WHO WE ARE
Democracy University
Democracy University is nonpartisan in everything we do, and we are a values community. We educate, we don't advocate. Democracy is not a finished product. It is a shared practice we must renew daily, and it has to be taught and practiced.
There are many ways to do it, and none of them involve attacking the rights of our neighbors. If you work to limit the rights of some, you are destroying the rights of all of us.
OUR TENT IS BIG
It is open to anyone who accepts certified election results, rejects political violence, and supports access to the ballot.
Organizations that work across party lines, with one party, or outside parties entirely are welcome here, and we don't run purity tests.
We teach the whole picture of what democracy is up against and what it takes to build. We teach how these forces work, where they have succeeded, and how people have organized to stop them. We also teach what public power can do and what it takes to build a democracy that is representative, multigenerational, multiracial, multifaith, and disability-inclusive.
WHAT WE TEACH
The whole picture of what democracy is up against
Threats to democracy
Authoritarianism and fascism in all its forms: leaders who incite violence, suppress votes, and undermine the peaceful transfer of power. We teach how they take hold, what they cost, and how communities have organized to stop them.
Systems of exclusion
White supremacy and all systems of racial oppression, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, Christian nationalism, and ideologies that exclude or dominate based on identity. We teach their history and their hold on institutions today.
Power and money
Oligarchy and plutocracy: the concentration of wealth and power that corrupts democracy and denies economic security to working families. We teach how money shapes elections, policy, and who gets to participate.
Rights and human dignity
Policies that criminalize care, attack reproductive justice, deny LGBTQIA+ and disability rights, and strip communities of autonomy. We teach the law, the history, and the movements behind each of these fights.
The planet and our global responsibilities
Climate denial and isolationism that abandon our global responsibilities and endanger the planet. We teach democracy as a global practice, with lessons from democracy builders in more than 25 countries.
What public power can do
Government, at its best, is our greatest tool to protect rights, advance justice, expand opportunity, and improve lives. We teach what public power can do, from housing and health care to quality public education, childcare, clean infrastructure, and reproductive justice. We teach the economics of an economy of abundance that works for everyone, including living wages, worker protections, and pathways to prosperity that don't depend on where you start in life. We teach the evidence and the competing approaches, and we trust every learner to weigh them.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We hold these truths to be self-evident
That all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights, among them Life, Liberty, Freedom, Justice, Opportunity, and the Pursuit of Shared Abundance and Happiness.
That governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and exist to secure these rights.
That when forces arise that undermine truth, destroy trust, spread fear, concentrate power, and threaten the rights and well-being of the people, it is our duty to renew the democratic covenant.
Democracy must be taught and practiced. It belongs to everyone, and skills are how people take part in it.
Everyone has a role. You can't be what you can't see, and you can't know what you don't know. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into every lesson, every manual, and every trainer we bring in, because diversity, equality, and inclusion make us stronger together.
Dignity is not negotiable. Where you were born should never determine whether you have freedom, access to health care, education, economic opportunity, or the chance to be safe, valued, and free.
Democracy should value people over politicians. A more representative democracy is multigenerational, multiracial, multicultural, multifaith, gender-affirming, disability-inclusive, and just, and every person deserves genuine opportunity and freedom to thrive.
Affordability, opportunity, and access are moral imperatives in a free society.
Creativity, entrepreneurship, and competition should elevate others rather than push them down.
Future generations deserve not merely survival but a world of abundance, equity, and belonging.
The Sustainable Development Goals matter. We believe in the importance of the SDGs as a shared global blueprint for justice, equity, and sustainability. We teach them as the frame for the world's democratic and development challenges, and we invite every learner to examine them, test them, and decide how to act.
WHO WE LEARN WITH
We are interdependent
OUR COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL JUSTICE
The Sustainable Development Goals
We embrace the global Sustainable Development Goals as our blueprint for justice, equity, and sustainability, adapted for American democracy, and we teach them as a core framework.
No Poverty
Eliminate poverty in all its forms everywhere.
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Good Health and Well-being
Ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages.
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education.
Gender Equality
Protect reproductive freedom and ensure equity for women, trans, nonbinary, and LGBTQIA+ people.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Guarantee universal access to safe water.
Affordable and Clean Energy
Transition to renewable energy for all.
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote inclusive, sustainable employment.
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
Build resilient, future-ready infrastructure.
Reduced Inequalities
Dismantle racism, ableism, and economic injustice.
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Create just, inclusive, and safe urban and rural spaces.
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable production and equitable access.
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change.
Life Below Water
Protect marine ecosystems.
Life on Land
Sustain forests, soil, and biodiversity.
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Promote accountability, access to justice, and democratic institutions.
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen global and local collaboration.
HOW WE PRACTICE IT
We commit to embodying our values
We commit to embodying our values in how we treat one another, with dignity, respect, empathy, and genuine care.
We choose hope over fear, healing over harm, truth over lies, and radical collaboration over destructive competition.
Democracy is powered by people, not just programs or politicians, and we honor the humanity, stories, cultures, and contributions of everyone who joins this movement.
We practice accountability with compassion, knowing that building democracy requires high standards and deep grace.
We lead joyfully, knowing that the world we're building must be one where people can thrive, not just survive.
And democracy isn't a spectator sport, so everything we teach is built to move people from learning to action.
This project was created by GAIN Power and is fiscally sponsored by Global GAIN.
SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT
Democracy needs educators,
organizers, and advocates
In this time of crisis and transformation, democracy needs more than defenders—it needs educators, organizers, public servants, and advocates prepared to lead with courage and purpose.
Democracy University is a new nonprofit initiative providing civic education, leadership development, and career support to equip a diverse new generation of changemakers. From first-time organizers to future policymakers, we're creating a shared platform where democracy is taught, practiced, and protected.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE ARE:
Launching online courses, workshops, and digital content for civic learners
Building career pathways through Democracy Pros, our career center
Supporting BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, and working-class leaders with fellowships, mentorships, and coaching
Creating resources grounded in the Declaration of Democracy, a living framework for democratic renewal (thedeclarationofdemocracy.org)
Every dollar helps us build an inclusive, resilient democracy—led by the people, for the people.
Donate today and become part of the movement to train and support those who will make democracy work.
🌟 Democracy University is a fiscally sponsored project of Global GAIN, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Ready to fight for democracy?
Start learning, organizing, and building power today.