This week's Democracy Notes

Two weeks off was a delight. We love a vacation! (But we love you too, and I’m glad to be back.)

Does your org have HR?? How about a general counsel?Pass along these interest forms to them!

• General counsel peer-learning cohort interest form

• HR peer-learning cohort interest form

Thank you, m’dears!!!

($$$)

• The Hewlett Foundation announced $19M in grants “to strengthen civic participation, reduce corrosive polarization, and help communities rebuild a sense of shared purpose.”

  • The announcement came from Philanthropy Program Officer Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas and Special Projects Director Eli Sugarman. Grants were:

    • $10M — Be The People, a multiyear national campaign spearheaded by Stand Together (AP coverage here) “focused on restoring contribution and participation in civic life as central parts of American identity.”

    • $4M — GivingTuesday

    • $5M — Shared America, which “tells the story of who we are, and can be, as Americans—helping develop connection, optimism, and trust.”

      • The initiative is led by Ken Himmelman. 990 filing here.

• The newly-renamed Andrew Carnegie Foundation (formerly the Carnegie Corporation of New York) announced 41 grants totaling ~$50M, including:

  • $1.5M over 2 years — Chicago-Kent College of Law to expand the Civic Mission Schools Network

    • (Congrats, in part, to Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg!)

  • $1M over 2 years — Center for Civic Education

  • $1M over 2 years — More Perfect, for their national service democracy goal

  • $600K over 30 months — Institute for Strategic Dialogue (“to mitigate cybersecurity threats from both internal and external forces on U.S. elections”)

  • $500K over 30 months — The Chamberlain Network

  • $500K over 30 months — RightCount

  • $500K over 24 months — SNF Agora Institute - map of U.S. civic infrastructure

  • $500K over 24 months — SNF Agora Institute - Shaping a Conservative Agenda for Democracy program

  • $400K over 30 months — Veterans for All Voters

• The Marguerite Casey Foundation has committed to giving a minimum of $500M over the next 10 years, a 50% increase compared to the past decade!

  • LinkedIn post from President and CEO Carmen Rojas here, Chronicle of Philanthropy coverage here.

• Some exciting philanthropy transitions and board announcements:

  • Former Governor of Montana Steve Bullock has joined the Packard Foundation board!

  • Eric Dayton has joined the board of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund!

  • Haley Sonenthal Goodman has joined Alta Futures as Program Director!

• Biiig philanthropy job!

  • Humanity United Chief Executive Officer — DC or SF, $460K-$575K

(The big news)

• Given the happenings in Ohio…a reminder that Protect Democracy has a great toolkit for nonprofit organizations facing government investigations! It includes:

  • What if your org is served with a subpoena? (Link)

  • What if your org is concerned about asset freezes and forfeiture? (Link)

  • What if your org is concerned about an IRS investigation? (Link)

• Also re: Ohio, check out #HandsOffOhio!

• Westminster Foundation for Democracy is looking for orgs specializing in democratic governance for a Preferred Supplier list of Expert Partners.

  • Read more and apply here!

• Great statement and call to action from Patagonia about the SAVE Act and the Callais decision.

(Events, podcasts, and more)

• DC folks! Lots of events and opportunities as part of Rising Organizers’ DC’s “Summer Campaign for Freedom,” including their FreedomFest on 6/27!!

  • And a VERY nifty website.

• 7/9 at 2pm ET — join Public Agenda for a webinar, “What Young Men Are Telling Us: Insights from New Research.”

  • Featuring Public Agenda, Sam Pressler (of Connective Tissue), and Riki Conrey.

  • Check out research from Public Agenda and from Connective Tissue.

• 7/13 at 5pm ET — Votebeat is answering all your election-related questions at their “Will the midterms happen? Your election questions, answered” event.

  • Register here!

(Jobs, jobs, jobs!)

• Volunteer position! Polinger Family Foundation Grants Committee Member — remote, $2,500 in discretionary funds to a 501c3 of your choice

• Keseb Director of Operations — remote (DC based), $115K-$125K

• Bridging Divides Initiative Michigan State Lead/Senior Research Specialist — Michigan, $80K-$90K

• Issue One Director of Major Gifts and Leadership Giving — DC, $120K-$130K

• RepresentUs Senior Writer and Press Manager — remote, $78K-$108K

• Protect Democracy Tech Counsel (AI for Democracy Action Lab) — remote, $138K-$193K

• The Carter Center Michigan Nonpartisan Election Observation Regional Coordinator Consultant — 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!

