Author Archives: Meredith Bird

Local Media Reform

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Common Cause
Amount: Updated to $275,000 in 2021 — originally approved as $125,000 in 2020

What is Common Cause?

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. They work to create an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.

Why do we think this project is important?

Driven by the conviction that nothing is more important to a functioning democracy than an informed and engaged public, Common Cause raised awareness about the decline in resources for news and media organizations, and developed long-term solutions to the crisis in local news. The decline of independent, local newspapers and news stations has resulted in communities lacking adequate sources of local news and information, which has a significant negative impact on the quality of our civic dialogue and democracy.

To address this, Common Cause advocated for increased government funding of local media to ensure journalists could continue to provide critical news and information, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding  supported public and community media of all kinds, newsrooms and reporting jobs at local commercial and nonprofit news outlets, and  investments to address the civic-information needs of communities.

Common Cause also worked to prevent ongoing media consolidation by opposing media mergers and advocating against pro-consolidation policies at the federal level. To further strengthen local media, Common Cause advanced policies and built coalitions at the state level.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Common Cause?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $125,000 to Common Cause. In 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $150,000, for a total of $275,000.

 

2020 Vote to Live Engagement Program

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Collective Future
Amount: $125,000 in 2020

What is Collective Future?

Collective Future is a 501c4 with a mission to increase civic engagement and political representation of Black communities. Collective Future takes direct action to ensure that equity and justice are represented in the democratic process so that Black political power is real and America delivers on its promise.

Why do we think this project is important?

Collective Future’s 2020 Vote to Live Engagement Program worked to address and amend challenges associated with low voter turnout across Black communities. Through their 2020 Vote To Live campaign, Collective Future engaged Black voters during the 2020 election with strategic outreach to historically Black colleges and universities, sororities/fraternities, and faith communities, as well as conducted a first-of-its-kind voter engagement program utilizing cultural artists and influencers to gamify civic engagement.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Collective Future?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $125,000 to Collective Future.

Arizona Advocacy Network

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Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: Arizona Advocacy Network
Amount: $150,000 in 2020

What is the Arizona Advocacy Network?

Arizona Advocacy Network (AZAN) works to build a truly representative political system in which all Arizonans make their voices heard. They believe the cornerstones of such a democracy include meaningful voting rights and fair access to the ballot, political decisions that are driven by voters instead of by financial influence, and a fair and independent judiciary. To make this vision a reality, AZAN builds strong pro-democracy coalitions, educates the public about the state of our democracy and what can be done to strengthen it, and advocates to policymakers for reform.

Why do we think this organization is important?

AZAN focuses on voting rights, money in politics, and fair courts. They work with partner organizations, legislators, election officials, and other key stakeholders to strengthen voting and elections in Arizona. They are fighting back against voter suppression tactics and advocating to modernize outdated election rules that keep citizens from voting. AZAN plays an important role in advocating for policy change that results more robust election administration, increased civic engagement, and more accessible elections, which Democracy Fund Voice believes are critical to a healthy democracy.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Arizona Advocacy Network?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $150,000 to Arizona Advocacy Network.

Vote Mama Action Fund

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Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: Vote Mama Action Fund
Amount: Updated to $350,000 in 2023

What is the Vote Mama Action Fund?

The Vote Mama Action Fund is a 501(c)4 organization working in partnership with the 501(c)3 Vote Mama Foundation to achieve gender equity by breaking down barriers for working mothers to run for elected office, winning universal childcare for all Americans, and expanding the use of campaign funds for childcare for all candidates running for office. Specifically, the Vote Mama Action Fund advocates to pass family-friendly legislation and legislation that removes the barriers mothers face while running for office.

Why do we think this work is important?

Less than 5 percent of congressional representatives are mothers of children under eighteen. While anyone taking care of children will face difficulties when it comes to the full-time job of campaigning, women are fifteen times more likely than men to be responsible for a majority of childcare. From this cultural pressure to logistical hurdles, like a lack of affordable childcare while candidates are campaigning, there are extraordinary barriers that must be overcome if women with children wish to run for office. Research indicates that removal of those barriers will strengthen the representation of working families across the country, lead to the passing of more family-friendly legislation, and help our society to better prioritize children and families.

The first steps of the Vote Mama Action Fund are launching a movement to codify the use of campaign funds for childcare at all levels of government in all fifty states by 2023, and expanding awareness of the use of campaign funds for childcare to empower mothers to run for office and win. Since piloting their movement, the use of campaign funds for childcare has been approved in seventeen states. Vote Mama Action Fund is currently partnering with legislators and candidates in ten states, with a goal of expanding campaign funds for childcare to twenty-seven states in 2021.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Vote Mama Action Fund?

