Ben Davis

Ben Davis is the founder and director of Civic (Re)Solve and previously worked as the director of campaigns and sustainability for the Wend Collective. 1 While he was with the Wend Collective, Davis stated in a podcast episode that his professional career is “in the service of Democrats.” 2

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At-A-Glance

Occupation: Donor, Board Member or Executive
Issue Areas: Elections Policy, Identity Politics (for race-based policy/activism)
Primary Philanthropy:

Civic (Re)Solve

Contents

    Career

    Civic (Re)Solve

    Ben Davis founded Civic (Re)Solve in 2021 after it was a project of the Wend Collective for ten years. 1 Civic (Re)Solve is associated with the North Fund, a left-of-center nonprofit that is part of the billion-dollar nonprofit network managed by Arabella Advisors, as it is a registered trade name of the North Fund. 3

    In a 2022 report, Civic (Re)Solve promoted arguments that right-of-center media spread “conspiracy theories” and “misinformation” regarding the 2020 election, and in a 2024 report it advocated for eliminating election-integrity laws, claiming that they are an “authoritarian threat” towards minority groups. 4  Civic (Re)Solve is also listed as a “founding supporter” and “strategic partner” for Issue One’s Count Every Vote Campaign. 5

    Wend Collective

    Davis worked as the director of campaigns and sustainability for the Wend Collective from 2017 until he became the director of Civic (Re)Solve in 2021. 1  The Wend Collective is a private grantmaking organization founded by James M. Walton, cousin of Ben Walton and grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton. In 2021, Davis reported to Inside Philanthropy that the Wend Collective uses various entities beyond Wend II Inc., a registered nonprofit private foundation, to make grants that can exceed $1 million. He also reported that it does not disclose all its grantees or grant programs but that its grants are usually “structured” as “general support.” 6

    In March 2021, Davis was featured in the Racial Equity Truthtellers podcast, hosted by Keecha Harris and Associates, a racial equity consultancy. On the podcast, Davis reported that he has been working “in the service of Democrats” as they “reflect his values.” He also said that racial equity is the most concept that informs his work after he experienced a realization that he was attempting to solve the problems of ethnic minorities from the perspective of what he thought was in their best interest. Davis said he has reduced the rate of hiring white people and instead hires ethnic minorities because he thinks that is the “right way” to run a philanthropic program. He also describes himself as an expert on equity and inclusion because his peers are ethnic minorities. 7 2

    OnSight Public Affairs

    In 2009, Davis founded OnSight Public Affairs, a political consultancy, and worked as its principal until 2017. With OnSight Public Affairs, Davis worked with environmentalist advocacy campaigns and campaigns that advocate for increased health care subsidies and price controls in the health care industry. 1 8 9

    Philanthropy

    As of 2025, Ben Davis was listed as a member of the advisory council of the Change Collective, a nonprofit advocacy organization supported by former President Barack Obama, which offers training programs for left-of-center advocacy organizations. 10

    Political Activity

    Ben Davis worked as the deputy campaign manager for Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D). 1

    Between 2008 and 2024, Davis donated exclusively to Democratic Party candidates, the Colorado Democratic Party, and Conservation Colorado. Prominent recipients included Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign, former U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), and former Colorado Senate President Morgan Carroll (D) in her unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. 11

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    References

    1. “Ben Davis.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-davis-92090337/.
    2. Keecha Harris and Associates. “Racial Equity Truthtellers – Ben Davis.” YouTube. March 26, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3m79pYWFXg. 
    3. “Trade Names of the Arabella Advisors Network.” Americans for Public Trust. May 29, 2025. https://americansforpublictrust.org/document/trade-names-of-the-arabella-advisors-network/
    4. “Indigenous-led Civic Engagement: A Funder Guide for 2024 and Beyond.” Third Plateau. 2024. https://thirdplateau.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/Indigenous-led-Civic-Engagement-Guide-11.pdf
    5. “A New Narrative for American Democracy.” Issue One. September 2022. https://issueone.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/FINAL-IO-Narrative-Report.pdf. 
    6. Kavate, Michael. “ These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look.” Inside Philanthropy. August 30, 2021. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2021-8-17-what-three-cousins-from-americas-richest-family-fund-privately. 
    7. Keecha Harris and Associates. “Racial Equity Truthtellers: “If everyone in the room looks like you, you’re in the wrong room.” InDeep Initiative. March 25, 2021. https://www.indeepinitiative.org/blog/2021/3/25/racial-equity-truthtellers-if-everyone-in-the-room-looks-like-you-youre-in-the-wrong-room.
    8. McCrimmon, Katie Kerwin. “PR tab of $118,000 included push to control board.” Health Policy Solutions. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://www.healthpolicysolutions.org/2013/12/04/pr-tab-of-118000-included-push-to-control-board. 
    9. “Ben Davis.” OnSight Public Affairs, July 21, 2025. https://onsightpublicaffairs.com/staff-bios/. 
    10. “Advisory Council.” Change Collective. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://change-collective.org/about/.
    11. “Donor Lookup.” OpenSecrets. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://www.opensecrets.org/donor-lookup/results?name=ben+davis&cycle=&state=CO&zip=&employ=&occupation=&jurisdiction=&cand=&type=.