Piper Fund was established in 1997 as a funder collaborative to support the growing movement of campaign finance reform efforts at the state level. Over its 12 year history, Piper has supported some of the most innovative efforts to secure comprehensive reform including the Connecticut Clean Elections victory in 2005, flagship state-wide programs in Arizona and Maine and successful efforts to secure Clean Elections programs for discrete sets of offices in states around the country.

Members of the Piper donor collaborative contribute funds to a joint pool, guide the development of collective grantmaking strategies, and recommend strategic grants. In 2008 and 2009, several foundations and individual donors have either joined the Piper Collaborative for the first time or have renewed their participation – the Arkay Foundation, Columbia Foundation, Copen Family Fund, Mitchell Kapor Foundation, Sandler Family Foundation, and Stuart Family Foundation.

Piper Fund is rooted in the belief that comprehensive campaign finance reform is a cornerstone in the struggle to redeem and enlarge our democracy. Fueled by a strong collaboration of foundations and individual donors, Piper’s grant program expands the reach of campaign finance reform in states by supporting and disseminating research, facilitating technical assistance for advocates, and moving needed financial resources to the field. The resulting breakthroughs at the state level hold forth the promise of opening up campaigns to new and diverse voices while providing important models to advance reform at the federal level, altering the country's political equation on almost every substantive issue that matters in people's lives.