Public Agenda is committed to enhancing how democracy works by making it more inclusive and empowering citizens. The organization focuses on improving public discourse and fostering innovative public policies that reflect the public's best interests.
The Democracy Renewal Project grant seeks to address the growing concern among Americans about the risks facing democracy by supporting innovations aimed at renewing democracy. Its primary goals are to achieve full access to electoral participation for all citizens and to strengthen trust and confidence in elections. This involves supporting research that looks into how both goals can be pursued simultaneously without giving momentum to disinformation that might fuel anti-democratic dynamics. The grant prioritizes projects with the potential to produce evidence useful for practitioners, advocates, policymakers, and funders, focusing on results that offer immediate practical guidance post-2024 election. In particular, the grant encourages research on strategies to improve electoral participation and trust among underrepresented groups and across distinct populations and geographies. Public Agenda is interested in funding original research to develop findings that can be communicated to practitioner communities promptly. They are open to various research questions, including the effectiveness of narrative strategies, the impact of electoral systems and communication on trust, and conditions necessary for instilling voter confidence in convenience voting, among others. Up to $50,000 will be awarded to ten or more grants.