Developing Materials for Deliberative Forums

When citizens deliberate together about important issues, they can reach decisions and take action together on problems that confront them. Deliberation does not require a certain kind of guide, or framework, or language, or facilitator, but, because it can be difficult to face such choices, supporting materials can make it easier. Many community groups, national organizations, and others, including the National Issues Forums (NIF), develop materials meant to help groups deliberate together over difficult public issues. Through its research, the Kettering Foundation has learned about the kinds of materials that can spark this public work. This document explores the important elements involved in going from an initial topic to having a complete issue guide suitable to use in the kinds of deliberative forums that are the hallmark of the NIF

Philanthropy and the Limits of Accountability: A Relationship of Respect and Clarity

A growing emphasis on accountability and transparency has found its way into a broad range of institutions in the nation's public and private life. From the Obama administration's proclamation on "open government" on his first full day in office, to the emerging demands in multiple states for clear labeling of foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, to the persistence of high-stakes testing in public education as a means of "grading" schools, the evidence appears everywhere.No sector -- including philanthropy -- has been immune to the increasing pressure for disclosure and reporting. Major national foundations and small community foundations have all been dealing with the demand to demonstrate impact, and many are recalibrating their giving portfolios in order to have a greater demonstrated effect. "Strategic philanthropy," "impact investing," and "collective impact" are all related strategies that reflect this imperative.In response to this trend, the Kettering Foundation partnered with PACE to invite a distinguished group of foundation executives and thought leaders in the philanthropic and social sectors to a series of three roundtable discussions. Twenty-three participants took part in the conversations (two offered individual interviews instead), which took place in Dayton, Ohio, and Washington, DC, in 2012 and 2013. They explored in depth what "accountability" and "transparency" might mean for philanthropy -- and how philanthropy might respond. This report features their insights and questions

What Does the Kettering Foundation Do? Research

This booklet provides a brief introduction to the Kettering Foundation and its research, the main focus of which is understanding what it takes to make democracy work as it should. It details some of the challenges to democracy and the ways that citizens can work together, even when they disagree, to solve shared problems. A description of the foundation's joint learning exchanges is also provided