The Hewlett Foundation is putting up $50 million over three years to find ways to bring harmony to a Congress fueled by bile and partisanship. Roughly halfway into its grant making, it has cut large checks to the Brookings Institution ($2.2 million), the Federalist Society ($1.5 million), and other Washington policy shops — the usual suspects. But it has seeded more than 50 grantees altogether, including many small groups and start-ups. To help these organizations thrive, Hewlett has given away 45 percent of its dollars with no strings attached.
Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement: $50,000
Aims to build a network of grant makers to promote civic, community, and political involvement.
Women’s Legislative Network: $80,000
Hewlett is supporting the expansion of this bipartisan auxiliary of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Take Back Our Republic: $250,000
Advances market-based approaches to campaign finance. Its board includes GOP insiders Mark McKinnon and Juleanna Glover.
Citizen University: $250,000
A four-year-old Seattle-based group to help average citizens find a voice in national politics. Its slogan: “Let’s do democracy.”
National Affairs: $300,000
This nonprofit journal aims to help Americans “rise a little more ably to the challenge of self-government.”
Texas Tribune: $350,000
With Hewlett funding, the heralded nonprofit news outfit hired its first Washington correspondent.
Millennial Action Project: $440,000
Brings together bipartisan young leaders dedicated to ending legislative gridlock.
Issue One: $450,000
Aims to reduce the influence of money on politics through bipartisan, “all-American” solutions.
Maplight: $700,000
This 10-year-old California organization is developing a “one-stop online voter guide” for elections and ballot referendums nationwide.
Bipartisan Policy Center: $2.9 million
Launched in 2007 by former Senate leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, this group is pushing changes in congressional operations as well as a Healthy Congress Index.
