Our goal: All people are active and informed participants in, and benefit from, accountable, inclusive systems and democratic processes that govern their lives.

Toward that end, the foundation supports work in the areas of:

1. Community organizing and civic engagement

2. Policy and advocacy

3. Local journalism

In order to:

• Protect and enable the rights of all people shape and inform the issues that impact their lives.

• Uphold critical pillars of a just and healthy democratic system, such as public participation,  free and fair elections, authentic representation, media, and rule of law.

• Elevate and facilitate the voices of historically marginalized populations and communities in decision-making and resource allocation.

• Push our civic and public institutions toward greater public participation, inclusivity, accountability, transparency and responsiveness to Chicago's residents.

• Foster dialogue and work across boundaries to build stronger, well-connected communities that have a voice in Chicago’s larger power structures.

Current Democracy Grantees