This week's Democracy Notes
Hi!
How are we feeling post-debate, folks?
There are few people better positioned to speak about the risk of delayed vote certification than Trevor Potter.
A Republican former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Potter was general counsel to John McCain’s 2000 and 2008 campaigns. He also founded Campaign Legal Center.
Today in Democracy Takes, Potter unpacks the risk of delayed certification in Georgia. What does the Electoral Count Reform Act have to say about it? What’s CLC doing about it?
Democracy Notes 9/11
What’s happening in philanthropy:
($$$)
The Trust for Civic life is now accepting nominations for their first “Civic Entrepreneur” grant cycle. $25K 1-year grants, $2M total funding available.
Deadline for nominations is 9/25. Grants awarded winter 2024.
Are you an early-stage nonprofit working to alleviate the pressures teens and preteens face in navigating our tech-driven world? Apply for this $1M open call!
Young Futures and the Center for Digital Thriving will be supporting up to 10 orgs. Deadline 10/1.
New Press Forward chapter! This time to support local news in Charlotte, North Carolina.
$2M gift from the Knight Foundation and additional commitments to the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund from several local funders.
We love fixing rural news deserts! And so does Microsoft. They’re supporting the Institute for Nonprofit News’s Rural News Network (and more).
What to read:
(The big news)
Bipartisan Policy Center is hosting a big post-election conference in DC on 12/4.
AND, they’re looking for proposals for panels, lightning talks, and more from researchers and civil society orgs.
Really interesting ask via the Slack’s “asks and offers” channel from a national anti-poverty org on how to best get involved in election protection efforts.
Are you a journalist or newsroom that wants to cover the election better? This is for you!
What to watch/listen to/attend:
(Events, podcasts, and more)
Hahrie Han is going on tour! Book tour, that is. (I can’t speak to her musical talents.)
She’s promoting her new book Undivided: The Quest for Racial Solidarity in an American Church.
Hear her on the Good Faith podcast in conversation with Curtis Chang here.
See her in DC on 9/24 and in New York on 9/25.
Anne Applebaum and Peter Pomerantsev’s new podcast “Autocracy in America” is out from The Atlantic and the SNF Agora Institute at JHU.
Democracy in the age of AI — what’s it gonna be like?
See Audrey Tang, MIT professor Deb Roy, and DemocracyNext CEO Claudia Chwalisz at this 9/24 in-person event.
Can’t make it in person? Hear from Taiwan’s former digital minister Audrey Tang and Glen Weyl in conversation with New America CEO Anne-Marie Slaughter on 9/27.
Where to work:
(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)
Center for Tech and Civic Life Data Associate — remote, $59K
Help New York State prevent domestic terrorism (LinkedIn post with context):
Senior Program Analyst — Albany, $84K+
Program Analyst — Albany, $65K+
Data Analyst — Albany, $84K+
New_ Public Research Fellow, Local Lab — remote, $40/hour (20-25 hours/week)
MacArthur Foundation (Chicago):
Outreach Fellow — remote, $20/hour for high school students, $25/hour for college students
Tech Fellow — remote, $25/hour
American University Assistant Professor of Political Violence and Terrorism — DC, $90K-$110K
Google News Partnerships News Program Manager — option to choose preferred working location, $129K-$191K
Common Cause California Executive Director — remote, $125K-$140K
Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative:
Senior Research Specialist (Ohio Lead)— remote (Ohio based), no $ info
Senior Research Specialist (Texas Lead) — remote (Texas based), no $ info
Senior Research Specialist (Arizona Lead) — remote (Arizona based), no $ info
Omidyar Network:
Senior Associate, Finance — Redwood City (California), $125K-$157K
Senior Manager, People Operations DC, $162K-$203K
Voter Choice Arizona:
Grassroots Organizer — Arizona (some travel required), $25-$30/hour (20 hours/week)
Donor Relations Assistant — remote, $1.6K-2.4K/month (20 hours/week)
Rank the Vote Ohio Cincinnati Organizer — Cincinnati, $24/hour (10 hours/week)
Transitions, transitions:
(Where are the movers moving and the shakers shaking?)
Claire Woodall is Issue One’s new Senior Advisor on their Election Protection team working on their Faces of Democracy campaign (highlighting fantastic elections officials).
Rachel White is the inaugural executive director of The Associated Press Foundation for Journalism. She will be responsible for leading and securing funds for the AP’s new nonprofit sister organization.
Adam Gismondi is the new Senior Director of DKP Learn (Democratic Knowledge Project) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. (DKP is one of the branches of Danielle Allen’s work on democracy.)
Submit your job transitions here!
As always, thanks so much for your attention.
Take care,
Gabe