This week's Democracy Notes

Democracy jobs, articles, and more.

Welcome back!

Hello again! Welcome back to Democracy Notes. For those joining for the first time, I’m Gabe Lerner. This is where I share the best jobs and funding opportunities that I find — and the articles worth your scarce reading time.

If you like Democracy Notes, I’d love for you to share it with a colleague!

Email me at gabe@democracy-notes.org (or reply to this email) with any and all recs.

Democracy Notes 2/7

What to read:

(Articles/reports)

• Field in Focus: The State of Pro-Democracy Institutional Philanthropy

  • The “how big is the field” numbers in Democracy Fund’s new report are helpful (e.g., institutional philanthropy for democracy is ~$6bn).

  • But I found the funder survey responses on future priorities most helpful:

    • 1st place: media policy and mis/disinformation

    • 2nd place: election administration

    • 3rd place: journalism

What to watch/listen to/attend:

(Events, podcasts, and more)

• Want the gist of Protect Democracy’s Authoritarian Playbook for 2025? Listen to minutes 8 to 33 of the Bulwark’s Thursday night podcast with Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin and Amanda Carpenter.

• Great interview with Steven Levitsky (How Democracies Die; Harvard prof) on the Kettering Foundation’s new podcast.

  • I’m currently making my way through Levitsky and Ziblatt’s new book, Tyranny of the Minority.

Where to work:

(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)

• Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University is hiring:

  • Community Organizing Associate — Michigan, $56,022 - $58,000

• The MacArthur Foundation is hiring (all in Chicago):

  • Administrator, Local News — $73,900

  • Program Coordinator, Local News/New Work Exploration — $67,600

• Urban Libraries Council National Program Manager — Washington, DC (hybrid), no $ listed

  • Work with the amazing Shamichael Hallman!

• Service Year Alliance Director, Bridging Divides — (remote), $80-$100K

  • I’m most bullish on bridging programming done through AmeriCorps/national service — great opportunity to do just that!

• Report for America Manager of Local News Sustainability —  remote, $70 - $80K, (deadline Feb 16)

• Students! Gen Z! Check out the Democracy Group’s Student Podcast Fellowship — remote, stipend (deadline Feb 12)

• Aspen Institute’s Better Arguments Project Ambassador Program — remote, stipend (Feb 14 deadline)

• McKnight Foundation Senior Program Officer — Minneapolis, $152K

  • This was posted in December but is still listed on the search firm’s website

Where to find funding:

($$$)

• RFP for public affairs firms/consultants to support A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy. Total budget for is $70 - $90K for up-to-nine months of support.

• For awareness: Not funding, but a Democracy Fund-led funder pledge—All by April—to get money out the door for 2024 pro-democracy efforts by April

Thanks, as always, for your attention. If you found this valuable, please forward it to a democracy friend or colleague!