In 2023 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $175,000 for a total of $350,000.

In 2022 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $75,000 for a total of $175,000, with an extension of the grant period to September 2023.

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $100,000 over two years to Vote Mama Action Fund.

Rebuilding the National Security Workforce

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Truman National Security Project
Amount: Updated to $895,000 in 2023

What is the Truman National Security Project?

Truman National Security Project is a nationwide membership of diverse leaders inspired to serve in the aftermath of 9/11 and committed to shaping and advocating for tough, smart national security solutions. They bring their members together with their partners and advisors to deliver concrete solutions to pressing global challenges for leaders at the local, state, and national levels, and coordinate their action nationwide to shape the debate, fight for policy change, and support rising leaders who share their values.

Why do we think this project is important?

For the U.S. to restore its leadership abroad, it must repair the national security workforce at home. The long-term goal of this project is to engage in and lead robust efforts to further this rebuilding. Truman National Security Project’s vision for rebuilding the national security workforce prioritizes attracting and retaining diverse, world-class talent in reformed structures that are welcoming homes for creative problem-solvers dedicated to the American project. However, these efforts will require a sustained effort over multiple years to rebuild the structures that have been allowed to disintegrate over the course of decades.

To accomplish this, Truman National Security Project created and maintained a sophisticated database of eligible members by function, agency, and clearance level to serve as a resource in 2021. A taskforce of Truman members was also built to support diversity efforts. They focused on implementation efforts and policy recommendations, the construction of a long-term strategy to support continued repair and growth, and on structured plans that support diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

Effective policymaking relies on a diplomatic and national security corps that can both provide accurate information quickly and implement policies successfully. The quality of governance in our democracy depends on this resource, and it deserves the attention and resources required to reach its maximum potential.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the Truman National Security Project?  

In 2023 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $305,000, for a total of $895,000.

In 2022 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $230,000, for a total of $590,000 with an extension of the grant period through October 2023.

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $180,000 to the Truman National Security Project, and approved an amendment to the grant in 2021 to increase the amount by $180,000 for a total of $360,000.

The Partnership for a New American Economy Action Fund

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Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: The Partnership for a New American Economy Action Fund
Amount: Updated to $200,000 in 2021 — originally approved as $100,000 in 2020

What is the New American Economy Action Fund?

New American Economy Action Fund (NAE) is a bipartisan research and advocacy organization founded in 2010 to educate, empower, and support business leaders, policymakers, and citizens across the country who see the economic and social benefits of immigration. Since their founding, they have built a network of business, civic, and cultural leaders spanning both sides of the political aisle and active across all 50 states.

Their current work focuses on creating better immigration policies, changing the narrative of immigrants in the United States throughout all types of communities, and leveraging their bipartisan network to decrease polarization.

NOTE: As of January 2022, this organization has merged with the American Immigration Council. It no longer exists as a separate legal entity.

Why do we think this organization is important?

Democracy Fund Voice supports NAE’s efforts to empower local leaders to promote pluralism and overcome polarization to find solutions that benefit their communities. As polarization has dramatically increased in the United States, the broad issue of immigration has been used as a tool to further divide Americans. NAE’s work is centered around more than just changing immigration policy; they foster tough conversations among people of all ideologies around identity and values. Their approach creates a space among conservatives for dialogue around immigration as well as the values of diversity, inclusion, equity, and pluralism.

In addition to the national conversation, NAE works with local leaders to collaborate and make progress on issues that national policymakers are unable to. These initiatives fight polarization by uniting communities around tough issues like immigration, and NAE provides guidance through customized research, storytelling, coalition-building, and technical assistance in dozens of communities across the country.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the New American Economy Action Fund?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $100,000 to the New American Economy Action Fund. In 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $100,000 for a total of $200,000.

 

Media Reform

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: The GroundTruth Project
Amount: $50,000 in 2020

What is The GroundTruth Project?

GroundTruth’s mission is to restore journalism from the ground up by supporting the next generation of journalists through field reporting that serves under-covered corners of the United States and the world. They work to build a pipeline of talent for emerging journalists, restore faith in the industry by supporting in-depth public service reporting, and to serve as watchdogs where no one seems to be watching.

They provide educational opportunities in the form of training seminars, forums, conferences, and workshops, in addition to publishing critical information and storytelling on a variety of urgent issues.

Why do we think this project is important?

Even before COVID-19, local news organizations were struggling. The number of reporters had declined 60 percent since 2000, the same scale of collapse as local industry. Some 1,800 communities have no local news source at all.

