Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
Amount: $150,000 in 2023

What is the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition?

Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Education Fund (FRRC EF), a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Advocacy, works to improve society by strengthening people and communities who have been most weakened by their interaction with the criminal legal system. This grassroots, membership organization is run by returning citizens (formerly convicted persons) dedicated to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions, and creating a more comprehensive and humane reentry system that will enhance successful reentry, reduce recidivism, and increase public safety.

Why do we think this project is important? 

Recently, returning citizens who have the right to vote have been deliberately targeted for criminal prosecution for registering to vote. For this reason, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Education Fund protects over 700,000 returning citizens from attacks on their voting rights and ensures they are included in our democracy and become active citizens in their communities through the Defend, Protect, Produce program.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Education Fund? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $150,000 to Florida Rights Restoration Coalition to support their Defend, Protect, Produce project.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: The Data Squad
Amount: $125,000 in 2023

What is The Data Squad?

The Data Squad was founded in 2019 to bolster the data analysis capabilities of state-based pro-democracy organizations via training and network building.

The Data Squad promotes the strategic use of data in public policy advocacy and encourages diversity and inclusivity in non-profit data management by preparing educational materials and conducting trainings on data management tools and practices directed at individuals from varied backgrounds, demographics and life experiences, and by serving as a hub to connect those individuals with tax-exempt non-profit organizations that promote democracy, works to expand access to the ballot box, advocate for social and economic justice, and organize for positive social change.

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 Data Squad’s work contributes to change toward supporting and increasing the capacity of grassroots power building organizations.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting The Data Squad? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $125,000 to The Data Squad.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Reset Tech Action
Amount: $500,000 in 2023 over two years

What is Reset Tech Action?

Reset Tech Action is a 501(c)4 organization with the long-term goal to support a “reset” of the relationship between media and democracy in the digital age to ensure that publics are more informed and less divided. Reset Tech Action seeks to neutralize the threats posed to democracy by digital media monopolies and restore the power of information technology as a force for effective self-government and progressive society.

Why do we think this project is important? 

Democracy Fund Voice supports Reset Tech Action’s work to: reduce threats to democracy created by large digital media companies that undermine security, safety, and trust in American elections; and to reduce the damage that conspiracy, hate speech and disinformation in digital media inflicts on American democracy.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Reset Tech Action? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $500,000 to Reset Tech Action.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Public Citizen Inc.
Amount: $800,000 in 2023 over two years

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? 

Democracy Fund Voice supports work that contributes to increased election funding, decreased internal and external election threats, as well as increased state and national accountability for government corruption. Public Citizen’s work includes the Protecting Elections and Government Accountability project. This grant supports the project’s work on corporate accountability, protecting our elections from subversion and defending the rule of law.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Public Citizen? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $800,000 to Public Citizen, Inc. to support their Protecting Elections and Government Accountability projects.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Our American Future Action
Amount: $75,000 in 2023

What is Our American Future Action?

Our American Future Action is a 501(c)4 that advocates for creating good paying jobs, lowering the costs of prescription drugs, improving access to healthcare, investing in the clean energy economy and strengthening U.S. democracy.

Why do we think this project is important? 

Our American Future Action’s work includes a project that aims to assess and better understand two trends in state-level governance in the United States: the increasing divergence of state-level policies and the ways in which states are using their own policies to leverage power outside their borders. How we understand these trends will be crucial to our collective ability to strengthen democracy and weaken authoritarianism.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Our American Future Action? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $75,000 to Our American Future Action to support their State Divergence & Aggression Project.

Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: New Georgia Project Action Fund
Amount: $205,000 in 2023 over two years

What is New Georgia Project Action Fund?

New Georgia Project Action Fund (NGPAF) is a 501(c)4 that aims to increase the civic participation and voice of the New Georgia Majority — Black, Latinx, AAPI, and young Georgians — and other historically marginalized communities by building grassroots political power in support of progressive leaders, policies, and issues.

