The Kettering Foundation, a research institution, is an operating foundation rooted in the American tradition of cooperative research. Kettering's primary research question today is "What does it take to make democracy work as it should?" Kettering collaborates with community groups, government agencies, scholars, and activists around the world. Much of the foundation's work centers around public deliberation - the work of weighing the costs and benefits of various approaches for action against the things people hold most dear. Public deliberation can serve as an important part of the political system. By "political system," Kettering means more than just governments. It refers to all the ways people go about solving common problems: citizens cooperating with each other as well as interacting with public institutions both inside and outside government. As a research organization, Kettering focuses on the least understood aspect of the political process - the actions of a democratic public. Building a democratic society is no easy task. Many people today feel they have no control over their lives or futures. They feel estranged from the institutions that have been created to serve them, from governments to schools. They are also troubled by a growing list of problems that won't go away, such as the rising cost of health care or the increasing frequency of violence around the world. More and more people have concluded that something fundamental is missing in the political system. Kettering is learning that democracy depends on a certain kind of political culture - citizens joined with other citizens in cooperative action. Guiding Kettering's research are three hypotheses. Democracy requires: citizens who accept their public responsibility and are able to make sound judgments about public issues. healthy communities that encourage citizens to act together. institutions that bring officials and communities together to transform their collective public judgment into action. The foundation's research seeks to identify and address the challenges of building democratic societies through six interrelated program areas: Public Choice Community Public Schools Institutions Government International Chartered as an operating corporation, Kettering does not make grants. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. The foundation often establishes joint ventures with other organizations whose interests are similar. Its work is largely supported by a $250 million endowment.