendment (Proposal 2 / Promote the Vote)

  • Grantor: Sixteen Thirty Fund (501(c)(4))
  • Recipient: Count MI Vote / Voters Not Politicians
  • Amount: $375,000 (Grant)
  • Purpose: Program and operating support for civil rights, voting rights, and social action advocacy.
  • Grantor: Sixteen Thirty Fund (501(c)(4))
  • Recipient: Promote the Vote 2022 (Coalition Ballot Committee co-founded and heavily supported by Voters Not Politicians)
  • Amount: $11,261,370 ($10,500,000 cash + $761,370 in-kind)
  • Purpose: Primary financing for Proposal 2 of 2022, which added nine days of early voting and constitutional voter ID protections to the Michigan Constitution. (Note: Voters Not Politicians served as a core partner in this coalition, contributing an additional $1.82 million in cash and in-kind field support).
  • Grantor: Hopewell Fund (501(c)(3) – Arabella Network)
  • Recipient: Promote the Vote 2022
  • Amount: $675,000 (Grant)
  • Purpose: Public education and voting rights advocacy supporting the 2022 constitutional amendment drive.

4. 2024–2025 Cycle: General Operating & Civic Engagement

  • Grantor: Hopewell Fund (501(c)(3) – Arabella Network)
  • Recipient: Count MI Vote Education Fund (501(c)(3))
  • Amount: $650,000 (Grant)
  • Purpose: General civil rights, social action, and voter education outreach.
  • Grantor: Sixteen Thirty Fund (501(c)(4))
  • Recipient: Count MI Vote / Voters Not Politicians
  • Amount: $375,000 (Grant)
  • Purpose: Policy advocacy and program support.

5. 2025–2026 Cycle: Monopoly Utility & Government Contractor Money Ban (Michiganders for Money Out of Politics)

  • Grantor: Global Impact Social Welfare Fund (501(c)(4))
  • Recipient: Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (Ballot Question Committee launched and co-led by Voters Not Politicians)
  • Amount: Approximately $280,000 (as part of a $560,000 joint injection with The Fairness Project)
  • Purpose: Funding signature-gathering petition drives and field operations to ban political contributions from regulated monopoly utilities (like DTE and Consumers Energy) and major government contractors.

Summary Totals by Grantor Entity (2018–2026)

  • Sixteen Thirty Fund: $17,636,370 ($6,750,000 directly to VNP / Count MI Vote; $11,261,370 to VNP's Promote the Vote coalition)
  • Hopewell Fund: $1,325,000 ($650,000 to VNP Education Fund; $675,000 to Promote the Vote coalition)
  • New Venture Fund: $100,000 (to VNP Education Fund)
  • Global Impact Social Welfare Fund: ~$280,000 (to VNP's Michiganders for Money Out of Politics initiative)

Combined Total from Network Allies:~$19,341,370

[cite: 1, 3, 4, 6]