About Resource
Philanthropy for Active Citizen Engagement (PACE) is a U.S.-based nonprofit and “philanthropic laboratory” supporting a network of funders and foundations investing in activities related to civic engagement and democracy. PACE developed this approachable Civic Engagement Primer for funders interested in exploring this topic for the first time and for those seeking common language and shared tools.
The primer itself is a quick-to-digest (10-15 minutes) Prezi presentation and three accompanying .pdf handouts which aim to help funders:
- Develop a foundational understanding of civic engagement philanthropy
- Explore if pursuing civic engagement philanthropy makes sense for them
- Have resources at their fingertips to share with colleagues and explore potential investments
The primer offers a broad definition of civic engagement, three general approaches to investing in this area, and a chart overviewing the various civic practices these investments might support.
How to Use
The Civic Engagement Primer can be supplied to any funder interested in achieving the personal fulfillment and values-oriented experience of supporting community-based work. Science center practitioners might leverage this resource during project planning to identify if philanthropic interests are aligned with a given community science initiative; and/or consult it in collaboration with development and leadership teams to inform engagement strategies with funders/foundations.
Consult the primer’s Civic Practices chart to identify if synergies exist between prospective funders’ interests and community science initiatives. Each “bucket” of civic practice is mapped along a spectrum, which ranges from national impact scale and systems-level focus (e.g., political reform and civic infrastructure efforts) to local impact scale and individual-level focus (e.g., charitable giving and leadership development). No matter the civic practice of interest, funders might support civic engagement as a goal unto itself, a means to achieve goals within a broader portfolio of interest, or a combination of the two.
For examples of how (and which) PACE members have supported civic engagement, consult this primer in combination with PACE’s Network Map.
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Author(s)/Organization: Philanthropy for Active Citizen Engagement (PACE)
Publication Year: 2017
Tags
Attributes:Centers Community Priorities, Equity-Focused
Outcomes:Capacity for Civic Engagement, Strong Community Partnerships
Approaches:Civic Engagement & Policymaking
Type:Guidebooks & Manuals