It’s election week and there are important races happening all across the country. Will voters turn out? And what role can philanthropy play in nurturing a healthy democracy?

Americans are experiencing deep and increasing levels of distrust in federal government, in politicians at all levels, and in critical institutions ranging from the media, to public schools, to organized religion.

More importantly, Americans are losing trust in each other. According to the briefing paper prepared for the September 2017 Democracy at Crossroads national summit, “just one in three Americans say that they have at least a ‘good deal of confidence in the wisdom of the American people when it comes to making political decisions,’ down from 57% in 2007 and 64% in 1997.” And, “an increasing proportion of Americans “dislike, even loathe” people who support a political party different from their own.”

These trends hold true for younger Americans as well, and it affects behavior. Our nation experienced record low youth turnout in the 2014 election, and increasing numbers of U.S. millennials consider democracy to be a “bad” or “very bad” way to run our country. (Foa & Mounck 2016).

3 Ways Funders Can Take Action

What can funders committed to a vibrant democracy do to influence these trends in a positive direction?

  • Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) has assembled an amazing primer to orient funders to the issues and the many potential ways to engage. They have recommendations for philanthropy, and also a great one-page overview of the strategy options for funders. Exploring these resources and connect with PACE if you want to know more.
  • One solution that a set of funders is pursuing is a campaign to reinvest in the civic mission of schools. Supported by the Carnegie Corporation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Democracy at a Crossroads seeks to engage others promoting civic education in schools. The briefing paper highlights opportunities for policy advocacy and other ways to reignite civic education in schools.
  • Still others see opportunities for harnessing games and online engagement as ways to increase civic literacy among young Americans. iCivics, winner of a 2015 award from the MacArthur Foundation and supported by a wide swath of funders, offers Do I Have a Right?, a digital game teaching civics. Millions of students to-date have mastered the Constitution and Bill of Rights in this fun, fast-paced game, where players run their own Constitutional law firm.

A healthy democracy may be key to progress in any given issue area, and is relevant to all funders. What might you do (beyond getting out to vote!)?