Purpose of This Document
This landscape analysis provides the research foundation and organizational mapping that supports the arguments in our primary white paper, "The Civic Participation Gap."It is intended for readers who want detailed evidence, specific examples, and a comprehensive view of the pro-democracy ecosystem.
The Scale of Pro-Democracy Investment
The American pro-democracy ecosystem has grown dramatically since 2016. According to Democracy Fund's comprehensive analysis, institutional philanthropy for democracy-related work increased from approximately $3.8 billion to an estimated $5.4 to $6.9 billion annually between 2017 and 2022—a growth of 42 to 61 percent in just four years.[1]
The National Civic League's Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map now tracks over 12,500 organizations working toward 57 distinct healthy democracy goals, supported by 79 major networks and coalitions.[2]
This represents a remarkable infrastructure for democratic renewal. Yet despite this investment, a critical gap remains: the infrastructure for personal civic commitment.
Mapping the Pro-Democracy Landscape
The pro-democracy ecosystem can be understood through ten distinct categories of organizations, each serving a specific function in the broader effort to protect and strengthen democratic governance.
| Category | Primary Function | Representative Organizations |
|---|---|---|
| Legal & Litigation | Defend voting rights through courts; challenge unconstitutional laws | ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice, NAACP Legal Defense Fund |
| Election Reform | Advocate for systemic changes (ranked choice voting, redistricting, campaign finance) | FairVote, Common Cause, RepresentUs |
| Voter Engagement | Register voters, increase turnout, reduce barriers to participation | League of Women Voters, Voter Participation Center, Vote.org |
| Civic Education | Teach civics, government, and democratic participation | iCivics, Generation Citizen, Street Law |
| Bridge-Building | Reduce partisan animosity; facilitate cross-partisan dialogue | Braver Angels, Living Room Conversations, Unify America |
| Watchdog/Accountability | Monitor government, expose corruption, ensure transparency | CREW, Protect Democracy, States United Democracy Center |
| Research & Academic | Study democracy, produce data, inform policy | Brennan Center, Stanford Democracy Lab, MIT Election Lab |
| Civic Media | Combat misinformation, support local journalism, fact-checking | NewsGuard, Report for America, Solutions Journalism Network |
| Funders & Foundations | Provide financial resources to democracy organizations | Democracy Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Joyce Foundation |
| Civic Technology | Build tools for civic participation, transparency, engagement | Code for America, Democracy Works, BallotReady |
This taxonomy draws on the Bridge Alliance's network of over 100 member organizations[3] and the National Civic League's ecosystem mapping.[2]
What Each Category Does Well
Legal & Litigation Organizations
Organizations like the ACLU and Brennan Center for Justice excel at institutional protection through legal precedent. When voting rights are threatened by restrictive legislation, these organizations mount court challenges that can block implementation and establish binding legal standards. In 2025, the ACLU and Brennan Center successfully challenged executive orders that would have imposed new barriers to voter registration.[4]
Election Reform Organizations
Groups like FairVote and Common Cause focus on structural and systemic changeto how elections are conducted. FairVote's advocacy for ranked choice voting has led to adoption in over 50 jurisdictions, with 14 cities and counties using the system in 2025 elections.[5]
Voter Engagement Organizations
The League of Women Voters, Voter Participation Center, and similar organizations specialize in direct participation increase. They register voters, provide election information, and mobilize turnout, particularly among underrepresented populations.
Civic Education Organizations
iCivics, founded by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, reaches millions of students annually through interactive games and curricula that teach how government works.[6] Generation Citizen partners with school districts to deliver community-based civic education with an equity-centered approach.[7]
Bridge-Building Organizations
Braver Angels, the nation's largest cross-partisan volunteer-led movement, and organizations like Living Room Conversations facilitate structured dialogues designed to reduce affective polarization—the emotional hostility between partisans that has grown dramatically in recent decades.[8]
The Gap: What Each Category Asks of Individuals
Despite the breadth of the pro-democracy ecosystem, a consistent pattern emerges: these organizations work on behalf of citizens, but none provide infrastructure for citizens to make and track their own civic commitments.
| Category | What They Ask of Individuals |
|---|---|
| Legal & Litigation | Support (donate, sign petitions) |
| Election Reform | Advocate (contact legislators, vote for reforms) |
| Voter Engagement | Participate (register, vote) |
| Civic Education | Learn (take courses, play games) |
| Bridge-Building | Attend (workshops, dialogues, events) |
| Watchdog/Accountability | Report (tips, information) |
| Research & Academic | Consume (read reports, follow findings) |
| Civic Media | Subscribe (support journalism) |
| Funders & Foundations | Donate (give money) |
| Civic Technology | Use (apps, tools, platforms) |
In every case, the individual is positioned as a recipient, participant, or supporter of work designed and led by organizations. What is missing is infrastructure for self-directed, publicly visible civic commitment.
How Democracy Unyielding Complements Each Category
Rather than competing with existing organizations, Democracy Unyielding strengthens the civic culture that those organizations rely on.
| Existing Category | How Democracy Unyielding Complements |
|---|---|
| Legal & Litigation | Creates visible public support for democratic norms that courts defend |
| Election Reform | Builds constituency of committed citizens who will advocate for and use reformed systems |
| Voter Engagement | Adds commitment layer to registration—not just "can vote" but "committed to vote" |
| Civic Education | Provides action step for those who have learned about democracy |
| Bridge-Building | Offers common ground: commitment to democracy itself, across partisan lines |
| Watchdog/Accountability | Creates citizen base that demands accountability from officials |
| Research & Academic | Generates data on civic commitment patterns and trends |
| Civic Media | Provides positive story of citizen engagement amid negative news cycle |
| Funders & Foundations | Demonstrates grassroots demand that justifies continued investment |
| Civic Technology | Adds meaning layer to participation tools—not just "how to vote" but "why I'm committed" |
References
[1] Democracy Fund. "Field in Focus: The State of Pro-Democracy Institutional Philanthropy." January 22, 2024.democracyfund.org
[2] National Civic League. "Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map." 2024.nationalcivicleague.org
[3] Bridge Alliance. "Legacy Network Partners."bridgealliance.us
[4] ACLU. "League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump." 2025.aclu.org
[5] FairVote. "2025 Election Roundup." November 6, 2025.fairvote.org
[6] iCivics. "About - Advancing Civic Learning."icivics.org
[7] Generation Citizen. "What We Do."generationcitizen.org
[8] Braver Angels. "About."braverangels.org
[9] Matthews, G. "Goals Research Summary." Dominican University of California.dominican.edu