League of Women Voters Education Fund receives $150,000 from Craig Newmark Philanthropies

WASHINGTON – The League of Women Voters Education Fund received a grant of $150,000 from Craig Newmark Philanthropies to support the League’s redistricting initiative, People Powered Fair Maps^TM. This investment comes at a critical time as the League is preparing for the 2021 redistricting cycle in the middle of a global pandemic.

“We are so grateful for the generous support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies and this investment will go a long way to educate voters about the importance of a fair redistricting process,” said Virginia Kase, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “Our election work has shifted dramatically due to COVID-19, and as the public continues to practice social distancing, we are finding new ways to reach voters digitally and counter misinformation about voting.”

With these funds, the League of Women Voters Education Fund will be able to implement the second year of People Powered Fair Maps TM, the organization’s national redistricting program focused on creating fair political maps nationwide that launched in the fall of 2019. Year two of the campaign will see the end of the Census and the start of a new redistricting process across the country.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the 2020 Census data to states, we know that there will be even less time between Census results and the start of redistricting processes in early 2021,” said Jeanette Senecal, Senior Director of Mission Impact for the League of Women Voters Education Fund. “This investment will support our work to lift up community voices and ensure people have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to demand a fair and transparent process at this critical time.”

Craig Newmark Philanthropies was created by craigslist founder Craig Newmark to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement. It works to advance grassroots organizations that are making accomplishments in the areas that include trustworthy journalism & the information ecosystem, voter protection, gender diversity in technology, and veterans & military families.

“Redistricting plays an impact in all of our lives in ways many of us don’t even realize, but it isn’t a one-size fits all process,” said Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist and Craig Newmark Philanthropies. “People Powered Fair Maps promotes fair and transparent redistricting at the state and local level and the League of Women Voters is well positioned to lead this work in communities across the country.”

People Powered Fair Maps is a national redistricting program of the League of Women Voters focused on creating fair political maps nationwide. The program includes actions in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

CONTACT: LaQuita Howard | 202-843-0573 | [email protected]