Company Profile

Company Description:

ABOUT DEMOCRACY FUND
Democracy Fund is an independent foundation that 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. We work on things that make democracy work better.

At the heart of our vision for the future are three core commitments: fostering more effective governance in the United States, modernizing our election system, and strengthening our media and the public square to help people understand and participate in the democratic process. To date, we have committed more than $100 million in support of a healthy democracy.

Democracy Fund was created by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar out of a deep respect for the U.S. Constitution and our nation’s core democratic values. 

Learn more about Democracy Fund and our sister 501(c)(4) organization Democracy Fund Voice by visiting www.democracyfund.org and www.democracyfundvoice.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

Democracy Fund’s Public Square team believes that a healthy democracy demands access to trustworthy news and information that reflects the diversity of our communities and enables all people to participate fully.We support people and organizations working to strengthen local news, expand engaged journalism, defend press freedom, and combat misinformation and address the impact of social media platforms on our democracy. 
 
Grantmaking is just one tool we use to support systems level change. We believe as grantmakers we must be humble and oriented towards listening and service, recognizing that our grantees are changemakers who we help succeed in the world. We work with our grantees and the field to provide support through capacity building, by bringing people together to learn from each other at events, and more. We do the same by partnering with other funders around the country. In addition, we regularly share our expertise through our publications the Local News Lab and the Local Fix.
 
We are seeking a Program Associate to help expand the capacity of our Ecosystem News strategy which focuses on fostering vibrant and resilient local news in regions across America. The ideal candidate will also contribute to our Press Freedom strategy, which is advancing bold new ideas to defend local journalists and supporting grantees on the front lines of today’s First Amendment battles. This new role will report to the Senior Program Associate for Local News, and involves grant-making and project management. Beyond grantmaking, this position will help develop and support in-house programs focused on leadership development and business-model innovations. 
 
We are looking for an organized, entrepreneurial, and goal-oriented individual who brings astute analysis, creative problem solving, and great communication and project management skills. You’re a great fit if you love to get into the details, possess an openness for learning and collaboration, and can take a step back and connect those details across our larger vision. You are a clear-thinker, hands-on, and ready to dive in to organize events and brainstorm on strategy. Successful candidates are eager to improve systems and structures, and possess a passion for community-powered change.
 
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
GRANT MAKING

• Identify, develop, and evaluate grant-making opportunities that are aligned with our strategy and budget, and support Senior Associate in analysis, negotiation, and grant structuring.
• Support in the operational procedures and documentation associated with making grants
• Provide support to and oversight of grantees to help ensure their success, with a particular focus on building meaningful relationships and trust 
• Support initiatives focused on business models, sustainability, and funder collaboration 

 
CONVENING AND OUTREACH

• Facilitate increased dialogue and collaboration in the field by working with the team to convene grantees, peer funders, and others. 
• Conceive of, plan, and execute meetings and resources for local news leaders that we call ‘ecosystem builders.
• Manage planning, relationships and logistics associated with events as appropriate.
• Contribute to the Local News Lab and Local Fix publications 
• Maintain relationships with consultants and grantees working in support of the Ecosystem News and Press Freedom Strategies.

 
STRATEGY, EXPERIMENTATION, AND LEARNING

• Provide input and feedback to the team to help us experiment, learn, and refine our approach in grantmaking.
• Monitor, engage, and capture learnings from grantees and funding initiatives.
• Monitor trends, research, and new publications to inform our strategy.

 
TEAM MEMBER

• Collaborate with the larger Public Square team to support activities aimed at combating misinformation, defending press freedom, and promoting engaged journalism and diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Contribute to team administration and processes.
• Serve as a liaison between the Public Square Program and other Democracy Fund departments on targeted areas of work.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Passion for strengthening American democracy and supporting journalism that serves communities and enables long term systems change
• Comfortable working in a small, highly collaborative team.
• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience preferred, with at least 3-5 years of experience in roles that involve managing multiple projects, combining details with strategic thinking, organizing events, and in the fields of media, local news, and/or philanthropy
• A nuanced understanding of issues related to local news, especially business models and sustainability 
• Previous experience with grantmaking is valued but not necessary
• A history of strong relationship building skills and experience navigating complex relationships across organizations
• Exceptional communication skills 
• Flexibility and initiative to work both independently and as part of a team. 
• Professional maturity, demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment, and proven track record contributing to complex projects
• Must be comfortable with ambiguity and working in a changing environment
• Collaborative and strategic especially when approaching work and planning
• Position is based in the Washington, D.C. area and involves travel to local news regions and industry conferences.

Democracy Fund is committed to a diverse workplace, seeking voices and expertise from people from across the political spectrum. Our board, staff, advisors, and grantees include Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.  Democracy Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer, where we encourage candidates of all ages, color, ethnic background, country of origin, religion, disability status, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity to apply.