Democracy 21 (D21) Education Fund is the research and education arm of the left-of-center political advocacy group Democracy 21. [1]
D21 and D21 Education Fund were founded by activist Fred Wertheimer in 1997 to advocate for left-of-center views on campaign finance and government transparency and accountability. [2] Wertheimer and his organization have been involved in campaign finance legislation, including helping develop the For the People Act [3] which would require states to expand early voting, same-day voter registration, mail-in voting, and ballot harvesting and compel the use of so-called independent commissions to draw legislative districts. [4]
Background
The Democracy 21 (D21) Education Fund was founded in 1997, along with Democracy 21, by activist Fred Wertheimer to address campaign finance and government transparency and accountability. [5]
Funders
Funders of the D21 Education Fund have included many left-of-center grantmaking organizations including the Hopewell Fund, [6] the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Opportunity Fund, the Open Society Foundations, Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Brennan Center for Justice. [7]
Financials
In 2020 the D21 Education Fund received $381,880 in revenues, including $380,512 in grants and contributions. Total expenses were $551,071, including $307,412 in compensation and benefits. [8]
Leadership
Fred Wertheimer is founder and president of D21 and the D21 Education Fund. [9] Previously, he was president of Common Cause, a left-progressive advocacy group that focuses on campaign finance, voting policy and government accountability. [10] Wertheimer has been involved in working with Congressional Democrats on campaign finance legislation for more than 40 years. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has described Wertheimer as providing “exceptional leadership to hold government and Congress to the highest ethical standard.” [11]
Nick Ucci is board chair. [12] Previously, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer at People for the American Way (PFAW), a left-of-center advocacy group. [13]