Just Democracy is a social advocacy coalition of several left-of-center organizations ¹ that advocate in favor of electoral initiatives such as abolishing the Electoral College, expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court (known as “packing the court”), eliminating the Senate filibuster, and adding Washington, D.C. as a state.  ²

Just Democracy is a project of the North Fund, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. and one of several managed by philanthropic consulting firm Arabella Advisors. ³

Background

Just Democracy is a coalition of left-of-center organizations that advocate in favor of electoral policies and initiatives such as abolishing the Electoral College, expanding the number of seats on the Supreme Court (known as “packing the court”), eliminating the Senate filibuster, and adding Washington, D.C. as a state.  ²

Outside of electoral reform, Just Democracy advocates for left-of-center criminal justice reform, gun control measures, economic redistribution, and environmentalist policies. ⁴

As of 2020, the Just Democracy coalition included the Working Families Party, 51 for 51, Truth and Conciliation, the Center for Popular Democracy, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Alliance of Families for Justice, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Black Male Voter Project. ¹

Just Democracy previously worked Fix the Senate, an advocacy group that advocates in favor of eliminating the filibuster. ⁵

The North Fund

Just Democracy is a project of the North Fund, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. and one of several managed by philanthropic consulting firm Arabella Advisors. ³

According to the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, the North Fund operates other entities such as Opportunity Wisconsin, 51 for 51, Accountable Tech, Voting Rights Lab Action and the Count Every Vote Project. Just Democracy is also on this list. ³

The North Fund itself does not have a website, but many of its projects—including Just Democracy—have websites. The North Fund has listed a physical address in Washington, D.C. that is managed by Carr Workplaces, a co-working space. However, a receptionist with the Carr told a Montana newspaper that the North Fund is not on Carr’s company registry. However, Carr allows customers to use the location as a street address to conduct virtual office business. ³

The North Fund was incorporated as a nonprofit with the IRS on December 28, 2018. ⁶

The North Fund is organized by several left-of-center leaders. These include Melanie Beller, a former aide to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV); Jim Gerstein, a former Democratic pollster; and Cristina Uribe, a Democratic party and labor union organizer. ^{6 3}

1. Our Coalition. Just Democracy. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://justdemocracy.us/our-coalition/
2. Kerma, Roge. “To Achieve Racial Justice America’s Broken Democracy Must be Fixed.” Vox. September 21, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://www.vox.com/21446880/just-democracy-reform-gun-violence-police-brutality-climate-change
3. Slanger, Addi. “Progressive Leaning D.C.-Nonprofit Spends Nearly $5 Million for Marijuana Legalization.” Bozeman Daily Chronicle. October 26, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/progressive-leaning-d-c-nonprofit-spends-nearly-5-million-for-marijuana-legalization/article_90fded5b-1e86-5ea8-a98e-3e6949430993.html
4. About Us. Just Democracy. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://justdemocracy.us/about-us/
5. Nwanevu, Osita. “The Anti-Filibuster Armies Are Mounting Up.” The New Republic. October 2, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://newrepublic.com/article/159576/anti-filibuster-armies-mounting
6. North Fund. Open Corporates. Accessed October 30, 2020. https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_dc/EXTUID_4231080