Other Group

Democracy Rising

Website:

www.wearedemocracyrising.org/

Type:

Activist Group

Project of:

NEO Philanthropy

Formation:

2020

Co-Founders and Co-Directors:

Maria Perez

Grace Ramsey

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Democracy Rising is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activist group that is fiscally sponsored by left-of-center “fiscal clearinghouse” NEO Philanthropy. 1

The organization initially formed in 2020, with the group’s website claiming its objective to be “transforming” American democracy. 2 3 Its co-founders and senior leadership have experience working with left-of-center groups including the California Endowment, Common Cause New Mexico, FairVote, FairVote Minnesota, Ranked Choice Voting Maryland, Democracy Initiative, and the Open Government Partnership. 4

In 2023, Democracy Rising received $333,622 from the left-of-center Rockefeller Brothers Fund 5 and $50,000 from George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. 6

History and Leadership

Democracy Rising was founded in 2020 by Grace Ramsey and Maria Perez in 2020, whom are both listed as the group’s co-directors as of 2024. 4 Prior to founding Democracy Rising, Perez was a campaign lead for California Endowment, the director of FairVote’s New Mexico branch, and the campaign manager for Common Cause’s New Mexico branch. 7 Prior to Democracy Rising, Ramsey worked as an organizer with FairVote Minnesota’s Rank Your Vote campaign, was the deputy director of FairVote, and was an activist for Democracy in Action. 8

Other members of Democracy Rising’s advisory board have experience working with left-of-center organizations including Ranked Choice Voting Maryland, MCW Creative, FairVote, and the Democracy Initiative. Members have held positions in other organizations including the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, Open Government Partnership, the World Bank, the Results Educational Fund, the Association for Conflict Resolution, the office of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman (R), and the Washington Post4

Activities and Funding

Democracy Rising is a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activist organization that is fiscally sponsored by left-of-center “fiscal clearinghouse” NEO Philanthropy. 1 Democracy Rising has previously with left-of-center groups on supporting ranked choice voting including the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center and Represent.US9

According to its website, Democracy Rising was formed with the purpose of “transforming” American democracy through organizing and activism, education strategies, and relationship building to implement election reforms. 2 3 Democracy Rising directly works with local activists and seeks to “reimagine and transform” American democracy to create the far-left concept of political equity and develop structural changes in the American democratic system. 2

Democracy Rising manages a Democracy Transformation Project, a local initiative meant to help train future activities. 10 The organization also hosts an annual Democracy Information Summit as well as seasonal youth summits. 10

Democracy Rising has collaborated with left-of-center organizations Center for Ballot Freedom and New America to promote “multiparty democracy” in the United States as well as a report, Democracy and Belonging: Learning from Immigrant Communities, meant to research how immigrant communities engage in American elections.  2 In conjunction with this report, Democracy Rising hosted meetings with members of several immigrant communities in the United States to discuss demographic changes and policy priorities within the country. 10 11

Funding

Democracy Rising is a fiscally sponsored project of left-of-center NEO Philanthropy. 2 Democracy Rising receives funding from individual contributions and grants to NEO Philanthropy that are earmarked for Democracy Rising. 12

In 2023, Democracy Rising received $333,622 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund through several grants to NEO Philanthropy. 5 That same year, Democracy Rising received $50,000 from George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. 6

References

  1. “Democracy Rising.” Democracy Fund. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://democracyfund.org/grant/democracy-rising/.
  2. “Home.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.wearedemocracyrising.org/.
  3. “Democracy Rising.” Idealist. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/dfaf14e7ce164057aea959c35631d7f4-democracy-rising-new-york.
  4. “Democracy Rising Staff.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.wearedemocracyrising.org/staff-board.
  5. “NEO Philanthropy Inc.” Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.rbf.org/grantees/neo-philanthropy-inc.
  6. “Awarded Grants.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=democracy+rising&grant_id=OR2023-88975.
  7. [1] “Democracy Rising Staff.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.wearedemocracyrising.org/staff-board.
  8. “Democracy Rising Staff.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 22, 2024. https://www.wearedemocracyrising.org/staff-board.
  9. “Implementation.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.wearedemocracyrising.org/implimentation.
  10. “Democracy Transformation Project.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.wearedemocracyrising.org/demoracy-transformation.
  11. Maria Perez and Grace Ramsey. “Democracy and Belonging” Learning from Immigrant Communities.” New America. September 18, 2024. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.newamerica.org/political-reform/reports/democracy-and-belonging-learning-from-immigrant-communities/.
  12. “Donate to Democracy Rising.” Democracy Rising. Accessed September 22, 2024, https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/iD9MI_t-vPRo3XTf2y72BQ.
  See an error? Let us know!