Strengthening Democracy from the School Board Up
Why Local Democracy Project Is Investing in the School Board Integrity Project
- School boards are ground zero for democracy — yet extremist candidates are taking over low-turnout races while most voters stay unaware.
- The School Board Integrity Project is fighting back by recruiting, training, and electing values-driven school board candidates nationwide.
- Their impact is real and scalable: over 500 candidates supported in 38 states with a 75% win rate — at just $250 per candidate trained.
- Local Democracy Project proudly invests n this high-impact, low-cost model to build lasting civic power from the school board up.
At Local Democracy Project, we believe democracy begins at the local level — in school board meetings, city councils, and community-led organizing. That’s why we’re proud to highlight one of our key partners: the School Board Integrity Project.
As an allied organization of Local Democracy Project, the School Board Integrity Project exemplifies the kind of high-impact, values-driven initiative we’re committed to supporting. We don’t just fund efforts — we invest in change. And School Board Integrity Project is delivering it where it matters most: in the schools and communities where our children learn, grow, and shape the future of our democracy.
Why School Boards Are Ground Zero for Democracy
With the federal government pushing through legislation that guts public school funding, slashes Medicaid reimbursements, and introduces unregulated private school tax breaks, the fight for public education has never been more urgent. Worse still, the Supreme Court has greenlit Trump’s ability to dismantle the Department of Education — opening the door to dangerous rollbacks in civil rights protections and student support systems.
But while Washington wages war on public education, local school boards still hold the power to shape what’s taught in classrooms, how dollars are spent, and whether schools are safe and inclusive for all students. These boards decide if kids have access to accurate history, if LGBTQ students are supported, and if educators have the resources they need to succeed.
And yet, many school board elections happen with almost no public awareness or turnout. Fewer than 10% of eligible voters typically participate. That vacuum has been a gift to well-funded right-wing political groups who are quietly flooding these races with extremist candidates — turning nonpartisan local governance into battlegrounds of censorship, division, and discrimination.
What the School Board Integrity Project Is Doing About It
Enter the School Board Integrity Project — a frontline defense against this wave of extremism. Their mission is simple but urgent: to recruit, train, and elect school board candidates who believe in academic excellence, inclusivity, and democratic values.
Since 2023, they’ve helped over 500 candidates run for office in 38 states, with a 75% average win rate. Their model works because it meets the moment: giving principled candidates the tools and training they need to win low-turnout, low-information races where every dollar and every door-knock counts.
And it’s accessible — the cost to sponsor a candidate’s full training is just $250. That kind of high-impact, low-cost model is exactly what Local Democracy Project looks for when we invest.
Why Local Democracy Project Is Proud to Invest
At Local Democracy Project, we don’t just talk about local power — we fund it. Our approach is rooted in identifying smart, strategic, and scalable organizations that are building durable political infrastructure from the ground up.
The School Board Integrity Project is one of the clearest examples of that mission in action.
When you donate to Local Democracy Project, your dollars don’t disappear into abstraction. They go directly to organizations like School Board Integrity Project — where they help candidates get on the ballot, receive training, and start their leadership journeys with strength and support. That’s how we build lasting civic capacity in communities across the country.
By supporting us, you're helping to elect school board members who will hold the line against extremism and fight for every student’s right to learn in a safe, inclusive environment.
Make an Impact Today
If you’re inspired by the work of School Board Integrity Project, we encourage you to join us in supporting them. Whether through Local Democracy Project or directly through their donation page, your contribution helps train and support candidates who are fighting for our public schools — and for the future of our democracy.
At this pivotal moment, it’s clear: the future we choose for our public schools is the future we choose for our country. Let’s make that future one where democracy thrives — one school board at a time.
Local Candidates Are Powerful Organizers
Local candidates are like turbocharged precinct captains. They engage directly with their neighbors—not just with promises, but with the power to make real change. Whether it’s school funding or land use decisions, they have immediate impact.
Local races also give valuable feedback about what working-class voters need—many of whom are drifting away from the Democratic Party.
Local Democracy Project sees these candidates as more than placeholders—they’re the frontline of democratic renewal.
Republicans Have Known This for Decades
While Democrats funneled millions to consultants, Republicans knocked doors, registered voters, and built local power. They didn’t just express frustration—they organized it.
While Democrats ran ads, Republicans were winning school boards, city councils, and county seats. That’s the foundation of their national victories.
It’s Time to Get Back to the Roots
We’re in a moment similar to Barry Goldwater’s 1960s effort to dismantle the New Deal. The right built a long-term strategy. Now it’s our turn to do the same.
Too often, we wait for a rockstar candidate to save us. But real change doesn’t come from the top. A presidential candidate can’t shake millions of hands—but thousands of local candidates can.
They can meet neighbors, listen, and fight for them—not corporate donors.
Our Path Forward: Local Democracy Project
This is how we win: we organize. We build local power. We invest in real people—not just in targeted districts, but everywhere.
That’s the inspiration behind Local Democracy Project: long-term, people-powered campaigns to build durable, community-rooted political power—nationally and from the ground up.
