This week's Democracy Notes
Greetings!
Ye olde common colde got me. But we’re back!
While I was under the weather, Jake continued to publish great stuff via Democracy Notes Encore, our LinkedIn newsletter. Check it out!
AND, over at Democracy Notes Perspectives, we recently published two great pieces:
“Why we should focus on hate-fueled violence, not just political violence,” by Ryan Greer, president of Bedrock. Link here.
“Is Lever for Change's peer review process biased?” by Dom Kelly, CEO of New Disabled South. Link here.
We’d love to publish your writing! Submit your pitch (or your finished 300-400 word piece) here after checking out our contributor guidelines.
Without further ado…
Democracy Notes 5/15
Emergency resources:
(Help! 🎵)
For those affected by National Science Foundation (NSF) grant terminations:
$25K response grants to help you continue your research! First deadline 5/30.
Priority to early-career scholars!
Free career support (resume reviews, 30-minute career chats, and more) for anyone impacted by federal layoffs and research funding cuts.
Donate to this mutual aid fund for United States Institute of Peace (USIP) folks (who are not considered federal workers and who are especially hurting).
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
HEAPS of foundation leadership transitions!
Stephen Heintz is retiring as President and CEO of Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) after 25 years in spring 2026.
Michele Lawrence Jawando is Omidyar Network’s new President!
She reports to Mike Kubzansky, who will continue in his role as CEO.
More deets on promotions at Omidyar Network in the transitions section!
Longtime Roosevelt Institute executive Felicia Wong is joining the Freedom Together Foundation as a Senior Fellow (in a part time capacity).
She’ll be leading their new Progressive Vision Project.
Wong will remain on staff at the Roosevelt Institute, advising the org’s new President and CEO, Elizabeth Wilkins, through 2025.
Knight Foundation VP of Journalism Jim Brady is leaving his role in June.
He’ll be taking the summer off. Hell yes.
Next up: funding opportunities!
Minnesota folks! $50K grants available from the MN Forward Pooled Fund.
Grants will emphasize efforts created and led by communities impacted by the short- and long-term effects brought on by federal shifts.
Deadline is 5/22! C3s, c4s, and c6s are all eligible.
Arts folks in Akron, Detroit and Miami! Apply for the Knight Foundation’s Knight Art + Tech Expansion Fund. Deadline 6/20.
Damn!! The Marguerite Casey Foundation is 5x’ing its giving this year to $130M.
They’ve already rapidly deployed $40M to orgs working to protect the freedom of the press, free speech, and the right to assemble.
Also neat: “In general, [the foundation] provides grantees 25% of their budgets for five years.”
The right-of-center Philanthropy Roundtable published a blog post against increasing the tax on private foundation endowments.
Notable quote: “We should resist supporting policies that pick winners and losers based on ideology because ultimately, what goes around comes around.”
What to read:
(The big news)
Who’s been courageous lately? Many, many nonprofits.
They signed a statement standing with Harvard “against the government’s…improper efforts to remove its tax-exempt status.”
What are the youths thinking?? Two polls have the answers:
Youths!! (Ages 14-24.) Get $7.5K to work with a team to improve your community.
Courtesy of the Institute for Citizens and Scholars’ Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness program. Deadline is 5/28.
"By building our communities on the same principles that we build machines, we’ve squeezed the life out of civic life." - Sam Pressler
New_ Public is doing something cool (again). They’re building an alternative to NextDoor and Facebook Groups for local communities.
They’re thinking and learning out loud in this piece.
The Trump Admin has been sued a lot. Just Security has a great tracker here.
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Library people! City employees!
Webinar series from Strong Cities Network; this month’s installment — libraries and their role in violence prevention, Tuesday 5/20 at 10 am ET.
Funding for democracy-focused nonprofits is shifting—are you prepared?
Join Impala for a webinar on navigating this shift and leveraging their free US Democracy Hub! 5/29, 11 am ET.
Media funders! Attend the 2025 Media Impact Forum in Philly on 6/10.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa is keynoting!
Do you work at a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Workshop on cultivating belonging and resilience from AU’s Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL), 6/18 at 2 pm ET.
Looking for a global perspective on authoritarian trends? Join the American Academy of Arts & Sciences on 5/21 at 1 pm ET.
Featuring: Timothy Snyder, Stephen Heintz, and Kim Lane Scheppele.
6/27 in Denver — join the National Civic League for a Democracy Innovations Workshop for strengthening hometown civic health!
