Letter from the Executive Director on Public Wise’s Future

To our Public Wise Community,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Public Wise will be closing after January 24, 2025, ending programming and laying off our full staff, myself included, due to a major loss in funding and an assessment of the current funding landscape in the democracy space. 

The past 5 years leading Public Wise, alongside our Board Chair Eric Laufer, have been among the most rewarding in my career. Our brilliant staff and board, alongside some of the most talented organizers in the country, have fought hard to defend our democracy and inspire disenchanted communities of color to participate in the elections that affect our daily lives. Our work has had a greater impact than I could have ever imagined when dreaming up this organization. There are no words to describe the pride and admiration I feel for our entire Public Wise community.

Some particular points of pride:

• Public Wise released first-of-its-kind research exposing insurrectionists through the Insurrection Index and fought to hold local and state election deniers accountable via the Election Threat Index.
• Since its inception, Public Wise granted $11.5 million to grassroots organizations across the country, the vast majority of which are BIPOC serving and BIPOC led. 
• From 2022 and 2024, Public endorsed 27 pro-democracy candidates in key battleground states, the majority of whom were running against far right, white supremacist insurrectionists and election deniers.

Our small but mighty team at Public Wise is composed of some of the most talented people I’ve had the pleasure of working with in my career and I recommend each and every one of them without reservation. Their skills, experience, and collaborative spirit have strengthened our work as a movement and I encourage organizational leaders to reach out to them as you continue the fight to build an equitable democracy. 

I spent the morning of this last election day in Macon, GA alongside volunteers from our partners at Black Voters Matter. As I joked about getting lost in the rural expanse, the volunteer next to me said, “You’re not lost. In every way, you’re exactly where you belong.” Despite the rapidly changing landscape, devastating election results, and impending threats to our communities, I believe she is right. I am an advocate, an organizer, a mother of 2 little girls, and a believer that justice is possible. No matter the organization, the vehicle, or the venue, I remain in this fight with all of you. 

In solidarity,
Christina