This week's Democracy Notes
Greetings!
Last week’s National Conference on Citizenship was a blast. Almost as fun as the seesaws in Franklin Park…
A brief recommendation up top: if you listen to one thing this week, listen to Daniel Hunter on the Kettering Foundation’s podcast, The Context.
The episode, “Practical Advice for Reclaiming Democracy,” brought me some much-needed clarity (and catharsis).
Out of curiosity…
Democracy Notes 9/23
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
165+ foundations (and counting) have signed a statement (organized by Unite in Advance) in response to the Trump Administration’s expected crackdown on foundations post-Charlie Kirk shooting.
NYT coverage here. Again, not a fan of NYT reporter Theodore Schleifer referring to a broad swath of American philanthropy as “progressive.”
Congrats to the Trust for Civic Life’s newly-announced 2025 Civic Hub grantees! 26 groups received a total of $8M in new funding.
At More Perfect and iCivics’ constitution day event last week, funders announced multi-million dollar commitments to civics education and national service.
It was a bit hard to parse the total amount and breakdown of giving.
A Chronicle of Philanthropy article, now linked on More Perfect’s website, cites $56M in “long-planned pledges by the Bezos Family Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Stand Together…”
At the event, a representative of the Bezos Family Foundation made that same announcement, seemingly on behalf of the broader group of funders.
Carnegie and Lumina also made announcements at the event (more deets below). It’s unclear to me how much Stand Together and the Bezos Family Foundation committed.
The Carnegie Corporation of New York announced $3M in new funding for iCivics and More Perfect:
$500K for core support for More Perfect,
$2.55M to iCivics to support their CivxNow program (Carnegie’s ninth grant to iCivics).
Lumina Foundation announced support ($ amount not shared) for a collaborative new initiative, Declaration Next.
The effort will bring two- and four-year college students from across Virginia together at the Democracy 360 conference next month to reimagine the Declaration of Independence.
Partners include Monticello, UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, and More Perfect.
Applications for the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund are now open! $25-$100K grants available for youth- and intergenerationally-led orgs.
The Mellon Foundation awarded $1.5M to a very cool organization, the Department of Public Transformation!
Funding will support creative third spaces in rural communities.
The Kettering Foundation pledged $500K over two years to support Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report.
What to read:
(The big news)
Op eds and reports won’t break through!!!
In their new report, “For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies,” Renée DiResta and Rachel Kleinfeld make the case for new theories of influence (and new approaches).
Are we talking about political discourse all wrong? Thought-provoking LinkedIn post and piece about the conversation around Charlie Kirk.
AmeriCorps things! Congrats to Service Year Alliance on launching the Center for State Service Innovation!
(With support and/or partnership from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Einhorn Collaborative, America’s Service Commissions, and More Perfect.)
And…congratulations to the 2025-2026 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows!
Each year Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors nominate one “exemplary community-committed student” from their school.
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
We’re ~thrilled~ to be co-sponsoring an in-person event at New America on 10/24 with PACE and Campus Compact.
It’s all about “everyday democracy” — how local leaders are building trust and belonging.
Register here!
Wanna learn more about…violent extremism, online misogyny, and men & boys? (Who wouldn’t…)
Podcast! Taiwan’s former Digital Minister, Audrey Tang, on AI + citizen assemblies.
9/29 — hybrid event on trust and safety in gaming! (NYC and online.)
“Mainstreaming Trust and Safety in Online Games,” courtesy of NYU Stern Center, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and AU's CSINT.
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy:
Director, Organizing — remote, $110K-$125K
Director, Development — remote, $110K-$125K
Hamkae Center Executive Director — Virginia (hybrid), $100K-$120K
Center for Tech and Civic Life Organizing Associate — remote, $61K-$78K
Considering public office? Staffing a campaign? Are you a veteran, AmeriCorps alumni, teacher, social worker, or servant leader (definition here)?
Apply for New Politics Academy’s leadership program, Answering the Call! (Due 10/3.)
^ 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!
Fellowships!!
Georgetown University Congressional Technology & Policy Fellowship —six-week program for Congressional staff. Due 10/10.
Princeton University James Madison Visiting Fellow Program — Princeton, stipend of 1/2 academic-year salary + a living allowance, max of $130K.
Harvard Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation fellowships:
Allen Lab Fellowships (Research Fellowship and Policy Fellowship)
Reimagining Democracy Program Fellowships (for researchers)
Votebeat Arizona Reporter — remote (AZ), $75K-$90K
Knight Foundation Director, Community Impact Operations — Miami, $130K-$160K
States United Democracy Center:
Project Associate (Legal) — remote, $68K
Legal Internship (Summer 2026) (x2) — remote, $7,500 stipend for 10 weeks
Program Director (Rule of Law) — remote, $213K
Senior Counsel (Election Protection) — remote, $170K
Rebuild Local News:
Development Manager — remote, $70K-$85K
Deputy Campaigns Director — remote, $90K-$110K
Tufts University Center for Expanding Viewpoints in Higher Education Program Manager — Medford, MA (hybrid), $73K-$109K
Save Democracy in America State Organizer — IA, MI, PA, or WI, $65K-$75K
OpenSecrets Director of Product — remote, $110K-$125K
Raikes Foundation Executive Director — Seattle, $325K-$375K
Princeton University James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions Assistant Director — Princeton, NJ, $92K-$109K
Harvard Kennedy School Director, Office of Belonging, Community, and Connection — Boston, $121K-$216K
University of Notre Dame College of Arts & Letters: Political Science Professor — Notre Dame, no $ info :(
Renew Democracy Initiative:
Communications Intern (part time) — hybrid (DC or NYC preference), no $ info :(
Frontlines of Freedom Intern (part time) — hybrid (DC or NYC preference), no $ info :(
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Nathan Stock has left The Carter Center. He's now working through his LLC to help Common Ground USA build resilience to political violence in Minnesota and beyond. Congratulations!
Carolyn Tara O'Neil is now NYC Votes Neighborhoods Manager for the NYC Campaign Finance Board. So cool!
Hala Furst joined Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) as Director of Strategic Partnerships!
Jessica DeLoach is now Deputy Director of Public and Media Relations at the Southern Poverty Law Center!
Congrats to News Creator Corps on their launch!
Rachel Lobdell is executive director, Annemarie Dooling is program manager, Maya Srikrishnan is researcher, and Jay Rosen is president!
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
Can’t get enough of Democracy Notes? Join the Slack community!
See you soon,
Gabe