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Democracy Protection Network (DPN):
Director — remote, $155K-$175K
Operations Associate — remote, $65K-$75K
P.S. Y’all should know about this initiative! It’s meant to keep us safe.
The DPN coordinates low/no-cost crisis-response services (legal, crisis comms, physical, and cyber security) for organizations and leaders who are working to strengthen our democracy and who come under authoritarian attack.
RFP alert!
Higher Education Democracy Exchange (HEDx) Platform Proposal — maximum budget of $165K
Center for Tech and Civic Life Organizing Manager — remote, $80K-$97K
Issue One Director of Foundations and Advancement Operations — DC, $95K-$110K
Protect Democracy State Campaign Strategist — remote, $141K-$166K
Dēmos:
Associate Director, Democracy — remote, $126K-$136K
Data & Policy Analyst, Democracy Reform — NY, $87K-$110K
Tiny News Collective Membership Director — remote, $100K-$108K
Voting Rights Lab Senior Director of Development East Coast — DC, $140K-$170K
Civic News Company Vice President of Growth and Community — remote, $140K-$160K
Interfaith America Assistant Director of Emerging Leaders Network — Chicago, $80K-$90K
National Conference of State Legislatures Director, Elections and Redistricting Program — Denver, $126K
Sightline Institute Lead Researcher, Alaska — remote, $106K-$125K
Reuters:
U.S. Political Correspondent — NY/SF/LA/Irvine/McLean/DC, $72K-$130K
U.S. Race and Justice Correspondent — NY/SF/LA/Irvine/McLean/DC, $72K-$130K
Common Cause Program Manager, North Carolina — NC, $80K-$95K
The Rockefeller Foundation Senior Vice President, Program Integration — NY, $354K-$420K
Omidyar Network Reporters in Residence Program — remote, $50K
Freedom Together Foundation:
VP of Communications — NY, $270K-$285K
Executive Coordinator to the Office of the President — NYC, $117K
Special Assistant to the President — NYC, $170K-$215K
Common Ground USA National Advisor — DC, $97K-$131K
Siegel Family Endowment In-House Research Fellow — NY (preferred), $80K
American Political Science Association Associate Editor, Political Science Today — DC, $28-$34/hr
Bellingcat Executive Director — remote, $225-$275K
Digital Freedom Fund Board Member — remote, €1.8K honorarium
All Voting is Local National Communications Manager — remote, $80K-$96K
Polarization and Extremism Research Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University Curriculum and Training Manager — DC, $68K-$70K
The Miami Foundation Director, Press Forward South Florida — Miami, $80K-$110K
Wisconsin Watch Philanthropy Officer — Milwaukee, $60K+
Unite and Renew Fund Director, Investments and Operations — remote, $140K-$175K
Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics:
Director of Programs & Events — Cambridge, $87K-$151K
Director of Strategic IOP Initiatives — Cambridge, $87K-$151K
Democracy Works Senior Partner Success Manager — remote, $81K-$90K
From Kevin McCabe, founder of GenForward:
“I’m looking for a collaborator to help co-build GenForward, a new initiative supporting rising democratic leaders around the world. If you're passionate about civic engagement, international affairs, or youth leadership, and want to build something meaningful together, let’s connect. Reach out at kmccabejr@gmail.com or learn more here: genforward.eu.”
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Promotions at Omidyar Network! Congrats!
Anamitra Deb is now senior vice president of programs and policy.
Gretchen Phillips is now senior vice president of strategic partnerships and chief operations officer.
Emily Rossi has joined States United Democracy Center as their first Digital Director!
She previously served as Senior Advisor and Assistant Director of Digital Strategy at the U.S. Department of Energy.
Izabella Silva is now Michigan State Coordinator for Local Progress and the Local Progress Impact Lab!
She comes from a previous role as Central Michigan Organizer at the ACLU of Michigan.
Jeremy C. Young joined the American Association of Colleges and Universities as Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives!
Harmonie Coleman joined The 92nd Street Y as Director, Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact!
Previously, she led co-design and community design initiatives at IDEO.org.
Melanie Phillips stepped into a new role as the Head of Analyst Team at Change Research!
She was previously a Senior Researcher at Citizen Data.
Hope Williams Rahill is joining Work for America as Chief of Staff.
She was previously Special Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff of the Office of Presidential Personnel in the White House.
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
Can’t get enough of Democracy Notes? Join the Slack community!
See you soon,
Gabe