This week's Democracy Notes
Hello, hello!
Did you miss PACE’s funder-only democracy futures day? Fear not! (Just join our event on Monday!)
You’ll hear:
Gideon Lichfield (former editor-in-chief of WIRED and the writer of Futurepolis) narrate a scenario for our democracy in 2040, and
Kelly Born (Democracy, Rights, and Governance Director at the Packard Foundation) share about the Democracy Futures Project.
Be there or be square! (3pm ET on Monday, registration is here.)
Poll time:
Sounds like (many) of you like the memes. Phew!
Democracy Notes 6/26
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
There’s a new pooled fund on the block: the Conservative Agenda for Democracy Fund (CADF)!
They’ll be making one-year, one-time, general operating support grants of ~$25K-$50K.
Their initial focus is on elections (“state and local conservative efforts that promote policies and behavior necessary for a free, fair, and trusted elections system”), BUT
They’ll also explore efforts related to talent, civics education, and rule of law.
Things are happening over at New Pluralists!
Liz Vogel, who has been Interim Executive Director since Uma Viswanathan departed at the end of October, is now Co-Executive Director! Congrats!
They’ve launched a search for Liz’s counterpart:
New Pluralists Co-Executive Director — remote, $210K-$230K
In April, New Pluralists released their “2030 Strategy,” focused on dehumanization, disconnection, and distrust (we love an alliteration).
Scholars! $20K grants to support your research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright law, and the public interest. (Deadline 7/1!)
Courtesy of Authors Alliance, with support from the Knight Foundation.
The MacArthur Foundation announced $6.5M in new funding to seven Chicago newsrooms and organizations.
They also announced the election of two new board members:
Dr. Megan Bang, former SVP of the Spencer Foundation and “a scholar of the learning sciences whose work centers Indigenous communities,” and
Dr. Mariko Silver, CEO of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and former CEO of the Henry Luce Foundation.
What do funders need to know about domestic deployment of the military? Democracy Fund President Joe Goldman has the intel.
LA was a testing ground, he writes. So, what should we expect next?
“The President has stated that he will send ICE tactical teams to New York City, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Northern Virginia. If that happens, we can expect more lawful protests, and more opportunities to attempt to justify the use of force.”
What to read:
(The big news)
Keep an eye out for SCOTUS decisions tomorrow (Friday). Here’s a quick rundown from Campaign Legal Center.
Former federal employees and contractors!
$3K partial scholarships (~1/3 tuition) for Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs graduate certificate programs. Apply for $ here.
What builds trust, agency, and belonging in rural areas? In short, action > dialogue.
Here are the other key findings from the Trust for Civic Life and the SNF Agora Institute’s recent report!
Reallll brief primer by Protect Democracy on politicized executive actions targeting nonprofits.
And here’s analysis on congressional investigations into nonprofits from ICNL.
Missed the 2025 News Philanthropy Summit (co-hosted by the Lenfest Institute and Press Forward)? Key takeaways for newsroom fundraisers here!
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Tonight at 8pm ET! Join Principles First’s (virtual) town hall with Rich Logis, founder Leaving MAGA.
Also tonight! (In Brooklyn!) You've heard about mental and physical health...how about social health?
Join Fabrik at 5pm for their inaugural Social Connection Summit!
Youths! (14-24) Due tomorrow! Apply for the Institute for Citizens & Scholars’ Our Voices Summit, Aug 14-16 in Philly!
Media Impact Funders just released videos from the 2025 Media Impact Forum! Check ‘em out!
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Digital Fundraising Coordinator — DC, $55K-$65K
States United Democracy Center Senior Vice President of Communications — remote, $250K+
The Carter Center Associate Director, Media Relations, Communications — Atlanta, $85K-$90K
Issue One:
Strategic Engagement Manager — DC, $60K-$80K
Director, The Council for American Democracy (TCAD) — DC, $110K-$130K
Governors Safeguarding Democracy Policy Counsel — remote, $150K-$170K
^ These orgs really want to reach great candidates in the Democracy Notes community! If you’d like to promote a role with us, our options are here!
Are you a nonprofit or public agency that could use some media arts & video production help over the next year?
As part of Civic Bridgers’ Bridging Fellowship program, you could get an amazing (partially) AmeriCorps-funded fellow for the next 12 months!
The cost to your org is $2,000 per month ($24,000 for the full year).
If you’re interested, reach out to Libby Stegger (libby@civicbridgers.org), Executive Director of Civic Bridgers.
Interested in responsible tech jobs? Check out All Tech Is Human's Responsible Tech Careers Newsletter!
Recent grads! ReNew Democracy Fellowship — DC, $5.5K/month, $1K relocation stipend (due 6/30)
Google News Initiative News Program Manager, Global Partnerships — various locations, $107K-$153K
LinkedIn post here.
University of Pennsylvania Penn Center for Media, Technology, and Democracy:
Communications and Research Manager — Philadelphia, $55K-$72K
Engagement and Policy Manager — Philadelphia, $55K-$72K
Unite America Prospect Research Manager — Denver, $70K-$90K
Interfaith America Chief Communications Officer — Chicago, $230K-$250K
Work for America Director of Strategic Communications — remote, $145K
Cohesion Strategy Senior Associate, Research & Communications — remote, $26-$32/hr
ACLU Fall 2025 Intern, Democracy and Technology — DC (remote or hybrid), $20-24/hr
Rank the Vote Social Media Organizer — remote, $18-$24/hr
The Tow Foundation Program Lead — New Canaan (CT), $135K-$150K
ProPublica Host, Audio — remote, $150K-$175K (deadline tonight 6pm ET!)
American Oversight:
Director, People and Operations — remote, $135K-$150K
Fall Legal Intern — DC, $22/hr
Legal Fellowship Placement Opportunities — remote, no funding
Senior Press Secretary — remote, $85K-$110K
Renew Democracy Initiative:
Development Coordinator — DC or NY, $60K-$80K
Executive Assistant to the CEO — DC or NY, $60K-$80K
New Voters Program Manager — remote, $56K-$62K
Institute for Responsive Government Senior Policy Advisor — remote, $135K-$155K
Common Cause:
Senior Organizer, Georgia — GA, $72K-$90K
Senior Campaigns Manager — remote, $98K-$113K
The Aspen Institute: Weave: The Social Fabric Project Community Manager — DC, $90K-$98K
SNF Agora Institute Managing Director — Baltimore, $200K-$275K
Center for Democracy and Technology AI Governance Fellow — DC (remote possible), $80K-$115K
All Voting is Local:
Executive Vice President for Communications — DC, $181K-$199K
Executive Vice President for State Campaigns & Programs — DC, $181K-$199K
Democracy Docket Researcher — DC or Jersey City, $75K-$85K
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Program Officer, Democracy — Atlanta, no $ info
Protect Democracy Freelance Designer — remote, no $ info
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Freedom House officially has two new presidents: Gerardo Berthin and Annie Boyajian! Congratulations!
Congrats to Report for America’s inaugural summer intern cohort!
Huge round of applause to the inaugural Community Foundations Leading Change CF Leads fellows, Adán Chávez and Imani Missouri!
Lots of promotions over at Generation Citizen:
LaJuan Allen has been promoted to Executive Director of Vote16USA!
Megan Brandon has been promoted to Senior Program Director, South Region!
Morgan Chong Kim has been promoted to Executive Director, West Region!
Angela K. Evans is now Solutions Journalism Network’s new Communities of Practice Director! Congrats on the promotion!
Trei Brundrett is now Founder in Residence at New_ Public!
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
Can’t get enough of Democracy Notes? Join the Slack community!
See you soon,
Gabe