The Lei Chen Democracy and Human Rights Fund (hereinafter the "Lei Chen Public Interest Fund") is a public interest trust fund established through negotiations between the government and the family of Mr. Lei Chen, dedicated to consolidating and deepening human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. In 1960, because he founded the Free China magazine and actively promoted the formation of an opposition party, Mr. Lei Chen was arrested and imprisoned by the Taiwan Garrison Command on "suspicion of sedition," becoming one of the most symbolic political prisoners in Taiwan's democratization process.

Beginning in 2009, the fund established the "Lei Chen Democracy and Human Rights Memorial Lecture," inviting international figures who have made outstanding contributions to knowledge creation or practical action in the fields of human rights, the rule of law, and democracy to deliver a series of lectures in Taiwan. Past intellectual giants invited include legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin, global justice theorist Thomas Pogge, former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Albie Sachs, Harvard Law School Professor Cass Sunstein, and "Unconditional Basic Income" advocate Philippe Van Parijs.

Starting in 2023, a lecture series themed "Taiwan's Democratic Crises and Prospects" was specially initiated. Proceeding from Taiwan's geopolitical predicament, it invites democratic nations along the First Island Chain to jointly consider: how can the development of democracy confront the threats and challenges originating from China?