Giving Compass' Take:

• Cheryl Contee, Josh Hendler, and Julie Menter argue that tech can be part of the solution to the civic engagement problems of our day, but only if it is properly designed, implemented, and integrated. 

• How can philanthropy help to identify and develop impactful tech for civic engagement? What groups are already producing this technology? 

• Learn about MapLight, an organization working to expose and limit the power of money in politics. 

Each of us has worked at the intersection of technology and politics for many years—Julie as an investor, Josh as a technologist, and Cheryl as a startup founder. We’ve seen the moments where new technology has had a transformational effect on political campaigning and activism, and also times where generously-funded projects that purport to change everything simply fizzle out.

Over the past few months we’ve been interviewing leaders in tech and politics and exploring questions such as how much can the tech industry “disrupt” politics as we know it, and should it even try?

And here’s where we’ve come out: We believe that while the intentions have been good, and the debate spirited, the tech industry is failing to use its skills and resources to build new political power in the Trump era.

On the hand, the Republican victory has humbled many in the campaigning world, forcing us to consider how Trump built a technological and analytical advantage.

We believe that the technology sector can have a critical impact on the 2018 midterms, the 2020 presidential election and beyond, but in order to see that impact we must focus on the right solutions. We have to recognize that politics isn’t just another domain waiting for Silicon Valley-style disruption. We have to provide resources and tools for the newly mobilized. We have to understand the nuts and bolts of campaigns and organizing.

In short, we can’t get caught in Silicon Valley’s techno-utopianism or Washington, D.C.’s suspicion of outsiders.

Read the full article about tech and politics by Cheryl Contee, Josh Hendler, and Julie Menter at Civic Hall.