Democracy & Society

Democracy & Society

FEATURED MEDIA

Podcast: How We Can Put Civility Back into Civic Engagement

Katherina Rosqueta and Conor Carroll, from Penn’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy, and Harris Sokoloff, from Penn’s Graduate School of Education, discuss a new guide to strengthening democracy on a Wharton Business Radio podcast.

Conor Carroll, Kat Rosqueta, Dan Loney, and Harris Sokoloff at the Wharton Business Radio studio
We the People banner with small diverse illustrated people

Our Guidance

We the People: A Philanthropic Guide to Strengthening Democracy

We the People: A Philanthropic Guide to Strengthening Democracy

Multiple surveys over the past decade have revealed a trend of declining confidence in democracy among Americans. In this guide, CHIP presents a framework for anyone looking to strengthen the democratic system.

We the People Nonprofits Making an Impact to Strengthen Democracy

We the People: Nonprofits Making an Impact to Strengthen Democracy

For donors whoa re ready to act immediately, this supplement highlights nonprofits organizations and initiatives that are strengthening democracy.

Our Framework: Five Elements of a Strong Democracy


Raised hands

Empowered Citizens

The people are the principal actors in a democracy. Citizens are empowered when their rights are protected, they are informed, and fellow citizens and policymakers proactively engage them in the democratic process.

scales of justice

Fair Processes

As the mechanics of democracy, fair processes respect the principle of “one person, one vote” and hold policy- making institutions accountable through checks and balances.

Capitol building logo

Responsive Policy

As an output of democracy, responsive policy weighs all citizens’ interests and values equally, provides for the common good, and establishes institutions that empower individuals to protect their rights.

dialogue and information symbols

Information & Communication

These elements mediate the relationship between citizens, processes, and policy. Information and communication that are representative, accurate, and trusted ensure fair processes and enable citizens to hold policymakers accountable.

Two figures holding raised hands

Social Cohesion

A shared sense of purpose and identity is implicit in the enduring phrase
“we the people.” A democratic society’s members recognize each other’s right to
a voice in the political process and are willing to collaborate for common ends.

Blogs


Ben Jealous, Kat Rosqueta, and Virginia Kase Solomon discuss philanthropy’s role in shaping a healthy democracy in SP2 webinar

How do we define a strong democracy? What roles do social cohesion and philanthropy play in shaping our political landscape? On October 2nd, 2024,…

Ukraine Crisis: How Can I Help?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has produced the largest refugee crisis in Europe this century. In less than a week,…

Podcast: Democracy and Philanthropy on BYU Sirius XM

We’re seeing historic lows of American trust in the U.S. government, according to the Pew Research Center. Not only do very few people believe...