Grants

Civic Nation

Project Title

For core support of its nonpartisan youth voter education and outreach program

Date

Sep. 11, 2025

Duration

24 months

Description

Since 2016, youth voter participation in federal elections has been increasing, a promising trend that will create a strong foundation of voter participation in the future. Yet, young voters, primarily in low propensity voter communities, were significantly underrepresented. Founded in 2015, Civic Nation is a nonprofit ecosystem of nonpartisan civic engagement initiatives that combines on-the-ground organizing with creative campaigns, leveraging partnerships with entertainment industry leaders, influencers, educational institutions, and community organizations. One of Civic Nation’s flagship initiatives is its ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, a national nonpartisan initiative that supports a network of more than 1,000 colleges and universities working to improve student democratic engagement. Another central initiative is When We All Vote, a nonpartisan voter engagement initiative focused on the next generation of voters organizing their communities to vote. When We All Vote has built a national network of more than 22,000 volunteers, including high profile sports, corporate, and media partners. It reached more than 150 million social media impressions in 2024.

Project Title

For core support of its nonpartisan youth voter education and outreach program

Date

Sep. 12, 2024

Duration

15 months

Description

Founded in 2015, Civic Nation houses a number of national initiatives aimed at increasing voting among those least likely to vote, including youth. Among its initiatives are When We All Vote, a nonpartisan initiative with the mission to change the voting culture and to increase participation in each election. As the 2024 elections approach, When We All Vote will partner with the entertainment industry, Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and educational institutions, to engage and mobilize young voters, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color. With Corporation support, through its ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Civic Nation will recruit community colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to engage young voters and ensure they are ready to vote. In 2022, Civic Nation’s turnout data showed that sixty-fourpercent of its constituents voted, an eighteenpercent increase over the national turnout rate.

Project Title

For core support of the College Promise Campaign

Date

Jun. 01, 2017

Duration

24 months

Description

The College Promise Campaign (CPC), founded in 2015 with partial support from the Corporation, addresses an urgent national need to make postsecondary opportunities affordable and accessible to all. The Campaign works to build widespread public understanding that free community college is a vital investment in the social and economic well-being of students, families, and the nation. It also provides local and state leaders with the resources and support they need to initiate effective College Promise programs and research-based practices successfully. These programs continue to gain ground in states and localities across the country, earning bipartisan support and putting college within reach of many high-need students, particularly first-generation college goers.

Project Title

For support of the Reach Higher campaign

Date

Jun. 01, 2017

Duration

12 months

Description

Our educational system is producing far too few college graduates, especially among underserved youth, even though the benefits of earning a college degree have never been more evident. Reach Higher, former First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative, was launched in 2014 to inspire every student across the country to pursue and complete a postsecondary degree, whether at a traditional four-year college, a two-year school, a community college, or through an industry recognized certificate or degree. With Corporation support, Reach Higher will continue to focus on improving college completion rates for low-income and minority youth by raising awareness regarding the importance and value of a postsecondary education; mobilizing students to apply for financial aid that can make college affordability a reality; keeping students engaged during the summer and reducing the impact of “summer melt”; and supporting high school counselors who can help more low-income students get into college.

Project Title

For the College Promise Campaign

Date

Sep. 17, 2015

Duration

18 months