About the Kettering Foundation
The Kettering Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan research organization rooted in the American tradition of cooperative research. Everything Kettering researches relates to one central question: what does it take for democracy to work as it should? Or put another way: What does it take for citizens to shape their collective future?
All lines of Kettering’s research relate to these questions in one way or another. The foundation explores ways that key political practices can be strengthened through innovations that emphasize active roles for citizens. Kettering’s research is distinctive because it is conducted from the perspective of citizens and focuses on what people collectively can do to address problems affecting their lives, their community, and their nation.
The foundation seeks to identify and address the challenges to making democracy work as it should through interrelated program areas that focus on citizens, communities, and institutions. But Kettering doesn’t study communities, schools, professions, or institutions like governments or colleges and universities. Instead, we study how all of these relate to citizens trying to make a difference in shaping their common future.
Guiding Kettering’s research are three hypotheses. Democracy requires:
Chartered as an operating corporation, Kettering does not make grants. The foundation’s small staff and extensive network of associates collaborate with community organizations, government agencies, researchers scholars, and citizens, all of whom share their experiences with us.
Kettering’s work is guided by a learning-based theory of change. Its work informs and is informed by people and organizations attempting to improve their lives and their communities. And so we learn together, making us colearners. Since the foundation makes discoveries by watching people experiment and makes diagnoses based on people attempting to solve problems, Kettering can only learn with people who are also learning.
A monthly meeting series brings together Kettering staff and associates, researchers and others with whom the foundation works to explore a tightly focused research question or area. Those working on related problems share what they are learning at the foundation’s many workshops, which provide an ongoing exchange of ideas and stories, in an effort to develop research interests. Some workshops involve a single meeting, others proceed through multiple gatherings toward a research goal, while still other workshops bring together contractors working in related areas to review the progress of their work.
As this learning progresses, Kettering shares its research findings through the publication of research reports, books, occasional papers, and videos posted on this Web site. The foundation also disseminates its research in three periodicals:
- The Kettering Review is a journal of ideas that offers articles by scholars and practitioners on a variety of subjects related to democracy, including the changing roles of the citizen, the press, public leadership, and public opinion.
- The Higher Education Exchange, published annually, serves as a forum between scholars and the public about higher education.
- Connections, Kettering’s annual newsletter, provides updates and reports on the foundation’s research.
In addition, Kettering produces materials, including issue books and starter videos, for the National Issues Forums, a network of civic and educational organizations whose common interest is promoting public deliberation. The foundation studies the work of NIF as part of its research efforts.
Kettering Foundation, 200 Commons Rd. Dayton, OH 45459 Phone: 937-434-7300 Our office in Washington, D.C. is at 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 434, Washington, D.C. 20001, Phone: 202-393-4478
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