Contina Impact

A newer project of policy impact, the democracy communications fund serves asa pooled donor fund that invests in research and communications work to build public support for u.s. Democracy, with an initial focus on building trust in elections.

We fiscally sponsored a project with a cross-ideological network of civic leaders and influencers who meet biannually in person, and throughout the year virtually, to discuss the challenges facing american democracy and what can be done to revitalize our system of governance. We also participated in a contract with a cross-ideological learning and action community for donors concerned about the health of american democracy. This project produced numerous reports about democracy, hosted major convenings for democracy funders, and helped educate philanthropy about investing in democracy.

Democracy sos is a multi-pronged proactive intervention supporting newsrooms in advancing democracy. Its mission is to help people working in journalism to adjust, improve and even re-imagine how they serve and empower a functioning democracy. The project brings together initiatives, training and resources from partners, collaborators and across the field.

One of our projects provided early detection and early warning insights to civil society, election administrators, and key stakeholders working in the election field in order to promote early detection of disinformation narratives and threats of violence. This ability allowed for communicators and individuals to better understand how they can successfully detect and mitigate these types of threats. This project developed deep dive reports into the disinformation and misinformation landscape, with the purpose of making the reports public.

We participated in a contract to provide ongoing professional development for a team of legislative staff to develop bipartisan relationships and have educational opprotunities with experts.

During the year, the organization sponsored a diverse portfolio of projects that promote civic engagement, education, dialogue, and social impact. These initiatives included programs supporting constructive journalism and storytelling that bridge divides, professional development for philanthropic leaders, and collaborations that expand college access for underrepresented students. Other sponsored efforts empowered veterans to advance democratic values, fostered public understanding of clean energy solutions, and created public forums and podcasts highlighting empathy, inclusion, and community connection. Collectively, these projects strengthen civic life, encourage informed discourse, and build pathways for social progress and shared understanding across communities.