Sanjiv Rao

Democracy Fund | New York, United States

Sanjiv Rao

Sanjiv Rao is the Managing Director of Movements and Media at Democracy Fund, an independent foundation working to ensure that the U.S. political system is able to withstand new challenges and deliver on its promise to the American people. Sanjiv oversees Democracy Fund’s Just and Inclusive Society and Public Square programs, playing a leadership role in organization-wide strategy, grantmaking effectiveness, and organizational management and development.

Sanjiv is a social scientist by training, a field-builder by experience, and a facilitator by identity — all grounded in racial and social justice. He began his career as a public school teacher in Oakland, California, where he learned the importance of interdependence between communities and public institutions, thus deepening impact, leveraging resources and broadening reach. When communities and institutions work together, they build people’s power over the public decisions that affect lives. 

Previously, Sanjiv worked as a senior equity fellow in the U.S. government’s Office of Management and Budget, via his affiliation with Race Forward, where he helped federal agencies deepen their commitment to public participation. Before that, he served as director of the civic engagement and government program at the Ford Foundation, where he led grant-making to strengthen representation, participation and leadership in democracy.

Sanjiv has a Ph.D. in public administration from New York University, a master’s degree in education from University of California-Berkeley and a bachelor’s degree in history from University of California-Los Angeles. In his spare time, he loves to cook, walk New York City neighborhoods with his wife and two teenagers, and root for his beloved Golden State Warriors.