This week's Democracy Notes
Democracy jobs, news, and more.
Welcome back!
From last week’s poll, it sounds like many of you will be attending democracy conferences in the coming months.
I’ll be at Compact24 (higher ed and civics) next week and One America Movement’s summit in May (faith and democracy).
Drop me a note at gabe@democracy-notes.org (or reply to this email) if I’ll see you there — or if there’s a conference you think I should attend.
Finally, if Democracy Notes is useful to you, share it with someone else!
Democracy Notes 4/3
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
Yesterday, The Chronicle of Philanthropy unveiled “The Commons,” a digital space to explore how America’s nonprofits and foundations are working to heal the nation’s divides and build community.
The initiative is supported by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Einhorn Collaborative, and the JPB Foundation.
As part of the launch, guest essayists debate how to strengthen civic engagement, build community, and bolster democracy.
Good perspective from Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation.
Great piece on What Philanthropy Elites Can Learn from Appalachia.
There’s even a LinkedIn group!
What to read:
(The big news)
Oopsies!! AT&T, Microsoft, Comcast, and 47 other companies donated over $23 million to election deniers since January 6th…after saying they wouldn’t.
The White House hosted a conversation on countering hate-fueled violence last week with representatives from the AAPI, Black, Christian, Jewish, LGBTQ+, Muslim, and Sikh communities.
Have you ever read a Supreme Court amicus brief? I hadn’t either. But this one is so good.
It’s written by leading democracy experts Larry Diamond, Sheri Berman, Rachel Kleinfeld, Steven Levitsky, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, and Timothy Snyder.
Read pages 19-30 (don’t worry, it’s ~three paragraphs per page) to understand how democracies fell in other countries and how January 6th fits in.
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
How have people toppled authoritarian regimes around the world? Often, through nonviolent action (or civil resistance).
Check out renowned scholar and organizer Maria Stephan’s remarks at Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s recent conference to find out.
Protect Democracy’s Amanda Carpenter (formerly on Ted Cruz’s staff) debates one of the Heritage Foundation authors of Project 2025.
For context, listen to this interview with two other Protect Democracy folks about what Project 2025 would do.
Very entertaining storytelling of how Protect Democracy came to be. (Podcast.)
For library professionals and folks who visit libraries: virtual event on Libraries as Bridging Spaces, 4/17 at 3pm ET.
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
The Broad Foundation Program Officer, Civic Partnerships — LA, $140K-$155K
Care about youth voter turnout in Wisconsin? The Wisco Project is hiring:
Organizing Fellow (WI college students, part time, paid)
Campus Organizer (full time)
Data Manager
Regional Organizing Director
Operations Director
Are you a current student at a higher ed institution? Join the design team of campus leaders for democratic inventory audits. ($1,000 stipend.)
Movement Labs VP of Political Innovation — Berkeley, $150K-$180K
NewsGuard VP, Comms and Marketing — NY, $90K-$160K + stock options (!)
(Unionized workplace!) The Brennan Center:
Technology Policy Advocate/Strategist — NY, $100K-$190K
Counsel, Democracy Program — DC or NY, $110K- $139K
BallotReady Senior Software Engineer II — remote, $121K-$181K
Relentless Recruitment Director — remote, $108K-$150K
Issue One is hiring:
Director of Major Gifts — DC, $90K-$110K
Election Protection Associate — DC, $57K-$63K
Manager of Annual Giving — DC, $80K-$95K
Stewardship Associate — DC, $58K-$63K
Also hiring interns!
Thanks, as always, for your attention. If you found this valuable, please forward it to a democracy friend or colleague!