On April 11, PACE hosted a discussion around philanthropy’s role in supporting and sustaining our nation’s recent swell in civic engagement.
Video:
Chat Transcript (comments, links, and resources shared by attendees): Download here.
Description:
Recent political, social, and electoral events seem to have spurred an uptick in individuals engaging in many types of civic life. Either in support or opposition of candidates, policies, and even actions of fellow citizens, people across America are holding signs, chanting, and posting statuses, many emboldened with a civic battle cry: “This is what democracy looks like!” Many across all sides of the aisle are turning those words to action by engaging in their communities as volunteers, marchers, and donors, as well as contacting elected officials and attending town halls to voice their concerns. Some are choosing to become candidates for public office themselves. What does philanthropy need to know about this engagement? How do we understand the sentiments and contributions of this “moment” and if/how it might contribute to a “democracy movement” in America?
Speakers:
- Greg Baldwin: President, VolunteerMatch
- Rachna Choudhry: Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, PopVOX
- Anne Moses: President and Founder, IGNITE
Recommended Contextual Readings:
- Volunteer Numbers Surge After Trump Election, Chronicle of Philanthropy
- Surge in Young Women Planning to Run For Office, Christian Science Monitor
- Unusually high surge in year-end donations attributed to election, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- The Post-Election Surge in Donations, The Atlantic
- At 2.6 Million Strong, Women’s Marches Crush Expectations, USA Today
- Calling Basic Civics “Resistance” Will Only Make It Harder to Stand Up, Washington Post
- How Donald Trump is Reviving American Democracy, The Atlantic
- Is today’s political engagement a fad or the new reality?, San Diego Union-Tribune
- Building Global Community, Facebook
- Are We Experiencing a Moment or a Movement for Civic Engagement?, Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers