Compton Co-Signs: Democracy Letter
Read the original letter on Medium.
January 8, 2021
As representatives of nonpartisan philanthropic institutions, serving rural, urban, and suburban communities across the nation, we condemn the violence that broke out at the U.S. Capitol this week. The events in Washington are a stain on our nation’s history and a painful break in the peaceful transition of power that has been a defining hallmark of American democracy for more than 200 years.
The shameful events are the result of actions by President Trump and other political leaders who have recklessly fanned the flames of grievance. Those responsible for this deadly violence and insurrection must be held to account, and we call on Republican leaders, in particular, in government and media to unequivocally reject conspiracy theories and the actions of extremists who use violence. After hard-fought campaigns, extraordinary voter turnout, and the resolution of more than 60 election-related lawsuits, it is long past time for our nation to accept the results of the 2020 election so that our duly elected leaders — President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris and members of the 117th Congress — can move forward with addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.
Our organizations donate hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes each year to advance the common good. While we have different funding approaches, vary in our areas of focus, and are ideologically diverse, we share a belief in the importance of finding common ground to solve problems and serve people and communities. And while we may vary in our views on the size and scope of government, we share a belief that safeguarding the health, security, and rights of people and communities requires a government whose leaders can accept the election results, bridge divisions that have roiled our nation, work in good faith to forge solutions, and stand up for democracy.
As the U.S. faces the most dire global health emergency in 100 years, the worst economic crisis in modern history, and a racial reckoning overdue for centuries, it is time to move on from last year’s election, cease further delays in the transition of power, and turn to governance. To our duly elected leaders, we urge you to follow facts and let science lead the way toward solving the COVID-19 crisis. We encourage you to listen to diverse voices — including those of people who have been overlooked, forgotten, and excluded, and who are facing persistent threats to their lives and livelihoods. We call on you to repair our tattered social fabric and help our democracy live up to its ideals. And we stand ready to work with you to move our country forward and increase opportunity for all who call it home.
Signatories (updated on a rolling basis, alphabetical by organizational affiliation)
Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO
ABFE
Phillip P. Lanham , President
The Advancement Network (AdNet)
Kristi Petrie, Executive Director
AJL Foundation
Lateefah Simon, President
Akonadi Foundation
Sarah Lyman, Executive Director
Alliance Healthcare Foundation
Elizabeth Alexander, President
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Neel Hajra, CEO
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
Anna Lefer Kuhn, Executive Director
Arca Foundation
Alan and Dean Preston, Trustees
Arch Community Fund
Adriana Gallego, Executive Director
Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona
Linda Lanier, President
Tina Crisci, Treasurer
Atkinson Foundation
Akia Tanara, Chair
Aventa Foundation
Adam Simon, Executive Director
Aviv Foundation
David Daniels, CEO and President
Bainum Family Foundation
Shanaysha Sauls, President & CEO
Baltimore Community Foundation
Katherine Joiner, Board Member
The Bella Vista Foundation and The Bothin Foundation
Christopher T. Quaka, President and Chief Executive Officer
Benton Community Foundation
Peter H. Taylor, President
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Denise Joines, Board President
Judy Hatcher, Executive Director
Biodiversity Funders Group
Patricia E. Harris, CEO
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Anupama Joshi, Executive Director
Blue Sky Funders Forum
Gary Steuer, President and CEO
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Paul Grogan, President and CEO
The Boston Foundation
Wendy Greeney, President
The Brookby Foundation
Jen Ford Reedy, President
Bush Foundation
Molly Schultz Hafid, Executive Director
Butler Family Fund
Jessica Bylo Chacon, President
Veronica Ensign Ksiazek, Executive Director
Bylo Chacon Foundation
Dr. Robert K. Ross, CEO/President
The California Endowment
Judy Belk, President and CEO
The California Wellness Foundation
Vartan Gregorian, President
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Timothy J. Maloney, President and CEO
Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
Steve and Jean Case, Chairman and CEO
The Case Foundation
Megan Thomas, Interim President & CEO
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties and Philanthropy California
Maha Freij, Director
Center for Arab American Philanthropy
