This week's Democracy Notes
Greetings, y’all!
Makeover alert!!! Democracy Takes is now Democracy Notes Perspectives.
AND, we’ve got a spicy new piece, “Pluralism can’t exist under authoritarianism,” from Jasmine Ramsey at Beyond Conflict.
Jasmine asks if we need a NATO-style approach to defending pro-democracy orgs and foundations. (If you come for one of us, you come for all of us.)
Also…we just hit 6,500 subscribers!! For the newbies, there’s also a Slack community (with nearly 1,000 folks!).
Lots of jobs, events, and asks for support on there. If you’re new (or a longtime lurker), post an intro and say hello!
(Also, brief reminder that it’s a 501c3 space and a space to demonstrate the best norms and vibes our community has to offer.)
P.S. We can’t do all this without your support!
Democracy Notes 4/3
Emergency resources:
(Help! 🎵)
Mergers!! Big fan. Here’s the case for them.
Want to do one? Accountability Lab, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture, and Digital Public teamed up to launch a partner-matching service.
Background info here.
Incredible resource directory spreadsheet for former feds.
Separately, a helpful graphic outlining resources available to former feds.
Looking to flee Skadden or Paul Weiss for a braver firm? You’re not alone.
NYT piece here.
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
Talk about raising the bar…
On stage at the Skoll World Forum, Jeff Skoll announced that the Skoll Foundation will increase spending by 30%+ this year, per John Palfrey on LinkedIn.
And major congratulations to Brazilian pro-democracy organization Pacto pela Democracia (Pact for Democracy), a winner of the 2025 Skoll Award!
LOTS of democracy-related grants announced by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, including to:
The American Exchange Project ($3M/3 years), Generation Citizen ($500K/2 years), Service Year Alliance ($1M/3 years), the Brennan Center ($600K/2 years), and more.
The Trust for Civic Life is back! They announced 114 grants to civic entrepreneur ($1.5M in total, $5K-$25K each) to fund experimental programs and projects in rural communities.
The Trust also recently released its 2024 annual report. (Nice graphic summary here.)
Key stats: $29.3M funds raised, $9.2M awarded (as of 2024) — $7.7M for civic hubs, $1.5M for civic entrepreneurs.
Parks nonprofits! $20-30K grant opportunity for you from the Trust for Public Land.
The MacArthur Foundation has a new board chair! Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, begins as chair in June.
He’s been on the board since 2020.
Boards, boards, boards…Kevin Stephenson, president of the investment team of Walton Enterprises, was appointed to the Knight Foundation Board of Trustees.
What to read:
(The big news)
As I wrote after attending the Brennan Center’s 2025 tabletop exercises last summer, the courts (alone) won’t save us. It’ll be the bravery of individuals and the American public.
We’re beginning to see glimmers of that spirit, as Protect Democracy writes in their If You Can Keep It newsletter.
Hell yes!! Law school deans standing up. And the American Bar Association + other bar associations!
Open primaries in New Mexico! A bill passed the legislature and now heads to the governor’s desk.
AmeriCorps surpassed 800 Employers of National Service — organizations that prioritize hiring alumni from AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Neat!
Bridging practitioners! Beyond Conflict is out with a new guide on correcting “meta-misperceptions.”
Not a massive nerd? Need translation? ~Meta-misperception correction~ is correcting false beliefs about what people think others think about them.
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Today!! 4pm ET Harvard Kennedy School webinar on democratic backsliding and resistance in the US with Erica Chenoweth and Steven Levitsky.
4/3-4/4: The Kettering Foundation is hosting its 2025 Imagining Community Symposium in Dayton, OH.
4/3: Workshop with Student Vote Research Network at the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) meeting in Chicago.
4/10: Paper launch! DemocracyNext webinar feat. their new paper on how everything from lighting to acoustics plays a role in citizen assemblies’ success.
4/17: Democracy is a disability issue! Event at the Museum of Science in Boston on end-to-end accessibility in civic participation.
We’re coming up on the National Week of Conversation! Both NWoC and the second annual Better Together Film Festival are 4/21-4/27.
Are you hosting a bridging themed event? Let organizers know so they can help share the word!
For partners and those attending, here’s a kit to help you promote.
Sign up to host a Better Together Film Festival event in your community.
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Based in Houston? The Houston League of Women Voters is accepting applications for board members!
Institute for Responsive Government Senior Assistant to the Executive Director — remote, $75K-$105K
Highlander Research and Education Center Executive Director or Co-Executive Directors — TN (flexible), $116K
Lead this iconic civil rights organization!!!
Voting Rights Lab Senior Director of Development — remote, Bay Area preferred, $128K-$170K
American Humanist Association Legal and Policy Assistant — remote, $50K-$55K
Generation Citizen Mid-Atlantic Region Program Director — Mid-Atlantic Region, $87K-$96K
Institute for Nonprofit News Development Director, NewsMatch — remote, $110K-$125K
Campus Compact Student Leadership Academy (SLA) Program Coordinator — remote, $59K
Democracy Forward HR Generalist — DC, $85K-$100K
Campaign Legal Center Paralegal — DC, $63K-$85K
Issue One:
Legislative Manager — DC preferred, $80K-$95K
Policy Director — DC preferred, $110K-$130K
Tides Foundation Executive Director — most US states, salary varies by location, $191K-$286K
ProPublica Reporter, National — NY or remote, $95K-$170K
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Senior Program Officer — Princeton, $158K
Democracy Docket Sponsorship & Marketing Specialist — DC or NJ, $70K-$78K
Braver Angels CEO — remote, $200K-$250K
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Peacebuilding Director — Cambodia, Guatemala, Jordan, Kenya, Philadelphia or remote, $95K-$120K
New Media Ventures Director of Fundraising — LA, Bay Area, NY, or DC preferred (location flexible), $107K-$145K
The Rockefeller Foundation Senior Associate, Research & Content — NY, $96K-$113K
Committee on States Executive Director — remote, $250K-$300K
The Associated Press Foundation Development Associate (same role, 3 location options):
New_ Public Operations Fellow — remote, $40/hour
POPVOX Foundation Internships — remote, no $ listed :(
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Exciting board updates from the American Journalism Project:
Jim Brady, VP of journalism at the Knight Foundation, has joined the board!
Irving Washington is now chair of the board! He’s been on the board since 2018 and was previously vice chair.
Kevin Hurtado joined New American Leaders as Director of Development!
He previously served in the same capacity at Voting Rights Lab.
Bill Braniff has joined American University’s PERIL (Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab) as co-Executive Director!
He was previously Director of the Center for Prevention Partnerships and Programs (CP3) at DHS.
He joins founder Cynthia Miller-Idriss in co-leading the organization. Press release here.
Promotion alert!
Ray Garcia is now the Marketing, Communications & Coalition Manager at Rebuild Local News.
Rollie Olson begins a new role as Research & Media Manager, Office of the President at Interfaith America.
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
Can’t get enough of Democracy Notes? Join the Slack community!
Take care,
Gabe
Things may get contentious with this one…
Thank you for this substack. I am a career non-profit professional hoping to work more directly to strengthen democracy and civic engagement. This has been a wealth of information.
I cant express how much I love this substack!!! you do an Amazing job with it! I am always looking for opportunities in the Great Lakes region.