Pros
The mission is powerful and the staff are some of the most passionate and dedicated people you’ll find.
Cons
Since Emma Brown took over as CEO in January 2024, the culture at Giffords has steadily declined. What was once a workplace rooted in trust and flexibility now feels rigid, top-down, and disconnected from staff.
Early on, she implemented a mandatory camera-on policy during meetings. It was framed as a way to improve engagement, but the message was clear. Leadership doesn’t trust people to work unless they can be seen. Then came the announcement that DC staff would be required to return to the office twice a week starting in October. This was decided without consultation or explanation, and only applies to the DC team.
The San Francisco office remains mostly remote. Remote staff are unaffected. The difference? San Francisco is staffed largely by high-paid lawyers, and leadership likely knows better than to push them in the same way. It feels targeted and inequitable.
What used to feel like a progressive, values-driven organization now feels like it is being run from a campaign war room. Staff feedback is ignored, and morale has taken a clear hit.
The name is Giffords, not Brown. But that distinction seems to be lost on the current leadership.