Committee of Seventy Receives Major Grants from William Penn and Henry L. Hillman Foundations to Expand Civic Education and Voter Participation Across Pennsylvania
For Immediate Release: Day, November 12, 2025
Contact: Hannah Balkowski, [email protected], 619-987-4886
Funding will support civic education across western Pennsylvania, and boost voter participation in Philadelphia, expanding Seventy’s mission statewide
PHILADELPHIA - November 12, 2025 - The Committee of Seventy, Pennsylvania’s leading nonpartisan advocate for good government and civic engagement, has received two major grants from the William Penn Foundation and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation to expand civic engagement and voter participation across the Commonwealth.
The William Penn Foundation has awarded Seventy a $500,000, two-year grant for a project The Messenger Matters: Reclaiming Philadelphia’s Power at the Polls, a citywide initiative to increase voter participation and rebuild trust in the political system through partnerships with trusted messengers and local organizations. The grant will enable Seventy to expand voter engagement efforts across Philadelphia, equipping trusted messengers with clear, reliable resources they can share with their communities.
“Our goal is to help ensure every Philadelphian has the information they need to make their voice heard and that more residents are being reached with trusted, accessible information about voting through an expansive network of partners,” said Shawn McCaney, executive Director for the William Penn Foundation.
Through The Messenger Matters initiative, Seventy will lead an engagement strategy that partners with trusted content creators, WeVote partners, and educators to connect Philadelphians with accurate, nonpartisan information about elections and civic participation. The project will also expand Seventy’s work with schools and election officials, providing educators with classroom resources to prepare future voters and supporting bipartisan election reforms to strengthen public confidence in Pennsylvania’s democracy. Seventy’s approach recognizes that increasing voter participation must come from Philadelphia itself and the organizations and leaders who have built the relationships needed to re-engage the 35% of residents who are not voting in elections. Sustained, year-round collaboration is central to this effort, ensuring that civic engagement continues even after Election Day.
In addition, Henry L. Hillman Foundation awarded Seventy a $200,000 grant to develop How Pittsburgh & Allegheny County Work, a new civic guide and series of programs designed to help residents better understand and navigate their local governments. Building on the success of How Philly Works, which has become a trusted resource for thousands of residents in the Philadelphia region and more than 8,000 copies distributed, this new project will explain Pittsburgh and Allegheny County’s complex governmental structures in clear, easy-to-understand language. The guide will help break down how local systems function and empower residents to advocate for themselves and their communities while holding government accountable.
Support for How Pittsburgh & Allegheny County Work is part of Henry L. Hillman Foundation's Strengthening Democracy strategic priority, which promotes good governance and increased civic engagement by developing skills and tools for more effective civic participation.
Scheduled for release in 2026, How Pittsburgh & Allegheny County Work will be published in both print and digital formats and accompanied by community workshops, short-form videos, and partnerships with trusted local organizations. Seventy will collaborate with community groups, civic leaders, and elected officials across Allegheny County to ensure the guide is accessible and relevant to residents. How Pittsburgh & Allegheny County Work is part of the Committee of Seventy’s growing civic education projects, which also includes How PA Works, a forthcoming guide to state government in Harrisburg. Together, these resources aim to help residents across the Commonwealth understand how government functions and how they can make their voices heard.
“For people to advocate for better government, they have to understand how it works,” said Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy. “These investments will help Pennsylvanians connect the dots between government and the elections that determine its representatives, giving them the tools to become more effective citizens.
Together, the William Penn and Henry L. Hillman Foundation grants will enable the Committee of Seventy to expand its mission statewide, equipping Pennsylvanians with the knowledge and tools to understand how government functions and inspiring greater participation in the democratic process.
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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 Henry L. Hillman Foundation
Henry L. Hillman Foundation works to ensure that Pittsburgh’s considerable strengths, assets, and advantages are fully leveraged to make it one of the world’s most innovative and forward-looking cities, building on the late Henry L. Hillman’s legacy for solving big problems through civic leadership and collaboration. Henrylhillmanfoundation.org
About William Penn Foundation
The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.
