About PACE:
Our Mission, Vision, Principles, and History
PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement) is a community of funders working together to strengthen American democracy through active civic participation.
Vision
PACE funders believe democracy flourishes when people are empowered, engaged, and united in pursuit of the common good.
We strive for a future where all Americans feel connected, take responsibility for protecting and regenerating democracy, and contribute to the health of our country and the vitality of our communities.
Mission
PACE’s mission is to equip and mobilize funders to strengthen American democracy by fostering vibrant civic participation. PACE members pursue this mission by learning with purpose, collaborating across differences, and experimenting boldly to advance freedom, fairness, and belonging for all.
Our Values
Learning with Purpose
We approach learning with open minds and curiosity, aiming to discover insights that enhance funders’ work and help communities and democracy thrive.
Collaborating Across Differences
We create space for diverse viewpoints and proactively seek partnerships with those who see the world differently. In doing so, we practice pluralism—the cornerstone of a healthy democracy and civic culture.
Experimenting Boldly
We embrace thoughtful experimentation and innovation in overlooked areas of civic participation and democracy. Knowing that not every problem has a ready-made solution, we meet uncertainty with creativity and a willingness to take smart risks.
Creating Community
We nurture relationships and care for one another, knowing that time together strengthens our resolve, renews our spirit, and sustains us for the hard work of defending our freedoms and shaping a better future.
Leading with Courage
We act with integrity and take principled stands for fairness, liberty, and equality. We show courage not only in what we say, but in how we listen, share power, and make decisions with the communities we serve.
5 Year Goal
By 2030, PACE will be the indispensable home for funders who embrace fearless experimentation and boundary-crossing collaboration to renew American democracy and civic life. Our goal is for every PACE member to experience transformational connections, with 100% deeply engaged in learning and at least 25% joining forces through action coalitions by the end of this strategic plan.
Through these efforts, PACE will empower philanthropy to become a more agile, imaginative, and courageous force—one that invests in citizen engagement as the foundation of a resilient democracy where all Americans belong and thrive.
How We Will Get There and What We Will Do Next
This new strategy positions PACE as the indispensable home for funders committed to renewing American democracy and civic life through fearless experimentation and boundary-crossing collaboration. We’re focusing our energy on four strategic priorities:
Increase Member Engagement
Providing transformational experiences to all members by creating spaces for immersive learning; nurturing collaborations between national, regional, and local members; and offering opportunities for collective action among members
Building Coalitions for Action
Helping funders move through chaos toward clarity by catalyzing and scaling action coalitions that unite funders across ideological, geographic, generational, and sectoral differences
Strengthening the Civic Field
Serving as a trusted thought leader and convener in civic philanthropy by generating evidence and data, leveraging insights from experts and researchers, offering practical tools, and tracking developments in the democracy ecosystem and political environment
Shaping a Unifying Civic Narrative
Developing narrative resources and amplifying an overarching civic story to rekindle Americans’ patriotism and dedication to democratic norms
Our Theory of Impact
Over the next five years, PACE aims to contribute to a civic renaissance by activating funders across all sectors and geographies to recognize the renewal of democracy as a shared responsibility and invest in civil society as the driver of change. This includes efforts to protect constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, boost public participation, and shape a democratic future that delivers freedom, fairness, and belonging for all Americans.
Our theory of impact is rooted in the conviction that civic health is not handed down from above; it is generated and sustained by informed, engaged citizens acting through local institutions, voluntary organizations, and professional networks. To address the crisis facing U.S. democracy today, Americans from all walks of life must reclaim the system of self-government and embrace the responsibilities, practices, and values that democratic citizenship requires.
Yet civic engagement does not occur in a vacuum. Citizens need to believe their contributions matter, are valued, and can make a difference. This sense of empowerment—or “civic agency”—is strengthened when government officials and citizens have dignified interactions and solve real problems together. Stories of these successes, in turn, inspire further civic engagement—creating a virtuous cycle in which belonging, collaboration, and renewed faith in democracy reinforce one another.
PACE will fuel this virtuous cycle by providing funders with spaces to learn, experiment, and act boldly together. With insights and support from the PACE community, philanthropy will be better equipped to make strategic, enduring investments that revitalize and safeguard democracy for generations to come.
