Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, voter engagement groups were gearing up for one of the most important elections in our lifetimes. Security threats, disinformation, and barriers to registration were already increasing strain on the system, and that was before most Americans began social distancing and staying at home.

We’re heading into a fall election season where we will be confronting both anticipated challenges and unique COVID-related challenges; together, these represent a significant threat to our democracy. Much of the work to expand and secure voting systems and drive voter engagement throughout the COVID-19 pandemic will fall to consistently under resourced 501(c)4 organizations. This briefing will highlight Civic Action Fund, which is working to coordinate with and support existing 501(c)4 organizations with the shared goal of strengthening our elections.

The session will commence with a high-level briefing on the current political landscape, followed by an update on Civic Action Fund’s work and a conversation about how philanthropists can make timely and strategic investments in the 501(c)4 landscape.