Democracy is under threat globally, presenting urgent challenges for funders and civil society leaders. How can, and should, Jewish funders respond? Hosted by democracy scholar and longtime foundation leader  Dr. Tali Yariv-Mashal along with funders and guest experts, this eight-session series will dive deep into the challenges and opportunities in pro-democracy philanthropy.  

Branching out from a popular and well-received workshop at the 2025 JFN International Conference, this series will address a wide range of pro-democracy funding areas from education to politics, activism to communication, and will consider the relationship between Jewish and democratic values in Israel, the United States, and around the globe.

Session 6: Education for  Democracy  (September 9th) 

As we pass the halfway mark of the JFN peer-learning course on Pro-Democracy Philanthropy, we’ve built a shared language and sharpened our understanding of the democratic challenges facing both the U.S. and Israel—and the strategic, ethical, and civic roles philanthropy can play in response.

We’ve explored:

• The core risks to democracy today and how funders can think strategically about their role (with Daniel Stid)
• The evolving democratic discourse and the tensions and synergies between Jewish and democratic values in Israel and the diaspora
• The complex field of political philanthropy
• The urgent crisis of media and misinformation, and the role of philanthropy in supporting independent, trusted information ecosystems

Now, in Session 6, we turn to one of the most foundational pillars of a thriving democracy: education.   In this session, we will explore the long-term role education plays in shaping democratic values, civic participation, and societal resilience—and how philanthropy can meaningfully support this work.

Featured Speakers:

• Louise Dubé is the CEO of iCivics, which is  at the center various national efforts to revitalize civic learning in the U.S., including leading the CivXNow coalition, a national network of nonprofits working to elevate civic learning in state-based educational standards.  Louise will share her perspective on the challenges and opportunities of civic education in the US today. 
• Prof. Oren Pizmony-Levy (Columbia University) will present new, comparative data both global and from Israel and , shedding light on how educational systems support (or hinder) democratic engagement and where philanthropy can intervene effectively.
• Prof. Yuli Tamir (President, Beit Berl College; former Minister of Education) will share her insights on the global crisis in teacher education and its critical implications for democratic societies.
• Yael Neeman (Lautman Foundation) will offer a practitioner's reflection from the field, highlighting how a growing coalition of funders is working to advance democratic education in Israel—and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Together, we will consider how philanthropy can strengthen the foundations of democracy by investing in educational ecosystems that promote equity, inclusion, civic responsibility, and critical thinking.

While each session can be attended on its own, participants will gain the most insight and value by attending the full series, as each conversation builds on the ideas and themes introduced in earlier sessions.

Session 7: Research, Development, and Application 
Tuesday, October 21st | 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
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Session 8: Supporting Activism in Times of Democratic Backsliding 
Tuesday, November 11th | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
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Session 9: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and the Crisis of Democracy in Israel 
Tuesday, November 18th | 11:30am - 1:00pm
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