Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Public Citizen
Amount: $200,000 in 2020

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 worked to co-convene a diverse coalition of organizations urging proper oversight over the trillions in taxpayer dollars spent in response to COVID-19. Public Citizen helped coordinate advocacy to ensure that aid and stimulus funds went to those in need and that funds were not misused for corrupt political purposes. It also worked with Congress and the companies receiving funds to ensure the funds were disbursed in a manner that was transparent and free from waste and mismanagement.

Public Citizen coordinated advocacy to: bolster existing oversight structures (such as congressional committees and independent bodies); strengthen guardrails in future legislation; identify and highlight potential conflicts of interest in government aid and stimulus spending; and, encourage companies to adopt stronger transparency measures, among other activities.

Together, these activities showed elected and appointed officials and aid recipients that advocates and the public were closely monitoring the distribution and use of taxpayer dollars.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Public Citizen?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $200,000 to Public Citizen.

Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Mediators Foundation
Amount: $55,000 in 2020

What is the Reunited States documentary?  

The Reunited States is a feature documentary, fiscally sponsored by Mediators Foundation, that follows ordinary citizens on extraordinary journeys of bridging political and racial divides. Through personal stories, the film documents how overcoming polarization is an actionable and attainable goal — and one that we are all responsible for.

Why do we think this project is important?

The Reunited States is a story of the opportunities we all have as Americans to bridge political divides. The grant was used to widen the reach of the film to communities across the country, accelerating and amplifying the call-to-action. This outreach campaign also partnered with other organizations to promote actionable models to bridge divides.

By highlighting several organizations that are bridging divides, the closing credit sequence is an invitation for viewers to continue seeking solutions in their own lives. The credits also point viewers to www.reunitedstates.tv; the URL served as the entry point to access hundreds of other organizations for continuing education and activism. The publishers of “The Reunited States of America: How to Bridge the Partisan Divide,” Berret-Koehler, generously agreed to give a free digital copy of the book to anyone who requested it. Finally, a long-term goal of the campaign is to maintain an online social community to continuously inspire new viewers and audiences into taking action.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the Reunited States?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $55,000 to Reunited States LLC.

Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: Whistleblower Aid
Amount: $200,000 in 2019 

What is Whistleblower Aid?

Whistleblower Aid is a pioneering, non-profit legal organization that helps patriotic government employees and others report abuse and wrongdoing safely, lawfully, and responsibly. 

Why do we think this organization is important?

Protecting whistleblowers is vital to ensuring that government officials are accountable to the public. Whistleblower Aid helps employees of the federal government and others safely and lawfully bring awareness to government wrongdoing. While the federal employees who become whistleblowers are supposed to be covered by whistleblower protection laws, in many cases they face retaliation in the form of intimidation, threats, or the loss of employment. Whistleblower Aid supports these individuals through direct legal support, psychosocial support, and by advocating for them in the press. 

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Whistleblower Aid?

In 2019, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $200,000 to Whistleblower Aid. 

Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Public Citizen
Amount: $450,000 in 2019

What is Public Citizen?

Founded in 1971, Public Citizen champions the public interest and serves as the people’s voice in the nation’s capital. Public Citizen defends democracy and works to ensure that our government works for the people. 

Why do we think this project is important?

Public Citizen’s project on government oversight works to expose corruption and push back against threats to justice, a functional democracy, freedom, and equality. As part of this mission, Public Citizen is a key leader in a diverse coalition of groups mobilizing to protect the rule of law.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Public Citizen?

In 2019, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant to Public Citizen in the amount of $450,000 to support their project to protect the rule of law.

Type of Activity: General Operating Support
Grantee: Pay Our Interns Action Fund
Amount: Updated to $300,000 in 2021 — originally approved as $50,000 in 2019

What is Pay Our Interns Action Fund?

Born of a social media campaign led by two former unpaid congressional interns, Pay Our Interns Action Fund is a nonprofit that advocates for paid internship programs in all congressional offices. In 2017, they published a report showing how few Congress members paid their interns, and began lobbying candidates and current members of Congress to commit to paying their interns. 

Their efforts led to the creation of an internship fund allocation of $5 million initially and was increased to $13.8 million in 2018. 

Why do we think this organization is important?

Pay Our Interns Action Fund is an effective voice for paid internships on Capitol Hill. Democracy Fund Voice believes that unpaid internships are a structural barrier to creating a cCongress and congressional staff that looks like America. We are proud to support Pay Our Intern Action Fund’s mission to advocate for paid internships on Capitol Hill and to work with members of Congress to create effective, equitable internship programs.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Pay Our Interns Action Fund?

