Developing educated, informed, and engaged citizens.
Our strategy embodies a deep commitment to racial equity and serving under-resourced communities in Chicagoland. We seek to improve overall democratic outcomes and close the civic empowerment gap by providing resources, creating opportunities, and advocating for policies to address civic disparities for people of color.
Our goal is to create an information-rich environment that supports all residents across the region, regardless of race or ethnicity, to be informed and engaged citizens. To support robust local reporting that informs the public and holds institutions accountable, we invest in:
Our goal is for youth to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be engaged citizens through equitable, high-quality, school-based civic learning opportunities connected to their lived experiences. To support this vision, we invest in:
Our goal is for institutions to be inclusive, transparent, and accountable to the communities they serve. To support this vision, we invest in:
Local Journalism
Engage Youth
Pursue Insitutional Reform
Before submitting a proposal, organizations must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to the McCormick Foundation
Grant Guidelines
Letter of Inquiry Process
The Democracy Schools Initiative supports a growing network of high schools committed to empowering students to nurture and sustain our democracy.
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Learn how the McCormick Foundation is leading the implementation and development of a new civics course for Illinois middle schools.
Visit IllinoisCivics.org