Strengthening Democratic Culture & Advancing JusticeWe are committed to repairing and strengthening the frayed fabric of democracy.
We believe that democracy is a daily practice, not an abstract ideal; and its viability depends on the results it produces for those who practice it—citizens.
Today, citizens are disengaged, governments—at all levels—are non-responsive, a sense of shared identity and common purpose has eroded, and the institutions intended to serve citizens have been weakened. The Democracy and Civic Life Initiative (formerly Democracy, Ethics, and Public Trust) supports the active involvement of citizens in their own governance, in the places where they can see the outcomes. We aim to ensure that citizens have access to the resources–information, education, and tools–they need to participate. And we invest in citizen-led efforts to solve practical problems in their communities, which also help to strengthen democratic muscles and rebuild trust in shared institutions. We aspire through our grantmaking to inspire and disseminate new conceptions of American identity and belonging.
Grant Categories
