This week's Democracy Notes
Woo!!
We just crossed 12,000 subscribers!! (We’re at 12,170, to be exact.)
When I started writing Democracy Notes in January 2024, I never imagined there’d be this many people interested in my curation. It’s been a very neat journey!
I’m able to write this newsletter because many of you have become paid subscribers (including two of you in the last week!).
I’ve got two asks for you in that vein: a poll question and (as you might expect) an ask to become a paid subscriber!
Democracy Notes 7/16
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
LOTS more detail here on the Borealis Philanthropy “Just Futures Initiative” grant opportunity mentioned in last week’s edition.
“Most grants are expected to fall within the $50,000–$75,000 range, with a smaller number of larger collaborative or ecosystem grants up to $200,000”
Grants will be 12-months and general operating support.
Three priority funding lanes:
Movement Defense + Protection of Civil and Human Rights
Community-Defined Safety + Innovative Alternatives to Criminalization
Local Democracy Protection + Belonging Infrastructure
Orgs in Washington state! Inatai Foundation just opened applications for a $2M “Safety & Resilience Fund.”
Awards will be $25K-$75K per organization.
Deadline is 8/18.
The American Journalism Project (AJP) announced $3.25M in investments in three nonprofit local news organizations:
$1M — The Maine Monitor
$1.25M — NC Local
$1M — The Richmonder
These investments follow last week’s $1.4M investment by the AJP, Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, More Perfect, and the Public Media Bridge Fund in Texas Public Radio after its combination with the San Antonio Report.
The Cleveland-based George Gund Foundation announced two grants in their “Democracy Building” program area:
$250K over 2 years — Fair Elections Center
$250K over 2 years — Ohio Mayors Alliance Foundation
What to read:
(The big news)
What do “political operatives” from both parties think about the parties themselves and electoral reform?
Nifty new report from Bipartisan Policy Center!
Pete Buttigieg…biiig democracy reform guy.
In his interview with The Bulwark’s Tim Miller this week, he talked about:
Expanding SCOTUS and the House of Representatives,
DC statehood,
A constitutional amendment on money in politics,
“The Montana Plan” to curb money in politics, and
Accountability! (Partial quote below.)
“This is not about going after fellow Americans who disagreed with us politically. This is about making sure that corruption doesn’t go unchecked….It’s not about Republicans and Democrats.”
Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance is out with their 2026 summer reading lists! Check out reading lists from:
We looooove field building! And state capacity needs a field!
Really excellent piece from Recoding America CEO Anne Healy over at Daniel Stid’s The Art of Association.
~Youths~ ! Write about youth civic engagement for CIRCLE’s “2026 Youth Expertise Series.”
Submissions due 8/10! (Must be 16-26 years young.)
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Something verrrry neat: a project I’ve been deeply involved with as an advisor is going live in just two weeks!!
It’s The Higher Education Democracy Exchange (HEDEX).
HEDEX was developed and is led by Campus Compact and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), in partnership with More Perfect and UVA’s Karsh Institute.
I hope you’ll join the launch event on Wednesday, July 29 at 1:30 PM ET!
And…check out the recording of last week’s Democracy Notes event (sponsored by Lumina Foundation), “What’s happening in higher ed?”
7/23 1-2pm ET — HIT Strategies is hosting a webinar on young voters: “Not Who You Think They Are.”
Register here!
10/2-10/4 — Join Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life for the 2026 Frontiers of Democracy conference in Medford, MA!
The theme is “The United States at 250: Meeting the Moment for Democracy, in the US and Around the World.”
Propose a session by July 19! Registration opens soon.
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
TechCongress (DC):
Managing Director — $210K-$225K
Vice President of Expansion — $165K-$195K
Third Plateau Development Manager, Democracy — remote, $100K-$120K
The Austin Common Staff Reporter — Austin, TX, $60K
Campus Compact HEDEX Engagement Manager — remote, $65K-$75K
^ 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!
Trust for Civic Life Communications Officer — remote, $125K+
iCivics Chief Communications and Marketing Officer — remote, $180K-$200K
Proteus Fund Vice President for Programs — remote, $177K-$210K
PEN America:
Manager, Authors’ Evenings and Special Events — NYC, $75K-$85K
Program Manager, Freedom to Learn — DC or NYC, $75K-$85K
University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Program Associate, Civic Leadership Academy — Chicago, $55K-$60K
Public Media Bridge Fund Head of Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships — remote, $125K-$175K
Brennan Center for Justice Program Associate, Elections and Government Program — NYC or DC, $56K-$70K
Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas:
Digital Communications Consultant — remote, $3K/month (4 month contract, 20 hrs/wk)
Research Consultant — remote, $8K/month
Campaign Legal Center Senior Manager, Communications — DC, $111K-$150K
States United Democracy Center Director of Partnerships — remote, $170K+
Civic Nebraska Director of Development — Lincoln, NE, $85K+
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Development Manager — Chicago, $65K-$70K
Priority deadline was 7/15!
Issue One Election Protection Intern — DC (or remote in select states), $18.40/hr (12-25hr/wk)
Priority deadline is 7/17!
Rebuild Local News:
Coalition & Partnerships Coordinator — remote, $70K-$80K
Maine State Coordinator — remote (Maine preferred), $70K-$80K
The Penn Center on Media, Technology and Democracy (Penn MEDIATED):
Research Analyst — remote or Philadelphia, $25/hr (20 hrs/wk)
Communications Associate (Undergraduate Student) — Philadelphia, $18/hour (5-10 hrs/wk)
Charlotte Journalism Collaborative Charlotte Documenters Program Manager — Charlotte, NC, $60K
Obama Presidential Center Senior Associate, Civics & Democracy Youth Education — Chicago, $79K-$99K
ACLU of Pennsylvania Director of Advocacy and Policy — Philadelphia, $175K
Human Rights Foundation Design Director — NYC, $120K-$135K
University of Notre Dame Assistant Professor in Quantitative Political Science — Notre Dame, IN, no $ info :(
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Transitions over at People Powered!
Founder and Co-Executive Director Josh Lerner has stepped down to work on a book project on the future of democracy!
Greta Ríos will continue as the organization’s sole Executive Director!
Melissa Williams has joined Democracy Defenders Action as Director of Election Safeguarding Initiatives!
Sean Jones has joined Salzburg Global as Managing Director, US Office!
Artie Hartsell is now Senior Research Specialist and North Carolina State Lead at the Bridging Divides Initiative!
Teresa Mioli has joined the Pulitzer Center as Program Manager for U.S. Outreach!
Taylor J. Swift has joined Recoding America Fund as Director of Federal Government Affairs!
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
See you soon,
Gabe
Here's the challenge, Gabriel. I am retired, on a fixed income, and am currently spending more than I can afford on outstanding Substack subscriptions. In fact, I am in the process of cancelling a few owing to unpredictable circumstances. This is, I suspect, a common dilemma. Modest subscription rates times multiple subscriptions can quickly add up.
So, what to do? Cancel those we can't afford? Constantly juggle subscriptions if we encounter one more focused on our interests than one we already have?
The Substack community is a magnificent idea, but it now costs me more per year than my subscription to the metropolitan newspaper for our area--and I am seriously contemplating cancelling that subscription.
What are your thoughts?