In 2019, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $50,000 to Pay Our Interns Action Fund. In 2020, an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $100,000 and in 2021 an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $150,000 for a total of $300,000.

Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Lincoln Network, Inc.
Amount: $300,000 in 2020 over two years

What is Lincoln Network?

Lincoln Network believes that the government needs, and the people deserve, new ideas and technologies that increase efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness. They bring together leaders from the fields of technology and government to converse, collaborate, and create change.

Why do we think this project is important?

This grant supported Lincoln Network’s Article One Project, which promoted key congressional reform proposals, including bolstering science and technology policy expertise in the legislative branch. Lincoln Network regularly publishes research and engages members of Congress and their staff on related issues.

Lincoln Network provides an expert perspective to Congress, helping the institution restore its ability to craft intelligent policy on a variety of science and technology issues and conduct oversight of the industries driving our modern world. It also brings the innovative spirit of Silicon Valley to the challenges facing the modernization of congressional technology infrastructure, helping create a more productive and responsive legislature.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Lincoln Network?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $300,000 over two years to Lincoln Network. A previous grant of $100,000 was made in 2019

Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Issue One
Amount: Updated to $210,000 in 2020, originally approved as $150,000 in 2019 

What is Issue One?

Issue One is the leading cross-partisan political reform group in Washington. They work to unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to improve the current political system.

Why do we think this project is important?

Issue One coordinated stakeholders to support reducing political dysfunction, increasing congressional capacity, and advocating for congressional reforms. Issue One convened partners from across the ideological spectrum to broker compromises that for lasting, meaningful congressional reform.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Issue One?

In 2019, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant to Issue One’s Congressional Capacity and Reform project for the amount of $150,000. In 2020, an amendment was approved to increase the amount of the grant by $60,000, for a total of $210,000.  

Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Co-Equal, a project of Sixteen Thirty Fund
Amount: $175,000 in 2021 

What is Co-Equal?

The mission of Co-Equal, a fiscally sponsored project of Sixteen Thirty Fund, is to provide information and advice that helps members of Congress advance policies and conduct effective oversight. 

Why do we think this project is important?

Co-Equal’s experts have decades of experience conducting investigations, developing oversight agendas, and explaining to the public the importance of congressional oversight as a tool to hold the executive branch accountable. Their expertise serves as a valuable resource to members of Congress carrying out oversight duties, investigations, and advancing policy priorities. 

Congressional oversight of the executive branch is a key part of our constitution’s system of checks and balances. Each branch of government must exercise its ability to hold the other two branches accountable in order to uphold the rule of law and prevent abuses of power. Without such accountability, corruption can go unchecked and undermine the health of a democracy. 

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Co-Equal?

In 2021, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $175,000 to support Co-Equal. A previous grant was made in 2019 for $282,000. 

Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Bipartisan Policy Center Action
Amount: $550,000 in 2020

What is Bipartisan Policy Center Action?

Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action) advocates for bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing our country. In close partnership with their 501(c)(3) partner, the Bipartisan Policy Center, BPC Action brings Republicans and Democrats together to achieve policy changes on polarizing issues including congressional dysfunction.

Why do we think this project is important?

BPC Action works closely with the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, rank-and-file legislators, and other stakeholders to advance productive reforms and rules changes that strengthen the legislative capacity of Congress. BPC Action also aims to increase public awareness about reform and activate constituent engagement in support of a modern Congress that better serves the American people.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Bipartisan Policy Center Action?

In 2020, Democracy Fund Voice approved a two-year grant to Bipartisan Policy Center Action in the amount of $550,000. Previous grants were made in 2019 for $350,000 and in 2017 for $415,000. 

Type of Activity: Project Grant
Grantee: Campaign Legal Center
Amount: Up to $50,000 in 2018

What is the Campaign Legal Center?

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. CLC is adamantly nonpartisan, holding candidates and government officials accountable regardless of political affiliation. Their work includes serving as a watchdog group on ethics and campaign finance issues and participating in legal proceedings across the country to defend the right to vote.

Why do we think this organization is important?

Campaign Legal Center (CLC) shines light on the lack of transparency in online political advertising. Opaque and outdated transparency laws make it easy for dark money campaigns to influence elections and political debates online. CLC develops and pushes for common sense solutions that improve transparency of online ads at the state and federal level.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the Campaign Legal Center?

Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant to the Campaign Legal Center in the amount of up to $50,000 in 2018.