Phil Buchanan, President
The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Merle Chambers, Founder
Chambers Initiative
Priscilla Chan , Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
David Weil, Co-President
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
Julie Sandorf, President
Charles H. Revson Foundation
Ridgway White, President and CEO
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Carrie Sanders, Executive Director
Cherokee Strip Community Foundation
Crystal Middlestadt, Executive Director
Chinook Fund
Monica Lozano, President and CEO
College Futures Foundation
Sean Gibbons, CEO
The Communications Network
Tatiana Hernandez, CEO
Community Foundation Boulder County
Theresa Grimison, President & CEO
Community Foundation for Brevard
Frank Fernandez, President & CEO
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
Jennifer Rhoads, President
Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
John Eberle, President & CEO
Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region
Maryam Elahi, President & CEO
Community Foundation of Eastern CT
Christopher Nanni, President
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Isaiah M. Oliver, President and CEO
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Roxie Jerde, President/CEO
Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Katie Allan Zobel, President and CEO
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Ellen Friedman, Executive Director
Compton Foundation
Karla Fortunato, President
Connecticut Council for Philanthropy
Thomas Cook, Executive Director
Cook Family Foundation
Kyle Caldwell, President & CEO
Council of Michigan Foundations
Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers
Kathleen P. Enright, President and CEO
Council on Foundations
Michael Moritz, President
Harriet Heyman, Vice President
Crankstart
Loraine Stuart, Board President
Crescent Porter Hale Foundation
Bailey Malone, Executive Director
CS Fund
Randall Kempner, CEO
Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
Matthew Randazzo, President & CEO
The Dallas Foundation
Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO
David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Lukas Haynes, Executive Director
David Rockefeller Fund
Joe Goldman, President
Democracy Fund
Mike Berkowitz, Executive Director
Democracy Funders Network
Tory Dietel Hopps, Managing Partner
Dietel and Partners
Diana Samarasan, Founding Executive Director
Disability Rights Fund
Julie Chaiken, Vice President
Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation
Jasmine Gomez and David Moy, Co-Chairs
Drawing Democracy Fund
James W. Head, President and CEO
East Bay Community Foundation
Peter J. Taylor, President
ECMC Foundation
Jennifer Hoos Rothberg, Executive Director
Einhorn Collaborative
Trent Stamp, CEO
The Eisner Foundation
Franny Canfield , Interim Executive Director
Environmental Grantmakers Association
Katie Redford, Executive Director
The Equation Campaign
Andrea Cole, Executive Director and CEO
Ethel and James Flinn Foundation
Mark Gunther, Managing Director
Eva Gunther Foundation
Cathy Cha, President and CEO
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
Nancy Farese, Board Chair
F3 Foundation
Paulette Meyer, President
Faultline Foundation
Beth Tigay, Executive Director
Fineshriber Family Foundation
Darren Walker, President
Ford Foundation
Ben Chandler, President & CEO
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
Kiki Jamieson, President
The Fund for New Jersey
Kristin Purdy, Executive Director
Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation
Patricia L. Smith, President & CEO
The Funders Network
Christine Russell, President
Mark Schlesinger, Managing Trustee
Gaia Fund
Dimple Abichandani, Executive Director
General Service Foundation
David Abbott, President
The George Gund Foundation
Tanuja M. Dehne, President and CEO
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Ghassan and Manal Saab, CEO
Ghassan and Manal Saab Foundation
Amy Goldman, CEO and Chair
GHR Foundation
Diana Sieger, President
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Eddie Torres, President and CEO
Grantmakers in the Arts
Celine Coggins, Executive Director
Grantmakers for Education
Kathleen Traphagen, Lead Facilitator
Grantmakers for Thriving Youth
Jen Algire, President & CEO
The Greater Clark Foundation
Vanessa Daniel, Executive Director
Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund
Nichole June Maher, President and CEO
Group Health Foundation
Rebekah Saul Butler and Leslie Dorosin, Co-Executive Directors
The Grove Foundation
Terrence George, President and CEO
Harold K.L. Castle Foundation
Brooke Hazen, Member of Hazen Family Foundation
Hazen Family Foundation
Kristen Keely-Dinger, CEO
The Healing Trust
Deanna Gomby, President and CEO
Heising-Simons Foundation
Paul Serini, President
Lisa Clark, Executive Director
The Helen J. Serini Foundation
Myron Miller, Trustee
Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation
Larry Kramer, President
Hewlett Foundation
Susan Hirsch, CEO/Executive Director
Hirsch Philanthropy Partners & Hellman Foundation
Ann Stern, President and CEO
Houston Endowment, Inc.
