Common Cause Education Fund: Championing Democracy Through Education and Advocacy

The Common Cause Education Fund (CCEF) stands as a crucial pillar in the landscape of American democracy, working to ensure a government that is both open, accountable, and truly representative of its people. Founded in 2000 as an affiliate to Common Cause, it operates as a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and shares staff and offices with Common Cause. The CCEF employs a range of tools to advance democracy reform, including research, public education, litigation, and voter protection. Contributions to the Common Cause Education Fund are fully tax-deductible.

A Legacy of Nonpartisan Advocacy

Rooted in the legacy of Common Cause, established in 1970 as a nonpartisan "people's lobby" for democracy, the CCEF carries forward the mission of advocating for laws and policies that fortify democracy. John Gardner, a Republican who served in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Cabinet, founded Common Cause as “a people’s lobby” in 1970. Today, Common Cause has 1.5 million members and supporters strong and has active offices in over 25 states.

While Common Cause engages in lobbying, the CCEF focuses on initiatives such as research, public education, and litigation to promote its goals. This division of labor allows both organizations to work synergistically towards a common vision of a stronger, more equitable democracy.

Organizational Structure and Reach

The Common Cause Education Fund operates with a "hub-and-spoke" model. It strengthens and supports state operations across the country by providing strategic and policy advice, communications, digital organizing and outreach, and operational support including finance, recruitment, development, and administration. The organization boasts a widespread network of 1.5 million members and supporters across all fifty states, with a significant presence in over 25 states through local offices. These offices are staffed by organizers, lawyers, and experts who work to integrate local, state, and federal democracy initiatives, driving impactful results.

Core Values and Principles

At the heart of the Common Cause Education Fund's mission lies a commitment to several core values:

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Open and Accountable Government: The CCEF champions transparency and accountability in government to ensure that it serves the public interest.
Equal Rights, Opportunity, and Representation: The organization strives for a society where all individuals have equal opportunities and are fairly represented in the political process.
Empowering Citizen Voices: CCEF empowers people to make their voices heard through diverse platforms, campaigns, and actions.
Racial Equity and Inclusion: Common Cause is committed to racial equity and inclusion, as must equity and inclusion for all individuals across identities and differences (ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religious beliefs, tribe, caste, age, class, thinking and communication styles, etc.).

Key Areas of Focus

The Common Cause Education Fund directs its efforts towards several key areas to strengthen American democracy:

Protecting the Right to Vote

The CCEF actively works to defend and expand voting rights, ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate in elections. Every election year, the organization recruits, trains, and deploys thousands of Election Protection volunteers across the nation. In Georgia, CCEF is recruiting and training community volunteers to monitor the State Elections Board and targeted local election boards in 12 counties.

In Pennsylvania, the organization has secured important victories to protect voters from having their voices silenced, a problem that disproportionately affects Pennsylvania’s Black and Latino voters. Following their advocacy, Dauphin and Allegheny counties adopted strong notice and cure policies, allowing voters to fix clerical errors so their votes can be counted.

Limiting the Influence of Money in Politics

The CCEF advocates for campaign finance reforms to reduce the influence of big money in elections and promote a more level playing field for candidates. In the area of Money and Politics, Common Cause Education Fund works to increase public awareness and support of disclosure of independent expenditures, and expose and limit corporate influence on policymaking processes.

Promoting Fair and Representative Districts

The organization supports efforts to create fair and representative electoral districts, ensuring that all communities have a voice in government. This grant supports a six month planning process and national convening to build agreement around core redistricting reform principles among civil rights and good government organizations.

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Holding Public Officials Accountable

The CCEF works to hold public officials accountable for their actions, promoting ethical conduct and transparency in government.

Recent Accomplishments

The Common Cause Education Fund has achieved several significant victories in recent years:

Defending Democracy in the Courts: The Supreme Court ruled in Common Cause's favor by rejecting a dangerous attempt to destroy our democracy in the Moore v.
Combating AI Disinformation: In California, the organization delivered two new laws to address unregulated AI’s threat to democracy. The first keeps misleading deepfakes out of campaign ads and election communications close to Election Day, protecting candidates and election officials while respecting the First Amendment.
Engaging Young Voters: In North Carolina, Common Cause brought together close to 5,000 young people to flex their civic muscles during an arts and music festival in Raleigh. Ten-time Grammy Award-nominated singer and actress Janelle Monáe headlined an all-star lineup of performers.

Financial Accountability and Transparency

The Common Cause Education Fund demonstrates its commitment to financial accountability and transparency through its high ratings from reputable organizations. It is proud to have a perfect four-star rating from Charity Navigator and the Guidestar Gold Seal of Transparency.

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