About Us

Jobs at Common Cause

 

Common Cause is one of the most active, effective, and respected nonprofit organizations working for political change in America.  We are a nonpartisan citizens' lobby, dedicated to making government responsive and accountable to the people.  Since the 1970s, we have led the fight for campaign finance reforms, ethics and accountability in government, civil rights, and open government on national, state and local levels.

 

Today, Common Cause is working to stop further consolidation of the media, to advance campaign reforms that make people and ideas more important than money, to ensure that our voting and election systems are accurate and accessible, and to increase participation in the political process.  Common Cause strives to strengthen our democracy by empowering our nearly 400,000 members and supporters and the general public to take action on critical policy issues.

 

The following positions are available at Common Cause and will remain posted until they are filled.  Please follow the application instructions listed for each position.  Unfortunately, due to the volume of resumes received, we are unable to accept telephone calls in reference to the listed positions. 

 

 

   

 

POSITION AVAILABLE:  Democracy Matters Organizer (July 2009 to June 2010, full-time, based in Los Angeles, CA)

 

REPORTS TO: Executive Director, California Common Cause

RESPONSIBILITIES:          

 

I. Democracy Matters: 

 

Democracy Matters (DM) is a Common Cause student activist project that informs and engages college students and communities in efforts to strengthen our democracy. With campus-based chapters throughout the country, DM focuses on the issue of money in politics and other pro-democracy reforms.

 

A. Democracy Matters has student coordinators at several Southern California campuses. Responsibilities of the Democracy Matters Organizer would include:

  • Coordinate with National and Bay Area Democracy Matters staff and student coordinators 
  • Develop a structure for DM student coordinators in Southern California by centralizing their membership contact information, setting up weekly/monthly meetings, helping develop a work plan, and acting as a resource for the chapters. 
  • Guide the DM student coordinators through hosting events, legislative meetings, and outreach to students.
  • Incorporate DM students into Common Cause efforts in the surrounding community, related to redistricting reform, campaign finance, electoral reform and other CC issues.
  • Include DM students in legislative meetings focusing on public financing, electoral reform, media reform and voter education. 2009 will be focused on pushing for support of the federal Fair Elections Now Act and organizing support for the California Fair Elections Act. Where there are relevant local efforts, the organizer may also organize visits with local city council members supporting campaign finance, electoral, or other reforms.

B. The Democracy Matters Organizer will be responsible for organizing a “Young Professional” chapter in Southern California targeting members aged 20 – 35. 

 

II. General Support for Staff and Members in the Area

 

California Common Cause will be active in several major projects through 2008-09. The Democracy Matters Organizer will work with staff to connect students and members to these and related activities. 

  • Redistricting reform. California Common Cause led the efforts to pass Proposition 11, which creates a citizens’ redistricting commission. California Common Cause will be anchoring a leadership collaborative of organizations to create an education strategy to ensure that Prop. 11, the California Voters FIRST Act, is properly implemented.
  • Fair Elections Now Act. Common Cause has a federal campaign to educate the public and lobby for the passage of full public financing of Congressional election campaigns.
  • California Fair Elections Act. California Common Cause will participate in a statewide campaign to win full public financing of the Secretary of State’s race. This measure will appear on the June 2010 ballot.
  • Electoral Reforms. We are active in advocating for other electoral reforms that will open up access and increase participation, such as National Popular Vote, election day registration, voting by mail, and instant runoff voting. We help anchor a major voter assistance hotline, the Election Protection hotline, during major national elections.
  • Open and Transparent Government.
  • Media Reform.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:  Experience in student organizing. Must be committed to public interest work. Familiarity with Common Cause’s government reform issues, particularly voting rights, redistricting and campaign finance reform, a plus. Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Knowledge of political process, including understanding the connection between grassroots campaigns and the legislative process. Ability to train, motivate and work with volunteers. Willingness to travel. Strong computing skills desired, including word processing, organizing through social networks, Internet–based research, website management, list-serv management. Must have access to a car, be able to work evenings and weekends.

 

TO APPLY: Please submit resume and cover letter to hr [at] commoncause.org and include "Democracy Matters Organizer" in the subject line.

 

 

 

Common Cause is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, party or political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any illegal or prohibited factor.