With a primary goal of creating a national public strategy for public policies that will rebuild local news, The GroundTruth Project created a powerful new coalition — Rebuild Local News — that  brought together a broad collection of stakeholders, developed ambitious policy proposals, advocated for public policies, initiated grassroots campaigns, and lobbied Congressional staff. Once their plan was developed, published, and shared publicly, The GroundTruth Project focused on raising awareness of the plan among legislative staff, legislators, and the media. If a public policy framework were adopted and implemented, it has the potential to lead to a substantial increase in income for nonprofit local media and locally-owned for-profit media. This would result in a local media system that better represents its residents, including communities of color, which have been historically underserved.

Local news organizations are necessary for the health of a democracy, as they connect constituents with the legislators and officials who often have the most direct impact on their daily lives. By providing information about local government affairs they help communities increase their civic engagement, and by investigating problems or uncovering corruption, local news organizations serve as a watchdog for issues that might otherwise be overlooked. Local news is an important component of a national democracy, and should be treated as such through national public policies.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting The GroundTruth Project?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $50,000 to The GroundTruth Project.

Trusted Elections Action Fund

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Trusted Elections Action Fund
Amount: $3,000,000 in 2023 over two years

What is the Trusted Elections Action Fund?

A fiscally sponsored project of Sixteen Thirty Fund, Trusted Elections Action Fund is a pooled fund that provides resources to organizations working to strengthen the integrity of the U.S. election system through messaging development, grassroots mobilization, litigation, and advocacy.

Why do we think this project is important?

The Trusted Elections Action Fund (TEAF) supports preparations for, and responses to, high-risk threats to the integrity of U.S. elections by directing rapid-response funds to organizations best positioned to mitigate potential risks. TEAF leverages its field-wide view to bring groups together, share ideas, identify programmatic gaps, and guarantee that a diverse range of voices have a seat at the table.

TEAF is also connecting traditional issue area silos — from election administration to grassroots organizing — with cross-portfolio approaches.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Trusted Elections Action Fund?

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $3,000,000 to Trusted Elections Action Fund.

In 2022, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $2,288,000 to Trusted Elections Action Fund.

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $1,680,000 to the Trusted Elections Action Fund. In 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $500,000 for a total of $2,180,000.

Election Security and Resiliency

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Public Citizen
Amount: Updated to $1,275,000 in 2022

What is Public Citizen?

Public Citizen is a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that works to address the growing power gap between everyday people and concentrated power in the hands of corporate and government actors. They approach this issue through a combination of congressional advocacy, litigation, research, and grassroots advocacy.

Why do we think this project is important?

Public Citizen is a key leader in a diverse coalition of groups working to secure our elections. This grant supported the coalition’s efforts to advance election security reforms and ensure appropriate resources for states to improve their election security posture.

The Election Security and Resiliency project coordinated coalition advocacy and built grassroots political power in support of election funding. Public Citizen recruited new strategic voices into coalition and lobbying meetings, provided forums for groups to learn and get invested, and provided materials to allow new coalition partners to engage. Methods utilized included virtual townhalls, drive-ins, petitions, letters to the editor, in-district lobbying, and days of action with coordinated email blasts, social media, and calls.

Public Citizen also reached out to local Republican officials to call on Congress for additional elections funding. In addition to support for additional funding, this project supported states in expanding vote by mail, early voting processes, and security best practices. By insisting on the ability of election officials to use the funds to follow best practices that are appropriate to each state, major strides were made to protect voters from hacks, errors, and COVID-19 in 2020, while making elections more resilient and accessible for years to come.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Public Citizen?

In 2022 two amendments were approved to increase the amount of the grant by $50,000 and by $550,000 for a total of $1,275,000, with an extension of the grant period through June 2023.

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $125,000 to Public Citizen. In 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $550,000 for a total of $675,000.

Defensive Democracy Advocacy

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: SiX Action
Amount: $150,000 in 2023

What is SiX Action?

SiX Action is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) strategy and resource organization that supports state legislators to build and wield progressive governing power for the people they represent. Through providing legislators with the tools needed to shape impactful public policy and leadership development SiX Action works to secure real, lasting reforms that support working families, protect the environment, defend civil rights and liberties, and strengthen our democracy.

Why do we think this project is important?

Democracy Fund Voice supports work to strengthen and expand the movement for an inclusive, multi-racial democracy with a focus on POC power and leadership. The Defensive Democracy Advocacy project aims to build the capacity of state legislators to respond to attacks on voting rights and advance legitimacy in elections.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting SiX Action?

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $150,000 to SiX Action to support their Defensive Democracy Advocacy project.

In 2022, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $200,000 to SiX Action to engage and provide resources to state legislators to advance legitimacy in elections and respond to attacks on voting rights at the state level. In 2020, a two-year grant was approved for $300,000.