Democracy Initiative Education Fund

The Democracy Initiative Education Fund (Democracy Initiative) is a national, nonpartisan research and education organization that represents a coalition of 59 civil society organizations and works to build the capacity of these organizations to link their work to democracy reform efforts. The Democracy Initiative conducts research, produces communications materials, and undertakes public education efforts on important issues central to the improvement of U.S. democracy. MacArthur funds support general operations of the Democracy Initiative. The intended outcome of this work is a strong network of multidisciplinary civil society organizations that are better able to build awareness about how reforms aimed at voting rights and money in politics would help the United States address critical problems facing all Americans.

The Democracy Initiative Education Fund (DIEF) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization committed to building a more responsive U.S. democracy. The Democracy Initiative launched in 2012 as a project of the Proteus Fund, by four nonprofit membership organizations – the Sierra Club, the NAACP, Greenpeace and Communications Workers of America – to better connect the constituents of a diverse set of nonprofit membership organizations to the impact of money in politics and voting rights on issues including the environment, workers rights, and civil rights. Through its Educating for Democracy project, the DIEF will conduct research related to democratic engagement and undertake public education efforts on important issues central to the improvement of U.S. democracy.