I’ve always been drawn to the spaces where systems meet stories — where policy becomes personal, and where technology can either widen or bridge the gaps between people and power.

My journey began on the campaign trail, drafting emails and producing campaign-stop videos for Mark Udall’s 2008 Senate run. I served as the campaign’s Online Organizer during a year when social networks began to play a larger role in political organizing. That experience taught me the immediacy of political communication and the importance of clarity, experimentation, and connection. From there, I moved into environmental advocacy with Pew’s Environmental Group and then Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, where I learned how narratives can shape public perception and drive collective action.

Working in Senator Udall’s Capitol Hill office offered a different perspective — one that revealed the complexities of governance and the often-unseen negotiations that underpin policy decisions. My role focused on connecting with constituents online in ways that would now be recognized as participatory democracy. It was a lesson in patience, persistence, and the power of well-crafted language to foster constructive civic engagement.

In 2014, I transitioned to the international stage with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), where I initially focused on digital communications. I led the redesign of NDI’s website and launched the DemWorks blog as a platform for elevating internal voices and institutional insight. Along the way, I began supporting the DemTech team’s DemTools project — my first real foray into civic technology at NDI. That experience opened the door to deeper involvement, culminating in an invitation from NDI’s president to lead a working group on technology industry engagement and programming. From there, my focus shifted more intentionally toward technology and democracy, and I developed the DemTech 1000 course to help staff and partners navigate that evolving landscape.

As my role expanded, so did my understanding of the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology and democracy. I managed projects that supported civil society organizations, election observers, and political parties worldwide. I also collaborated with technologists and activists to develop tools like CiviCRM and other DemTools, aiming to make democratic participation more accessible and inclusive.

I also support grant writing, monitoring and evaluation, and digital security planning for civil society organizations and international development programs. Recent consulting work has included leading an AI research project focused on gender representation, advising student teams on open-source platforms like Decidim and Easy Read, and rebuilding the digital infrastructure for Criminal Justice Journalists, including redesigning their WordPress site to improve usability, accessibility, and long-term sustainability for a small but vital nonprofit network. If you’re looking for help making your tech-for-good initiative more strategic, inclusive, or resilient, feel free to get in touch. You can reach me through the contact form on this site, connect via LinkedIn, or visit the Consulting Services page for more details.

— Jesper Frant