The Public Accountability Initiative –LittleSis –

Tiny Publics: Small Groups and Civil Society

It has been conventional to conceptualize civic life through one of two core images: the citizen as lone individualist or the citizen as joiner. Drawing on analyses of the historical development of the public sphere, we propose an alternative analytical framework for civic engagement based on small-group interaction. By embracing this micro-level approach, we contribute to the debate on civil society in three ways. By emphasizing local interaction contexts-the microfoundations of civil society-we treat small groups as a cause, context, and consequence of civic engagement. First, through framing and motivating, groups encourage individuals to participate in public discourse and civic projects. Second, they provide the place and support for that involvement. Third, civic engagement feeds back into the creation of additional groups. A small-groups perspective suggests how civil society can thrive even if formal and institutional associations decline. Instead of indicating a decline in civil society, a proliferation of small groups represents a healthy development in democratic societies, creating cross-cutting networks of affiliation.

in progress works

lightweight accountability community and journal for your side projects

CivicPulse

CivicPulse is a nonpartisan nonprofit seeking to promote more effective local and state governance through improved access to reliable data and research.

The Times are Urgent: Let’s Slow Down • Writings – Bayo Akomolafe

An Open Letter to CONCORD-DEEEP, CIVICUS, GCAP, Civic Society Organizations and Activists Working for a ‘Better’ World. This article is co-authored by Bayo Akomolafe and Marta Benavides. With deep gratitude for the stories of transformation now emerging across the planet, and for the renewed hope we share for a different kind of world, we greet you from our hearts.

Home - Open Source Collective

Open Source Collective is a non-profit fiscal host for open source projects. Get Transparent fundraising, money management, and legal representation

The Unaccountability Machine, by Dan Davies

I read an online excerpt of this book and was immediately intrigued by the idea of an “accountability sink”, which is a mechanism by which “The communication between the decision-maker and the decided-upon has been broken – they have created a handy sink into which negative feedback can be poured without any danger of it affecting anything.” This lack of accountability where people shrug their shoulders and ask “What else could we do?” really frustrates me, as I believe that we should take responsibility for our actions and their consequences. So I bought the book and inhaled it in a few days.

Accountable Capitalism Act

Political commentator Matthew Yglesias wrote that "Warren's plan starts from the premise that corporations that claim the legal rights of personhood should be legally required to accept the moral obligations of personhood."[2] The New York Times columnist David Leonhardt called the proposal "the most intriguing policy idea to come out of the early 2020 campaign".[3]

How We're Funded

IOI is supported through a mix of philanthropic support and financial commitments from institutions, consortia-based organizations, and more. As a sustainability focused not-for-profit initiative, we are keenly aware of the strains that exist on the current funding landscape for open infrastructure non-profits. We are dedicated at IOI to exploring revenue

The Smart Family Fund provides angel philanthropy funding to early-stage nonprofit organizations with the potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet built the evidence base or… | Shawnta Jackson, MPH | 36 comments

The Smart Family Fund provides angel philanthropy funding to early-stage nonprofit organizations with the potential for positive, scalable impact that have not yet built the evidence base or sustainability model needed for larger growth funding. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with the IRS that can clearly explain how they will measure effectiveness, quantify impact, and demonstrate how their approach is distinct from other organizations in the field. Applications are submitted through the “Send Us a Pitch” portal and require organizational information and a one-page elevator pitch aligned with the fund’s mission. Funding amounts are not publicly listed. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eYNhqsVB | 36 comments on LinkedIn

Civic Innovation Fellowship Program - BetaNYC

About BetaNYC’s Civic Innovation Fellowship (CIF) is fostering the next generation of community leaders by developing digital and data literacy practices that are appropriate for the communities they serve. CIF is the first comprehensive program dedicated to training the next generation of civic leaders while improving open data and public interest technology within public spaces,

Holding Platforms Accountable Is Not Enough. We Need A ‘Compass’ For Social Technologies

This is the first series in the 21-22 Perspectives on Public Purpose blog.

Open Source Initiative

The steward of the Open Source Definition, setting the foundation for the Open Source Software ecosystem.

The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability

This Anti-Corruption Tracker focuses on the erosion or dismantling of oversight and accountability systems within the United States Executive Branch

Creating and growing healthy community open source projects [PLoP 2020]

Abstract: This article presents a succinct and minimal handbook of best practices of how to create and grow community open source projects. We start with the assumption that the handbook’s user has…