• The Presidential Leadership Scholars program (a joint initiative of the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson) is recruiting cross-sector leaders for their 2027 cohort:

  • Learn more and apply here!

• Students! The Center for Study of the Presidency & Congress (CSPC) is accepting applications for two of their Presidential Fellows Programs:

  • At-Large Program for students at universities that aren’t CSPC partner institutions.

  • Innovation Fellowship for STEM students.

  • Apply here by 7/1!

• Do you have video editing skills?

  • National Issues Forums Institute is looking for Storytelling and Video Editing Support for their What’s Next America initiative. Learn more here!

    • Mid-June through mid-August, 8-10 hours/week, $500 per week.

• Center for Civic Design Content Designer/Plain Language Specialist — remote, $7.8K/month (contract)

• Lots of open roles at Democracy Forward!

• And lots of remote positions at Constructive Dialogue Institute!

• City Bureau Development Manager — Chicago, $71K

  • 6/23 deadline!

• Freedom Together Foundation Senior Program Officer, Community & Worker Power — NYC, $183K-$203K

  • 6/24 deadline!

• Campus Compact (remote):

  • Program Manager, Innovation — $70K-$75K

  • Director, Impact & Evaluation — $95K-$110K

    • Priority deadline 6/22

• Civic Re(Solve) Program Lead — remote, $190K-$225K

• Generation Citizen RISE Vote Manager — remote (preference for certain states, see listing), $30-$35/hour (part-time)

• Rooney Democracy Institute at the University of Notre Dame Social Impact Specialist — DC, up to $80K

• States United Democracy Center Senior Manager (New Media) — remote, $110K+

• Southern Poverty Law Center Senior Policy or Policy Counsel, Voting Rights — DC, $103K, $154K for senior role

• Campaign Legal Center Public Interest Fellowship (Fall 2027) — DC, $92K

• Integrity Matters Small Business Organizer — DC, $30/hour, up to 40 hours/week

• Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions (remote):

  • Senior Director of Communications and Digital Engagement — $141K-$169K

  • Senior Communications and Engagement Lead — $113K-$136K

  • Design and Digital Engagement Lead — $92K-$110K

• Civic Right Fund Fund Operations Consultant — remote, $60/hour (part-time contractor, 20–30 hours per week)

• Protect Democracy Data Scientist — remote, $84K-92K

• Project On Government Oversight Senior Investigative Reporter — remote in DC, $85K-$100K

• Voter Empowerment Project Program Associate — remote, $22-$30/hr (part-time, 20 hours/week)

• CHANGE Illinois Interim Executive Director — remote, $115K-$135K

• Renew Democracy Initiative Editorial Associate — NYC or DC, $60K-$80K

• Brennan Center for Justice Assistant Editor — NYC, $70K-$80K

• Knight Foundation Program Director, Community Impact — California, $180K-$200K

• New America Editor and Content Manager, Central Communications — DC, $80K-$90K

• Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY Confidential Executive Officer & Strategic Projects Manager — NYC, $122K-$131K

• Civic Bridgers Campaign Manager — Minnesota, $8.5K/month

• YouTube Global Civics Partnerships Lead — DC or San Bruno, CA, $224K-$312K

• Surdna Foundation Program Officer, Learning & Impact — NYC, $125K-$138K

• Jane and Daniel Och Family Foundation Philanthropy Associate — NYC or White Plains, $80K-$90K

• Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation Program Manager — Los Angeles, no salary info :(

(Where the movers are moving and the shakers are shaking)

• Ryan P. Haygood is now President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

• Beauregard Patterson has joined Democracy Defenders Action as a Litigation Counsel, Election and Voting Rights!

• Guillermo Creamer Jr. is Neighbor to Neighbor MA’s new Development Director!

• Meto Koloski has been promoted to Chief Advancement Officer at Freedom House!

• Nathaniel Erb is Rebuild Local News’ new Director of Government Affairs and Partnerships!

• Federation for Innovation in Democracy - North America welcomed their summer fellows — Catherine Fraser and Henry Grieco — and their American Democracy interns Rachel Witherspoon and Billie van Leeuwen. Congrats!

• Campaign Legal Center welcomed their class of 2026 summer legal interns!

• Dylan Peers McCoy is now reporting on civic accountability at Free Press Indiana!

Submit your job transitions (or promotions!) here.

See you soon,

Gabe