Democracy Matters

Mission: To “strengthen democracy” by training young people to be “effective grassroots organizers and advocates for public financing of election campaigns” as well as other pro-democracy reforms.

Founded by NBA basketball player, poet, and activist Adonal Foyle, Democracy Matters is a nonpartisan, national campus-based student organization. It offers paid internships to students and mentors, the next generation of democracy activists and leaders.

Year Founded: 2001 • (315) 725-4211 • democracymatters.org

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Current Democracy Work

Democracy Matters offers college and high school student internship programs to encourage youth to engage in politics and develop a lifelong commitment to positive social change. Interns work to educate and mobilize other students on their own campus during the academic year, mentored and trained by DM’s staff. Through education, campus activism, grassroots organizing, and by sponsoring national conferences, Democracy Matters empowers students to become leaders in the movement for campaign-finance and other democratic reforms.

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Recent Successes

Democracy Matters campus groups succeeded in getting two Democratic Party primary candidates, Sanders and O’Malley, to sign their “Democracy Pledge” to support public financing and helped move Clinton, the third candidate, to go on record in support of public financing for campaigns.

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Your Entry Points

If you’re a student, join your campus’ Democracy Matters chapter. Or, help start a chapter on your campus by applying to be a High School Advocate or College Campus Leader. Follow Democracy Matters on social media and check out its useful “Money in Politics” fact sheets.