Melanca Clark, President and CEO
Hudson-Webber Foundation
Srik Gopal, Managing Partner
Humanity United
Amy Klement, Managing Partner
Imaginable Futures
Jack Byrd, Jr., President
Interactivity Foundation
Dmitri Mehlhorn, Co-founder
Investing in US
Tiffany Lovett, President
Isabel Foundation
Don Howard, President and CEO
The James Irvine Foundation
Sara J Fertman, Director
Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation
Ben Cameron, President
Jerome Foundation
Rini Banerjee, President
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President
John A. Hartford Foundation
John Palfrey, President
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Amy Rabbino, Executive Director
John Pritzker Family Fund
Lauren K Forman, Executive Director
Jubitz Family Foundation
Carrie Pickett-Erway, President/CEO
Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Allison Scott, CEO
Kapor Center
Zelene Wilkins, Executive Director
Keller Foundation
Jake Moritz, President
Kelson Foundation
Jennifer Rainin, CEO
Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Eileen Farbman, President
Kolibri Foundation
Kim Philbrick McCabe, Executive Director
The Klarman Family Foundation
Jason Franklin, Principal
Ktisis Capital
Michelle Coffey, Executive Director
Lambent Foundation
Ian David Moss, Founder
Landslide Coalition
Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO
Latino Community Foundation
Laura Seaman, CEO
League of California Community Foundations
Jane Leighty Justis, President
The Leighty Foundation
Shane Murphy Goldsmith, President/CEO
Liberty Hill Foundation
Crystal Hayling, Executive Director
Susan Pritzker, Director
Libra Foundation
Aaron Dorfman, President
Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, Board Chair
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah
Victor Kovner, Trustee
Alison Richard, Trustee
Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation
Will Moritz, President
Loud Hound Foundation
Lisa Stone Pritzker, President
Abigail Michelson-Porth, Executive Director
LSP Family Foundation
Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO
Lumina Foundation
Stephen King, CEO
Luminate
Paula Gruszynski, Executive Director
M&M Area Community Foundation
Samantha Morris, Executive Director
Madge M. & Joseph T. Mohar Charitable Foundation
Robin and Marianne Ferriby, Advisors
Marianne and Robin Ferriby Family Fund
Justin Maxson, CEO
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Elisabeth Hyleck, Acting President
Maryland Philanthropy Network
Douglas Bitonti Stewart, Executive Director
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Alessandra Mayer, Executive Director
Mayer-Phillips Foundation
John A. Mancasola, President and CEO
The McConnell Foundation
Kate Levin Markel, President
McGregor Fund
Noa Staryk, Board Chair
McKnight Foundation
Amber French, Executive Director
Media Democracy Fund
Vincent Stehle, Executive Director
Media Impact Funders
Jenny Russell, Executive Director
Merck Family Fund
Janet Y. Spears, Chief Executive Officer
Metta Fund
R.T. Rybak, President & CEO
Minneapolis Foundation
Susie Brown, President
Minnesota Council on Foundations
Kevin Dean, CEO
Momentum Nonprofit Partners
Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director
Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation
Nurit Siegel Smith, Executive Director
Music Forward Foundation
Nicholas Tedesco, President and CEO
National Center for Family Philanthropy
Aaron Dorfman, President and CEO
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Erik Stegman, Executive Director
Native Americans in Philanthropy
Gabrielle Strong, Managing Director-Foundation
NDN Collective
Mary Sobecki, Executive Director
The Needmor Fund
Nicholas C. Donohue, President and CEO
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Michele Lord, President
NEO Philanthropy
Gian Brosco, President & CEO
Nevada Community Foundation
Pamela D. Lewis, Executive Director
New Economy Initiative at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Vanessa Kirsch, Founder & CEO
New Profit
Lee Bodner, President
New Venture Fund
Ana L. Oliveira, President & CEO
The New York Women’s Foundation
Jennifer Ching, Executive Director
North Star Fund
Dwayne Marsh, President & CEO
Northern California Grantmakers and Philanthropy California
Kevin Walker, President and CEO
Northwest Area Foundation
Jesse Beason, President and CEO
Northwest Health Foundation
Mike Kubzansky, CEO
Omidyar Network
Mark Malloch-Brown, President
Open Society Foundations
Max Williams, President and CEO
Oregon Community Foundation
Leslie White, President
Pace Able Foundation
Charles Casey, President
Pacific Foundation Services, LLC
Connie Malloy, CEO
Panta Rhea Foundation
Adelaide P. Gomer, President
Rachel Leon, Executive Director
Park Foundation
Erin Dale Byrd, Executive Director
The Partnership Funds
Hans Cole, Vice President of Environmental Activism
Lisa Myers, Director of Environmental Grants
Patagonia
Alexandra I. Toma, Executive Director
Peace and Security Funders Group
Satonya C. Fair, President and CEO
PEAK Grantmaking
Nicole Baran, Executive Director
The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation
