Digital Civil Society Lab - Research

Research Projects

Digital Technology and Democratic Theory

The goal of this three-part workshop and publication series is to examine the meaning and implications of the growing role of digital technology in democratic institutions.

Democratic Design for Digital Publics

In order to understand and reimagine political structures, process, and associational life, we must simultaneously critique and reconsider our communications tools.

Nonprofit Data Governance

Networked digital data has inspired an exciting era of innovation. But the reality for most civil society organizations is that governing these resources safely, ethically and effectively is an extreme challenge.

Trusted Data Intermediaries

A key obstacle to unleashing the social benefits of digital data involves the development of trusted intermediaries for sharing and aggregating data. Many variations on “trusted data intermediaries” have emerged in the last decade.

Enabling Great Employee Engagement

How can companies engage their employees in smarter, more informed charitable giving? With new data sets, online volunteering and information sources, and ever-more networking tools, there are many opportunities to experiment with employee giving programs.

Philanthropy in Democratic Societies

This book project brought together expert philosophers, sociologists, political scientists, historians, and legal scholars to ask fundamental and pressing questions about philanthropy’s role in democratic societies.

Ethical Data Review Processes

In an age when data and communications infrastructure undergird everything we do, many nonprofits and civil society organizations, this goes beyond compliance – they are seeking ways to responsibly govern the data they collect from, by, and of the communities they serve.

Ethics of Data

Digital data – from remote sensors, research, communications tools, donated human tissue and other sources – are becoming a key resource for social change in a number of settings. Using data well and ethically requires new skills, new thinking, and new codes of practice.

Private Resources for Public Purpose

Individuals have at least four distinct ways to use their private financial resources for public purpose. We track these revenue flows separately and rarely consider the intersections and dynamics between them.

Non-Resident Fellowship Projects

Digital Security Exchange

Josh Levy, Non-Resident Fellow at the Digital Civil Society Lab, built the Digital Security Exchange to connect U.S. civil society organizations with digital security experts.

Research