This week's Democracy Notes
Hellooo!
I guess the vibes are a bit funky…
For you, what’s driving the vibes?
Are you a general counsel? In HR? We’re exploring creating a peer-learning cohort for you!
General counsel peer-learning cohort interest form
HR peer-learning cohort interest form
(If you’re not in those roles but someone on your team is, send this their way!)
Over at Democracy Notes Perspectives, we published “To protect democracy, pay attention to gender,” by Miriam Juan-Torres Gonzalez, Saskia Brechenmacher, and Laura Livingston. Check it out!!
And, writers! Some good news:
MIT Press has agreed to publish an anthology tied to The Protopian Prize short fiction contest, which we’re very proud to sponsor!
The two prize winners (one for the governance/democracy track, one for the AI track) will not only win $5K but get their stories published in the book, alongside a dozen or so well-known science fiction writers.
Big thanks to Gideon Lichfield and Ruthanna Emrys for making this happen! (And extra thanks to Gideon for his language describing the anthology.)
Democracy Notes 6/3
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
According to Democracy Fund, $268M in 501(c)3 support has already been moved via All by April to strengthen nonpartisan election work!
The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation (a Michigan foundation in spend-down mode) announced $2.75M in democracy-focused grants, including:
$500K — Voters Not Politicians Education Fund (to support the My City Votes and Detroit Votes programs)
$750K (over 3 years) — Michigan Voices
$750K (over 3 years) — Mothering Justice
$500K (over 2 years) — Promote the Vote Fund
$250K — Wayne State University’s Law School (to support the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy)
Congratulations to Cierra Brown Hinton, the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund’s next director! (And huge congrats to founding director Lizzy Hazeltine!)
Microsoft is funding three journalist roles to expand local reporting capacity in North Central Washington ($500K over two years).
They’re supporting a partnership between the Washington State University Murrow Fellows and Report for Washington.
Very, very cool fellowship for folks in philanthropy, courtesy of Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy!
Visiting and in-residence fellowship options, budget of up to $50K per project, deadline = 6/30!
The classifieds:
(Things you shared!)
Help us amplify your neat stuff! (Events, announcements, and more!) If you’d like us to include something in ~the classifieds~ our pricing is here.
Network leaders!!! Apply to join a free, 2.5-month Network Leaders Learning Cohort, facilitated by Third Plateau, in partnership with Contina Impact.
This is for professionals in the social impact sector (not just the democracy space!!) who lead, manage, convene, or facilitate networks — whether formally or informally.
Through six every-other-week learning sessions — and small group follow up in between — participants will connect in an intimate setting with peers to:
Deepen their network leadership skills,
Process real-time challenges, and
Build lasting relationships.
Nominate a colleague by June 8 or apply by June 12!
What to read:
(The big news)
Today’s political parties “have become hollow, campaign-driven organizations.”
What’s the alternative? Associational party-building!
A new report from New America’s Tabatha Abu El-Haj unpacks how New York’s Working Families Party offers a model for how parties might rebuild organizational capacity.
“One birthday, two party planners: Freedom 250 vs. America250, explained.”
In short:
Freedom 250 = Trump admin,
America250 is the nonprofit supporting the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which was established 10 years ago through an act of Congress.
There’s been controversy about both, for different reasons.
The Semiquincentennial Commission controversy is very well explained on its Wikipedia page.
Freedom 250 had almost all of its musical acts drop out over the past few days.
P.S. There’s a nonprofit planning “FreedomFest,” a musical celebration of a pro-democracy, pluralist vision of America’s future.
Drop me a line if you’d like to learn more!
What’s the purpose of public education? And what’s its connection to democracy?
A new series in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, supported by the Hewlett Foundation’s education program and the Stuart Foundation, “Renewing Public Education’s Purpose,” explores those questions.
The series includes: “Schools as Shared Civic Infrastructure” by Generation Citizen’s Elizabeth Clay Roy, and “Education and Its Public Purposes” by Danielle Allen.
How can 501(c)(3) public charities engage in ballot initiative campaigns while staying within legal guidelines?
