The Democracy Fund invests in organizations working to ensure that our political system is able to withstand new challenges and deliver on its promise to the American people.
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How Democracy Fund is Rising to the Challenge of COVID-19By Joe Goldman / 2020 April 3rdOur democracy is facing even steeper challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what we’re doing to support our grantees and partners and energize the field for the road ahead. Read More |
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From Strangers to Neighbors: Creating a More Inclusive AmericaBy Laura Maristany / 2020 March 17thNow, more than ever, I am sure many of us realize that feeling a sense of belonging requires a certain level of human interaction and connection. In fact, building connections with each other — through listening and learning in communities across the country — is the fundamental goal of the Constructive Politics portfolio. And even though we find ourselves in unusual times, Democracy Fund’s Constructive Politics grantees will continue to focus on developing long-term strategies that support opportunities for connecting, building, listening and work on creating more welcoming spaces. Read More |
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An Open Letter to Our Grantees About COVID-19By Joe Goldman / 2020 March 13thWe know this is an unsettling time as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to progress around the world and throughout the U.S. The health and safety of all of our grantees, partners, and the communities we serve are top concerns for all of us at Democracy Fund. Read More |
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I’m Risk-Averse, But That Doesn’t Mean I Have To Like ItBy Liz Ruedy / 2020 February 3rdAs a strategy, evaluation and learning specialist, I’m trained in a certain style of decision-making that includes consulting the relevant evidence base, triangulating my analysis, and deliberately surfacing any potential biases and assumptions. I try to make sure my decisions are thoughtful, informed, and focused on achieving the best possible outcome. But often, this means that my decisions are also not what I’d describe as bold. So while I’m often the one advising people to be more deliberate and methodical in their decision-making, I’m secretly a little envious of people who seem so ready to take those big leaps of faith. Read More |
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Improving Motor Voter Registration: A Colorado Case StudyBy Lisa Danetz / 2020 January 9thDepartment of Motor Vehicles (DMV) officials handle 45% of the nation’s voter registration activity. Colorado, in particular, has stood out as a state that has implemented one of the more modern, collaborative, and user-friendly motor voter registration systems in the country. Read More |
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2019 Reflections and the Journey AheadBy Joe Goldman / 2019 December 20th2019 has seen numerous important victories and signs of progress that give me faith for the journey ahead. And I know we aren’t in this fight alone, we stand alongside countless others who are also working to ensure that our democracy delivers on its promise to the American people. As the year comes to a close, I want to share a few of Democracy Fund’s 2019 highlights with you. Read More |
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New Guide: How to Get Started Funding Local News in Your CommunityBy Teresa Gorman / 2019 November 5thNew toolkit for funders interested in supporting local news in their communities. This step-by-step guide will help you get started by learning about the news and information ecosystem where you live. Read More |
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New Report: How funders can support diversity, equity, and inclusion in journalismBy Lea Trusty / 2019 October 16thFunders can--and must--do more to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in journalism. In our latest report, we take a deeper dive into the data and explore concrete solutions. Read More |
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Announcing a New Fund for Racial Equity in JournalismBy Lea Trusty / 2019 September 12thWe are excited to announce the launch of the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund, designed to support and build the capacity of newsrooms by and for people of color. This is a collaborative philanthropic effort including Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Democracy Fund, Ford Foundation, Google News Initiative, and the News Integrity Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Read More |
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When the Evidence Isn’t Evident: Why Are Some Kinds of Impact So Hard to Measure?By Liz Ruedy / 2019 August 29thAt Democracy Fund, these models have lent new nuance to a perpetual question: how do we measure the impact of democracy work? We understand that there’s a big difference between impact and no impact, and that we shouldn’t hide behind “impact is hard to measure” to avoid admitting when we’re simply not achieving it. But while I wish there was a methodological silver bullet to measure democratic change, the truth is that it can be hard to measure some impacts using specific evidence within a specific period of time. In other words, for some types of impact, the evidence is less, well, evident. Read More |
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