For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Contact: Genevieve Greene, ggreene@seventy.org, 617-785-6991
Philadelphia, PA - The Committee of Seventy announced that it has been awarded major grants totalling $900,000 to support its work to strengthen democracy, elections and civic education in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. This includes an $800,000 grant from William Penn Foundation, matching their previous investment from 2022—the largest grant Seventy ever received in its history. Seventy will also receive $80,000 from the Agua Fund, and $20,000 from CivXNow, a project of iCivics.
“We are thrilled to receive financial backing from each of these esteemed organizations, all of which have awarded us grants in the past,” said Seventy President and CEO Lauren Cristella. “Their decision to return as grantors is a testament to Seventy's success ensuring elections stay free, fair, safe and secure and educating the next generation of active citizens. It also reflects their confidence in our ability to expand and make an even greater impact in the future.”
The award from William Penn Foundation will help Seventy build trust in Pennsylvania's elections by supporting effective election administration, voter outreach and education, and investments in future voters. Agua Fund’s award will contribute to Seventy’s efforts to recruit poll workers and expand its WeVote program. And the award from CivXNow will be used for Seventy’s work to support, promote, and expand civic education across Pennsylvania through the PA Civics Coalition.
“A strong and healthy democracy requires all of us, and we are grateful to the Committee of Seventy for its work to increase understanding of and participation in elections so that more voices can be heard,” said Shawn McCaney, Executive Director of the William Penn Foundation.
“The Agua Fund is pleased to support Seventy’s mission,” said Ann Mills, Executive Director of the Agua Fund. “We appreciate their effective collaboration with other partners in the state.”
Seventy provides resources and programming to advance representative, ethical and effective government in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania through citizen engagement and public policy advocacy. Some of Seventy’s key initiatives include: Youth Civics programming, an interactive voter guide, poll worker recruitment and training, and We Vote, which provides free, nonpartisan voter education and engagement resources to businesses, colleges, community organizations and nonprofits.
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About Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has promoted, supported and facilitated government ethics and election integrity for more than a century. Seventy advocates for more free, fair, safe and secure elections and works to ensure that every eligible voter votes, is informed when they vote, and votes with confidence. For more information, visit: https://seventy.org/
About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that increase educational opportunities for children from low-income families, ensure a sustainable environment, provide inclusive and equitable public spaces and arts and culture experiences, and advance philanthropy in the Philadelphia region. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.
About Agua Fund
The Agua Fund is a private foundation based in Washington, D.C. They strive to improve quality of life through support for efforts to protect the natural environment, help the disadvantaged, give voice to the underserved, and promote democratic values and full participation in civic life. Learn more at www.aguafund.org/.
About CivXNow, a project of iCivics
The CivXNow Coalition is a project of iCivics, and is made up of more than 300 organizational partners working to elevate civic education and engagement as a national priority in order to sustain and strengthen U.S. constitutional democracy. To achieve this goal, the CivXNow Coalition advocates for bipartisan federal and state legislation that supports implementation of state and local policies that reimagine and deliver relevant, inclusive, and engaging K–12 civic learning, both in and out of school.