Alliance for Justice’s “Seize the Initiative: A Legal Guide on Ballot Measures for Nonprofits and Foundations” is a great resource to find out!
Helpful data from a new(ish) kid on the block, Equal Futures, on how the U.S. compares to other OECD countries on voting rights!
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Are you a reporter at a nonprofit trying to figure out the legal bounds of election coverage?
Join Lawyers for Reporters and The Intercept’s Press Freedom Defense Fund for “Covering Elections as a Nonprofit: Understanding Prohibitions on Political Activity.”
6/9 at 2pm ET!
6/9 at 1:30pm ET — join NationSwell for “Restoring Social Connection in America: Common Purpose through Service and Community Engagement.”
Featuring: Jennifer Hoos Rothberg (Executive Director, Einhorn Collaborative), Aneesh Sohoni (CEO of Teach for America), Greg Weatherford II (The Allstate Foundation), and more!
6/18, 8:45-10:45am ET in person in DC — join Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) for “America at 250: History, Innovation, and the Next Chapter.”
Featuring: Chris Sununu, Glenn Nye, Michelle Jaconi, and more!
6/18 at 1pm ET — join the National Civic League for a webinar, “Democracy and the Economy: Rethinking Civic Participation.”
Ft. City University of New York (Professor Celina Su), CFLeads (Leonard Brock), and Democracy Collaborative (Joe Guinan).
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
RepresentUs Senior Writer and Press Manager — remote, $78K-$108K
Rethink Priorities Senior Democracy Analyst — remote, $115K-$145K (6/7 deadline!!)
Protect Democracy:
Data Scientist — remote, $84K-$92K
Tech Counsel (AI for Democracy Action Lab) — remote, $138K-$193K
Tech Policy Strategist (AI for Democracy Action Lab) — remote, $141K-$160K
The Carter Center consultancies (for their Michigan Nonpartisan Election Observation work):
Regional Coordinator — MI, $300-$500/day
Operations Manager — MI, $300-$500/day
Legal Analyst — MI, $300-$500/day
^ 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 contractor (researcher, writer, strategist, or anything in between)?
New America created a new talent pool to be considered for their project-based work!
Lots of roles over at ProPublica!!
When We All Vote Executive Director — DMV, $190K-$215K
Partnership for Public Service Manager, Public Policy & Stakeholder Engagement — DC, $75K-$95K
Center for Constitutional Rights Executive Director — NYC, $262K-$305K
American Journalism Support Project Audience Growth & Monetization Lead, Specialized Support Team — remote, $175K-$193K
Brennan Center for Justice Counsel/Senior Counsel, Liberty and National Security Program — NYC, $127K-$186K
Associated Press Elections Explanatory Reporter — DC, $53K-$85K
Recoding America Fund Vice President, States Initiatives — remote, $212K-$280K
Unify America Marketing Manager — remote, $70K-$80K
Constructive Dialogue Institute Director of Campus Culture Change — remote, $130K-$150K
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Chief of Staff — DC, $156K-$170K
Third Plateau Vice President of Technology — remote, $170K-$210K
Omidyar Network Principal, Programs and Policy — SF, $171K-$214K
Democracy Alliance Executive Assistant & Board Liaison — NYC, $80K-$100K
NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Chief of Staff — NYC, $125K-$165K
Knight Foundation Program Director, Community Impact — CA, $180K-$200K
Siegel Family Endowment Associate, Chairman’s Initiatives — NYC, $100K
Election Trust Initiative Senior Program Officer — DC (remote considered), no $ info
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Avery Davis-Roberts is now Director of the Democracy Program at The Carter Center!
Natalie Montelongo joined the Marguerite Casey Foundation as Director in the Office of the President.
Tom Baker IV founded Ground Truth NC, departing from Bridging Divides Initiative at Princeton University.
Morgan Marler joined Young Futures Org as Director of Partnerships!
Jacques Hebert is now Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at McKnight Foundation!
Adam LeClair joined the Board of Directors at Healthy Democracy!
Reddgo Long is now Program Manager at ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge!
Helene Khan joined the partnerships team at the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation!
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
See you soon,
Gabe