Resources
The evidence, the ecosystem, and the tools you need.
The case for investing in democracy leadership and workforce development is an evidence-based argument. These reports make it.
DNC Post-Election Autopsy 2026
democrats.org (2026)
The Democratic National Committee's analysis of the 2024 election cycle, describing the 'seasonal, churn and burn ecosystem.'
How Democrats Lost the White House: Democratic Autopsy
Democratic National Committee (2026)
The Democratic Party's own post-election review, including its critique of the 'seasonal, churn and burn ecosystem' that recruits people into democracy work only to lose them after each election. Recommends Campaign Schools and expanded leadership development infrastructure.
The Organizing Model That Failed the Democrats
The Chaotic Era (2025)
Analysis of the organizing model failures in 2024. Key finding: nearly one-third of first-time organizers reported insufficient training. Documents significant deficiencies in organizer preparation and leadership development across the progressive ecosystem.
RootsCamp 2025 Report
Global Gain / Gain Power (2025)
Full report on RootsCamp 2025: 325+ attendees, 43 states, 161 organizations, 150 scholarships, and the birth of FWAD.
How Democrats Can Win Again
Strategic Victory Fund (2025)
Strategic analysis of the democracy pipeline and talent development needed for future electoral success.
What Happened 2024
Catalist (2025)
Data-driven analysis of the 2024 election cycle and its implications for democracy infrastructure.
Towards Strength
Way to Win (2025)
Analysis of post-2024 progressive infrastructure and strategies for rebuilding the democracy workforce.
IPU Global Data on Women in Parliament
Inter-Parliamentary Union (2025)
Global database tracking women's representation in national parliaments worldwide.
The Organizing Model That Failed
The Chaotic Era (2025)
A critical examination of the organizing models used in 2024 and the workforce implications.
Towards Strength: Post-2024 Research Summary
Way to Win (2025)
Post-2024 research summary on strengthening organizing infrastructure, building durable voter relationships, and long-term investment in civic power organizations.
What Happened 2024
Catalist (2025)
Comprehensive data analysis of what happened in the 2024 election — voter participation, coalition dynamics, and long-term electoral trends. Essential context for understanding the democracy workforce challenge.
How Democrats Can Win Again
Strategic Victory Fund (2025)
Analysis of how Democrats can win again through long-term infrastructure investment, leadership development, organizing capacity, and building durable institutions rather than episodic campaign programs.
Bigger We Organizing: A Strategy to Revitalize Our Democracy
Freedom Together Foundation (2025)
Strategy for revitalizing democracy through 'Bigger We' organizing. Key finding: 'Boom-and-bust funding around elections makes it nearly impossible to retain staff, make long-range plans, or grow capacity.' Recommends shared operational infrastructure and honeycomb model of locally-rooted organizing.
RootsCamp 2025 Report
Global Gain / Gain Power (2025)
Full report on RootsCamp 2025 — the return of the progressive movement's essential unconference after a seven-year in-person hiatus. 325+ attendees, 43 states, 161 organizations, 150 scholarships for unemployed democracy professionals, and the founding of the Federal Workers Alliance for Democracy.
Civic Power: The Role and Impact of Independent Power Organizations
Harvard Kennedy School Civic Power Lab / Democracy & Power Innovation Fund (2024)
Research on how independent civic power organizations expand participation and create governing influence beyond election cycles. Community-rooted organizations develop leadership and long-term capacity that outlasts any single campaign.
Women in National Parliaments: Global Data
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) (2024)
The authoritative global dataset on women in national parliaments. Rwanda consistently leads the world. Essential reference for the case that gender parity in political leadership is achievable and measurable.
Civic Power
Harvard Kennedy School Civic Power Lab (2024)
Research on civic infrastructure, power-building, and workforce development in the democracy sector.
Bigger We Organizing
Freedom Together Foundation (2024)
A framework for building broader coalitions and scaling community organizing beyond election cycles.
HerStory: Rwanda Women Changemakers
Kvinna till Kvinna (2023)
Exhibition and publication documenting the stories of Rwanda's women changemakers — the activists, officials, and community leaders who rebuilt Rwanda and continue to shape its future. Inspired the vision for CoKiyovu as a permanent home for these stories.
Women's Political Networks
Lucina Di Meco / Wilson Center (2023)
Research on how women's political networks function across democracies and their impact on representation.
HerStory: Rwanda Women Changemakers
Kvinna till Kvinna (2022)
Profiles of Rwandan women who transformed governance and built democratic institutions.
Women's Political Networks: Defining Leadership, Breaking Barriers, and Fostering Change
Lucina Di Meco / Wilson Center (2020)
Comprehensive research on how women's political networks function as critical advancement mechanisms, providing mentorship, validation, and pathways to leadership. Defines networks as 'the set of critical actors working to increase women's political participation, recruitment and leadership, and the relations among them.'
Rwanda Women Rising
Swanee Hunt / Duke University Press (2017)
The groundbreaking account of how Rwandan women rebuilt their nation after the 1994 genocide, achieved the world's highest percentage of women in parliament, and implemented transformative policies. Essential reading for understanding what women's leadership at scale actually produces.
Rwanda Women Rising
Swanee Hunt (2017)
The definitive account of how Rwandan women rebuilt their nation and transformed governance after genocide.