Why do we think this work is important? 

This grant supports the organization in its work to solidify its position as Georgia’s hub for voter engagement across the South. In 2023, NGPAF’s aim is to establish a sustained, year-round voter engagement effort that transcends election cycles. Their long-term vision is to become an enduring and influential force in Georgia, consistently empowering voters and serving as a model for similar initiatives throughout the South.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting New Georgia Project Action Fund? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $205,000 to New Georgia Project Action Fund.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Independent Strategic Research Collaborative Inc.
Amount: $87,000 in 2023

What is Independent Strategic Research Collaborative Inc.?

Independent Strategic Research Collaborative Inc. (RC) is a trusted go-to research, strategy, messaging, and collaborative convening hub for progressive national, state, and local organizations working to realize the promise of a truly equitable, multi-racial democracy. RC generates and disseminates research, message guidance, and strategic approaches to address the pressing crises of the day and to put forward a long-term compelling progressive narrative for democracy.

Why do we think this project is important? 

RC initiates, coordinates, and disseminates compelling communications research and narrative guidance on key pro-democracy- and elections-related issues and events; criminal and civil prosecutions related to former prominent members of government and their allies; and monumental Supreme Court terms. RC has helped to ensure better coordination among key researchers, ensuring more streamlined and collaborative research proposals go into the field, and helping to build a more collegial and connected research community.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Independent Strategic Research Collaborative Inc.?

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a one-year grant of $87,000 to Independent Strategic Research Collaborative to support organizational and strategic development.

Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: Down Home North Carolina
Amount: $200,000 in 2023 over two years

What is Down Home North Carolina?

Down Home North Carolina is a 501(c)4 that aims to support, promote, and develop the common good and social welfare of working and poor rural North Carolina residents through civic engagement, leadership development, and educational events. Down Home North Carolina’s long-term vision is to support member-driven organizing that represents the multi-racial working class, working at the local level and together as a statewide coalition, in all 80 rural counties in North Carolina.

Why do we think this work is important? 

Democracy Fund Voice supports state-based power-building efforts, and Down Home North Carolina’s work has the potential to have a significant positive impact on building power in underfunded rural communities. North Carolina’s rural population (3.4M) is larger than that of any other state except Texas (3.8M), but few civic organizations primarily serve rural areas in NC. Down Home uses leadership development, strategic campaigning, multiracial movement building, and civic engagement to build infrastructure and power in rural places.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Down Home North Carolina? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $200,000 to Down Home North Carolina.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Committee on States
Amount: $253,000 in 2023 over two years

What is the Committee on States?

Committee on States is a 501(c)4 organization with a mission to create, nurture, and sustain a community of state-based progressive investors and institutional partners throughout the country.

Why do we think this project is important? 

Democracy Fund Voice supports efforts to strengthen state and local organizing groups to build power, grow capacity in grassroots organizing, and increase engagement in communities. Committee on States plays a key role in aligning and empowering state and local organizations with increasing funding. This grant will help support the Committee on States’ convening power and internal organizational growth.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Committee on States? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $253,000 to Committee on States to build its internal capacity.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: AZ AANHPI Advocates
Amount: $200,000 in 2023 over two years

What is AZ AANHPI Advocates?

Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Advocates (AZ AANHPI Advocates), a fiscally sponsored project of Arizona Wins, has a mission to empower and engage the Arizona AANHPI community, encouraging civic engagement and educating the community on relevant public policies, to facilitate the creation of an equitable society and inclusive 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. AZ AANHPI’s year-round organizing work contributes to building power among Arizona AANHPI communities by focusing on voter participation, educating the community on voting rights, removing barriers to voting, engaging in litigation against voter suppression laws, increasing voting access, and leadership development in the Arizona AANHPI community.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting AZ AANHPI Advocates? 

In 2023, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant of $200,000 to AZ AANHPI Advocates.