October 3, 2024
In 2020, our Digital Democracy portfolio (DDP) wanted to find a way to learn more about our grantees’ challenges while also being mindful of their…
Ideas
Explore insights, lessons, and resources from our work
Democracy Fund staff — alongside grantees, researchers, and other field experts — regularly develops resources and shares lessons on strengthening democracy. Here you will find guides, reports, and insights from our team and network.
August 15, 2024
Misinformation is hardly a new problem, but it often spikes around breaking news events. Racist narratives and conspiracy theories have rapidly escalated after the launch…
January 30, 2024
Across the nation, state and local leaders are building movements for digital equity. The goal? For everyone to have access to safe online spaces, and…
August 7, 2023
Democracy Fund’s Digital Democracy Portfolio (DDP) and its grantees have been radically reimagining platform accountability and media policy through strategies at the intersection of reparation…
Press Release
Digital Equity & Opportunity Initiative (DEOI)
June 29, 2023
The Digital Equity and Opportunity Initiative’s mission is to jumpstart the building of a lasting civic infrastructure. DEOI will provide core funding support to state…
December 12, 2022
We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us. - Freedom’s Journal, 1827 In April 2022, Democracy Fund announced our…
November 21, 2022
Democracy Fund’s Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) and its grantees have been radically reimagining platform accountability and media policy through strategies at the intersection of advocacy,…
Report
Toward Ethical Technology
March 28, 2022
The health of our American democracy depends upon equitable and safe digital spaces. Toward Ethical Technology: Framing Human Rights in the Future of Digital Innovation…
January 20, 2022
Democracy Fund’s Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) and its grantees are radically reimagining what it looks like to make platforms accountable to the American public and…
Blog
Envisioning a Just and Open Digital Democracy: Expanding Our Commitment to Platform Accountability
September 14, 2021
Last month, after Facebook attempted to undermine the efforts of independent researchers — and Democracy Fund grantees — who were studying the effects of the…
August 17, 2021
For several years, Democracy Fund has been pushing for greater platform transparency and working to protect against the harms of digital voter suppression, surveillance advertising,…
May 18, 2021
We tried something different. As a foundation, we are only as effective as our understanding of and alignment to what is occurring in the fields…
March 8, 2021
Social media companies have harmed our economy, government, social fabric, and public square. The January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol, which was…
Blog
Fighting for an internet that is safe for all: how structural problems require structural solutions
September 30, 2020
In 2017, a college student named Taylor Dumpson achieved what many young scholars dream of: she was elected student body president. As the first African-American…
August 11, 2020
According to the Pew Research Center, one in five Americans rely primarily on social media for their political news and information. This means a small…
August 7, 2020
Without sufficient transparency and accountability, online platforms have become hotbeds for disinformation that manipulates, maligns, and disenfranchises voters, especially people of color and women. The…
June 15, 2020
Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Google play an essential role in our democracy. They provide a way for communities to organize and speak…
Systems Map
Digital Democracy Initiative Core Story
May 15, 2020
Our democracy is a complex political system made of an intricate web of institutions, interest groups, individual leaders, and citizens that are all connected in…
October 31, 2019
WASHINGTON – Democracy Fund president, Joe Goldman, and managing director, Tom Glaisyer, issued the following statement in response to Twitter’s announcement that it will no…
April 9, 2018
Today Facebook announced a new initiative which will provide independent researchers access to Facebook data to study the impact the social network has on our…