Democracy Notes

Democracy Fund again leading the way in transparent philanthropy 👏 They surveyed their grantees, released the results, and publicly committed to improvements where needed. Damn! Some stats from their survey (in partnership with the Center for Effective Philanthropy): 📍 Grantees spent 10 hours per proposal and 6 hours on reporting, down from 24 hours and 15 hours, respectively, in 2017. 📍 62% got unrestricted grants (and 36% got multi-year unrestricted grants). 📍 Nearly ⅔ reported receiving non-monetary assistance. For more, check out last week’s Democracy Notes newsletter on Substack and Democracy Fund’s announcement (both links in the comments). #democracy #philanthropy

Democracy Notes is the go-to newsletter for the US democracy space. Today I met in Chicago my "xará" Gabriel Lerner, the founder of DN. We shared many thoughts on democracy and social entrepreneurship. This post is to celebrate his incredible work and to encourage all of you in the US to sign up now. I promise you'll learn a lot from his curated content: https://lnkd.in/dFsj9u7h Long live all social entrepreneurs defending democracy around the world in various ways. P.S.: Curious about what "xará" means? Check it out: https://lnkd.in/dGBeKrbv 🇧🇷 #Democracy

A few highlights from today's Democracy Notes Encore newsletter: 📍 Reflection from Dave Leichtman who runs Microsoft's Democracy Forward Initiative on 10 years at the organization 📍 Trust for Civic Life's Civic Hub program + grantees #democracy #philanthropy

🔥 Democracy jobs 🔥 The Aspen Institute Director, Social Trust Initiative — DC, $155K-$175K Western States Center Momentum Program Director — remote, $82K-$90K (credit to Lindsay Schubiner!) Democracy Forward Social Media Manager — DC, $70K-$80K Issue One Technology Reform Intern (Fall 2024) — DC, $17.50/hour Check out the Democracy Notes Substack for the full slate of open roles! (Link in the comments.) #democracy

🤠 Democracy jobs 🤠 Microsoft Democracy Forward Initiative Project Manager — New York, $42-$49/hour (thanks for sharing, Ethan Chumley and Rachel Brooks!) ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue)  📍 Digital Research Analyst — DC (remote/hybrid possible), $65K-$85K 📍 Finance Manager — DC (hybrid possible), $65K-$85K 📍 Program Associate — DC (remote/hybrid possible), $40K-$50K 📍 Senior Research Manager, Information Operations — DC (remote/hybrid possible), $85K-$110K Vote Rev Short-Term CFO — remote, $2K-$6K/week (!) The rest of this week's jobs are in the Democracy Notes newsletter on Substack! (All links in comments.) #democracy

Among the great stories in today's Democracy Notes Encore newsletter: 📍 $2.6M for local news via a collab between the American Journalism Project and JPMorganChase 📍 DemocracyNext's neat Civic Assembly in Oregon #democracy #philanthropy

LOTS of democracy philanthropy leadership transitions recently (including 🚨 today 🚨 at The Joyce Foundation)! 📍 Julie Morita (formerly EVP at RWJF - the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) will be The Joyce Foundation's new president, starting October 1st. 📍 Vince Stehle, Executive Director at Media Impact Funders for 12+ years, is stepping down. 📍 Kristen Cambell is moving to New Zealand (jealous!) and stepping down as CEO of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE). Congrats to all! For more, check out Democracy Notes on Substack (link in the comments). #democracy #philanthropy 

😎 Democracy jobs 😎 The International Foundation for Electoral Systems Global Digital Democracy Advisor — DC, $113K-$183K Brennan Center for Justice: 📍 Research Analyst — New York, $80K-$90K 📍 Production Coordinator State Court Report (Judiciary Program) — New York, $73K-$78K 📍 Office Manager — New York, $88K-$93K 📍 Counsel, Democracy Program — DC, $110K-$179K The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights on Civil and Human Rights Spring 2025 Civil Rights Tech Internship — remote, $20/hr For more, check out the Democracy Notes newsletter on Substack! (And all links in the comments.) #democracy

A notable democracy/philanthropy leadership transition over at Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE). Kristen Cambell is moving on from her role as CEO! The search for a new CEO is being led by Kathleen Yazbak (she/her) and Viewcrest Advisors (my favorites)! #democracy #philanthropy

🔥 Democracy jobs 🔥 Partners In Democracy President and CEO — MA, $170K ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue) Digital Research Analyst — DC (flexible), $65K-$85K Civic News Company Local News Research Tools Contract Engineer — remote, $25K-$30K Interfaith America  Director of National Bridgebuilding Initiatives — Chicago, $100K-$110K For more, check out the Democracy Notes newsletter on Substack! (And all links in the comments.) #democracy