Sarah A Malachowsky, President + Chair
Penney Family Fund
Ralph Lewin, Executive Director
Peter E. Haas, Jr. Family Fund
Joanne Kelley, CEO
Philanthropy Colorado
Kristen Cambell, Executive Director
Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement
Ronna Brown, President
Philanthropy New York
Anjana Pandey, Executive Vice President
Philanthropy Northwest
Sara Lomelin, Executive Director
Philanthropy Together
Paul D. Daugherty, President and CEO
Philanthropy West Virginia
David Beckman, President
Pisces Foundation
Emma Belcher, President
Ploughshares Fund
Rachel Pritzker, President
Pritzker Innovation Fund
Philip Radford, Executive Director
Bethany B. Maki, Managing Director
Progressive Multiplier Fund
Sarah Williams, CEO
Propel Capital
Amy Berler, Chair
Propel Fund
Carrie Elston Tunick, President
The Prospect Hill Foundation
Paul Di Donato, President and CEO
Proteus Fund
Kathryn Murdoch, President
Quadrivium Foundation
Fern Shepard, President
Rachel’s Network
Dennis Quirin, Executive Director
Raikes Foundation
Natasha Dolby, Vice President
The Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund
Jennifer Roller, President
The Raymond John Wean Foundation
Neil D. Steinberg, President & CEO
Rhode Island Foundation
Jennifer Leonard, President & CEO
Rochester Area Community Foundation
Stephen Heintz, President and CEO
Jeremy McKey, Special Assistant to the President and CEO
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Tim Silard, President
Rosenberg Foundation
Ruth Salzman, CEO
Russell Berrie Foundation
Raquel Thueme, President
Ruth Mott Foundation
Bobbi Hapgood, CEO
Ryobi Foundation
Fred Blackwell, CEO
The San Francisco Foundation
Nicole Bagley, President of the Board of Trustees
The Sapelo Foundation
Tony Mestres, President & CEO
Seattle Foundation
Tia Oros Peters, CEO
Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples
Chet P Hewitt, President and CEO
Sierra Health Foundation
Nicole Taylor, CEO and President
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
David Onek, CEO
Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2)
Julie Kidd, Executive Director
Silver Giving Foundation
Tonya Allen, President and CEO
The Skillman Foundation
Donald Gips, CEO
Skoll Foundation
Sandy Herz, President
Lisa Sobrato Sonsini, Board Chair
Sobrato Philanthropies
Lauren Johnson, Executive Director
Social Venture Partners Portland
Rajasvini Bhansali, Executive Director
Solidaire Network
Christine Essel, President and CEO
Southern California Grantmakers and Philanthropy California
Julie Ridenour, President
Steelcase Foundation
Sophie Fanelli, President
Stuart Foundation
Glen Galaich, CEO
Stupski Foundation
Alexis Sant, President
The Summit Foundation
Don Chen, President
Surdna Foundation
Susie Sarlo, President
Susie Sarlo Family Fund
Romilda Justilien, CEO
Tides Advocacy
Sam Cobbs, CEO
Tipping Point Community
Allan Oliver, Executive Director
Thornburg Foundation
Taryn Higashi, Executive Director
Unbound Philanthropy
William V. Engel, President
Union Foundation
Harrison Miller, Chairman
Unite & Renew
Nick Troiano,Executive Director
Unite America
Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO
United Nations Foundation
David Biemesderfer, President and CEO
United Philanthropy Forum
Kate Kroeger, Executive Director
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights
Nancy Wiltsek, Executive Director
van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation
La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Ellen Dorsey, Executive Director
Wallace Global Fund
Jamie Allison, Executive Director
Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, President and CEO
Washington Area Women’s Foundation
Allison Harvey Turner, CEO
Water Foundation
Nicole Boucher, Vice President, Way to Win and Senior Advisor, Way to Rise
Way to Rise
Mark Van Putten, President & CEO
The Wege Foundation
Fred Ali, President and CEO
Weingart Foundation
Ed Kissam, Co-trustee
Werner-Kohnstamm Family Giving Fund
Janet Miller, President
WestWind Foundation
Mauri Ingram, President & CEO
Whatcom Community Foundation
John Esterle and Pia Infante, Co-Executive Directors
The Whitman Institute
Alan S. Davis, Director
The WhyNot Initiative
Paul Beaudet, Executive Director
Wilburforce Foundation
David Addams, Executive Director
William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Robert Borton, President of Board of Directors
William G. Gilmore Foundation
Dr. Stephanie Phillips Johnson, Trustee
Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation
Surina Khan, CEO
Women’s Foundation California
Lauren Y. Casteel, President & CEO
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado
Gloria Perez, President and CEO
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota
Amalia Luxardo, Chief Executive Officer
Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona
Donna Haghighat, CEO
Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts
Elizabeth Barajas-Román, President and CEO
Women’s Funding Network
Luis Arteaga, CEO
Y&H Soda Foundation
Lauren Czajka, Executive Director
YouthRoots
Allison L. Magee, Executive Director
Zellerbach Family Foundation
