Areas of Support
The health of our communities and democratic institutions relies on an informed and active citizenry.
To this end, the Citizenship Program supports organizations that provide young people with the knowledge
and experience they need to become life-long engaged citizens. Our funding focuses on three priority areas:
civic education, service and civic leadership.
Civic Education
Under the premise that individuals need a solid understanding of U.S. civic institutions and processes
to be engaged and responsible citizens, the Foundation seeks to improve the quality and accessibility of
civic education in Illinois. The Citizenship Program supports programs that:
- Promote the inclusion of rigorous civics classes in high school and university curricula
- Combine school-based programs with extra-curricular activities that educate youth in civic engagement
- Create opportunities for youth to participate in discussions on policy issues that affect their communities
- Support research and evaluation that help measure the quality and accessibility of civic education in Illinois
Service
Individuals who volunteer early in life are more likely to continue serving their communities as adults.
The McCormick Foundation seeks to provide youth with meaningful opportunities to serve and become positive change
agents in their communities. The Citizenship Program supports:
- School-based and out of school programs that offer long term community service opportunities combined with civic reflection
- Programs that foster youth initiated, youth organized and youth executed service and volunteer projects
- Research and evaluation that help measure these goals
Civic Leadership
With the understanding that effective leaders strengthen communities and the organizations that serve them,
the McCormick Foundation seeks to develop a diverse and energetic new generation of civic leaders.
The Citizenship Program supports programs that:
- Provide meaningful leadership training and education opportunities
- Place youth in leadership positions in their communities and give them a voice in decision-making bodies
- Give youth the opportunity to interact and collaborate with elected officials and adult community leaders
- Support research and evaluation that help measure these goals