Program Director, U.S. Democracy

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation invests in creative thinkers and problem solvers working to ensure that people, communities, and the planet can flourish. Together with our partners, we are harnessing society’s collective capacity to solve our toughest problems. A nonpartisan philanthropy, the Hewlett Foundation has made grants in the U.S. and globally for nearly six decades based on an approach that emphasizes long-term support, collaboration, and trust.

Globally, we make grants to address both longstanding and emerging challenges, like our efforts to reduce the growing threat of climate change, contribute to evidence informed policy making, and reimagine the economy and society. Our U.S. efforts prioritize strengthening democracy, advancing K-12 education for all students , and supporting community-led conservation. In the San Francisco Bay Area we call home, we make grants to support meaningful artistic experiences in local communities and support regional foundations working on critical issues such as housing. Our grantmaking also invests in strengthening the effectiveness of our grantees, and of philanthropy itself. The Hewlett Foundation’s assets are approximately $13.9 billion, with annual awards of grants totaling exceeding $600 million in recent years. More information about the Hewlett Foundation is available at: https://hewlett.org/.

The Foundation has approximately 130 employees in programmatic, operational, and investment roles, and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Across the organization, our employees are challenged with meaningful work, have the resources for ongoing professional development and learning, and contribute to a collegial and engaging environment. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion as part of our Guiding Principles and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply.

ABOUT THE U.S. DEMOCRACY PROGRAM

The U.S. Democracy Program at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is committed to strengthening America’s democratic institutions and building public trust in a durable, inclusive democracy. Through nonpartisan grantmaking, the program supports efforts to advance a political system that is responsive, representative, and resilient. In 2024, the program awarded 123 grants totaling more than $48 million to organizations working to improve governance and safeguard free and fair elections.

The program’s grantmaking is currently guided by the following core strategies:

• National Governing Institutions: This strategy strengthens the capacity, legitimacy, and adaptability of the federal government’s legislative and executive branches. It supports efforts to modernize Congress and the executive branch not only to make them more effective but also to reintroduce constructive conflict, deliberation, and accountability as defining features of self-government. NGI invests in organizations that defend the professional civil service, advance evidence-based policymaking, and build bridges between policymakers and the public. By aligning performance reforms with cultural and institutional renewal, the strategy aims to rebuild public trust, foster cross-partisan collaboration, and ensure that the government is both capable of solving problems and seen as legitimate in doing so.
• Trustworthy Elections: The Trustworthy Elections strategy aims to ensure that U.S. elections are secure, accessible, and worthy of public confidence. Grants support efforts that strengthen the conditions of free and fair elections, mitigate political extremism and violence, and ensure voters can trust and safely participate in electoral politics. The strategy also promotes public understanding and acceptance of election outcomes across the ideological spectrum, reinforcing the legitimacy of democratic institutions and processes. By supporting the conditions and institutions that are integral to the American electoral system, this strategy helps foster civic trust within a deeply polarized electorate and safeguard the principal democratic conduit between citizen and state.
• Political Culture: Across the two strategies, and within the grantmaking portfolio held by the program director, the program has also recognized the central importance of rediscovering a shared political culture across the ideological spectrum. Work in this area began by funding organizations that enlisted trusted messengers from to encourage civic virtues and democratic norms within their own communities. The Foundation is currently exploring a project to develop approaches that invite more Americans, including those disillusioned with today’s highly divisive political environment, to work together toward solutions that will collectively benefit everyone. There is significant opportunity for leadership in this effort within the Foundation.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to President Amber Miller, the Program Director for U.S. Democracy will lead one of Hewlett’s vital program areas at a time of profound challenge and opportunity for American democratic institutions. The Program Director will collaborate with a visionary president, a committed senior leadership team and a deeply experienced group of programmatic staff to strengthen the underpinnings of American self-governance. This leader will bring strategic vision, deep expertise in democratic governance and a passion for nonpartisan institutional renewal. They also will lead the team in a program review that will examine the efficacy of the Foundation’s current strategies in light of the rapidly changing external environment and make updates that best meet the moment.

Serving an eight-year term, the Program Director will oversee all program-related activities and grantmaking, while working with program officers to shape and implement strategies that reflect Hewlett’s commitment to institutional integrity, civic trust and democratic resilience. This individual will be a collaborative force across the Foundation, working with other program directors and colleagues across the organization to amplify impact and foster cross-cutting solutions and working with administrative teams to effectively operationalize the strategy. With a creative and forward-looking perspective, the Program Director will work collaboratively with the program team, while bringing their own insights and leadership to evolve the program in a strategic direction.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to:
President

Direct reports:
Program Associate
Program Officers (2)
Program Operations Manager

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