Joe Goldman has spent most of his career working on and worrying about the health of American democracy. As president of both the Democracy Fund and Democracy Fund Voice, since 2014 he has overseen the commitment of over $500 million to organizations that support free and fair elections, accountable government, and a more just society. 

He has also advised donors, helped launch campaigns such as All by April—which moved over $150 million to election-support groups earlier than it otherwise would have—and been outspoken about threats to free and fair elections at a time when many of his peers have stayed silent. “I know what a climate scientist who spent years warning about rising sea levels and now sees it happening must feel like,” he says.
Goldman is clear-eyed about the challenges ahead, framing whether courts uphold the rule of law and elections proceed fairly as key tests for 2026. But by building bridges across sectors and cultivating community, he believes we can forge a functional future. “When I look around, the signs of democratic resilience are everywhere," he says.