This week's Democracy Notes
Howdy!
Vibe check!!! (A very, very scientific poll.)
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Over at Democracy Notes Perspectives, we published two pieces last week:
“After Callais, no more silos,” by Lakeisha Steele Vice President of Federal Affairs and Partnerships at FairVote.
She writes: “When we compartmentalize voting rights and election reform, we fail to recognize that the history of the first deeply informs the second — and that both are essential to building an inclusive, multiracial democracy.”
“Worried about AI? Support local news,” by Steve Waldman, founder and president of Rebuild Local News. (On “information disorder” and how local news can help.)
Democracy Notes 5/28
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
Minnesota folks!! Applications are now open for the Minnesota Civic Resilience Fund ($300K in total funding, $25K to 12 grantees).
The pooled fund is housed at the Minnesota Council on Foundations.
It’s designed to strengthen democratic participation and long-term civic infrastructure across Minnesota.
LinkedIn post here!
Open Society Foundations announced a five-year, $300M initiative focused on:
(1) Defending civil liberties and standing for the rule of law, and
(2) Expanding civil rights and creating economic opportunity.
They’ve already committed $20M this year to Democracy Defenders Action, Interfaith Alliance, Democracy Forward, and others.
The Workday Foundation announced a $500K microgrant program in their Human Connection Grant Portfolio.
$10K max grant size, and org budget must be below $500K! Small orgs and informal community organizations are encouraged to apply.
Last week the Apsen Institute’s Alliance for Social Trust and Allstate announced $5.25M in grants to the 2026 Trust in Practice awardees!
11 collaborations were funded, representing 44 nonprofits.
Award levels were $1M, $500K, and $100K.
Philanthropy transitions!! Congrats, y’all!
Fay Twersky is stepping down as President of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation after five years.
She’ll remain in the role until her successor arrives and will serve as an advisor to the board’s search process.
Cathy Cha is leaving the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund where she’s served as its President and CEO for seven years.
She’s joining Freedom Together Foundation as a Senior Fellow.
Chad Griffin is now Managing Director, Philanthropy at Emerson Collective!
Bill Hite is joining the Bezos Family Foundation this summer as its President.
What to read:
(The big news)
Biiiig month for electoral reform in the media:
Monday’s edition of POLITICO Playbook, “The anti-gerrymanderers’ future,” was all about electoral reform. (PDF here.)
(And it included quotes from folks at FairVote, Protect Democracy, Common Cause, and more.)
On May 19th, Lee Drutman was on The Ezra Klein Show talking about proportional representation.
From the FrameWorks Institute, some nifty new narrative guidance! Check out:
Their report, “From Protecting the Status Quo to a Vision for Change: Framing Democracy in a Time of Authoritarianism,” and
Their toolkit for practitioners, “Reviving Our Democracy: A narrative for the new political system we need,” co-created with Democracy Revival Center and the Bloc.
The Center for Inclusive Democracy, previously housed at the USC Price School of Public Policy, will become an independent organization on July 1!
Lawyers!! People with lawyer friends! 21 projects are looking for volunteers to help with voting rights and fair elections work!
Very neat new database of research on local news: the Local News Research Hub.
(It’s co-created by Rebuild Local News and Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship!)
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Early-bird registration ($600 instead of $850!) for LibCon2026 closes June 5th!
LibCon is the third annual “Liberalism for the 21st Century” conference, from The Unpopulist and the Institute for the Study of Modern Authoritarianism.
More deets here!
6/8 in DC — join the Kettering Foundation and The Democracy Group podcast network for a live recording of The Context podcast with host Alex Lovit and guest Sarah Longwell (publisher of The Bulwark).
They’ll discuss her latest public opinion research and Sarah’s career!
6/11 2-3pm ET — webinar on “Faith, Family, Freedom, Place: An Ethnographic Study of Conservative Americans’ Relationships to Democracy” from the SNF Agora Institute and ReD Associates.
And check out the full report here!
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Rethink Priorities Senior Democracy Analyst — remote, $115K-$145K (6/7 deadline!!)
Whistleblower Aid Associate Counsel — DC, $95K-$110K
Protect Democracy:
Data Scientist — remote, $84K-$92K
Tech Policy Strategist (AI for Democracy Action Lab) — remote, $141K-$160K
The Carter Center:
Consultant: Michigan Nonpartisan Election Observation, Operations Manager — MI, $300-$500/day
Consultant: Michigan Nonpartisan Election Observation, 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!
CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) Consultancy: Digital and Civic Space Strategy — remote/global, seven months
Rebuild Local News California State Manager — CA, $90K-$110K
Reuters Senior Data Scientist, Election & News Products — DC, SF, LA or NY, $137K-$293K
Third Plateau Deputy Communications Director, Democracy Communications Collaborative — remote, $110K-$130K
Charles F. Kettering Foundation Director of Human Resources — Dayton, OH, $120K-$140K
Recoding America Fund Federal Government Affairs Manager/Director — DC, $108K-$193K
Keep Our Republic Development Intern — remote, part time, $750/month stipend, June-August
ProPublica Senior Editor, California — CA, $150K-$195K
Interfaith America Evaluation Manager — remote (select states), $65K-$75K
University of Notre Dame Rooney Democracy Institute Policy Impact Specialist — Notre Dame, IN, $80K
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Statewide Organizer — PA, $29/hr
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism Center for Community Media Head of Product and Data — remote, $100K-$110K
Democracy Forward:
Senior Director of People and Culture — DC, $180K-$200K
Legal Director, Civil Rights and Special Projects — DC, $280K
Democracy Fund Senior Program Officer — DC, $136K
Brennan Center for Justice Counsel, Justice Program — NYC, $110K-$145K
Public Citizen Student Organizer — DC, $70K-$101K
The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund:
Editorial Manager, Economic Justice and Narrative Strategy — NYC, $68K-$95K
John Payton Appellate and Supreme Court Advocacy Fellowship — NYC, DC or Atlanta, $81K-$112K
Davidson College Assistant Director for Civic Engagement Programs — Davidson, NC, no $ info
Transitions, transitions:
(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)
Alison Leal Parker is now Program Director, Democracy & Environment at Crankstart (after 24 years at Human Rights Watch)!
Amelia Letson joined Democracy Defenders Action as a Policy Associate!
Nicholas “Coty” Novak is now an Institutional Relations Officer at the Brennan Center for Justice!
Alex Edgar is the SHRM Foundation’s inaugural Losey Visiting Voice!
Neetha Tangirala joined the Piper Fund at Proteus Fund, managing the Protect Dissent Network! Congrats on six months!
Maya Chupkov is now Senior Program Manager of Media & Technology at Common Cause!
Riley McCann is now Project Coordinator at All Voting is Local!
David Kronig joined Campaign Legal Center as Senior Legal Counsel for voting rights!
Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.
See you soon,
Gabe