Democracy doesn’t sustain itself. The conditions that make it possible have to be actively built and maintained.

Many of Metcalf’s successes over the past 25 years have relied on the foundations of a functioning democracy — capable elected officials, talented public servants, quality journalism, and informed public debate. Two years ago, we began to think about this mix of elements as civil discourse, and started experimenting with funding intended to strengthen it. We are now ready to formalize this as our fourth program.

Our Civil Discourse program will focus on four interconnected areas: local journalism, state capacity, democratic practice and spaces, and civic education. These are not only areas of need; strengthening them is fundamental to everything else we are trying to achieve.

Local journalism lends facts and rigour to public debate at a time when misinformation runs rampant. State capacity determines whether good policy can actually be delivered. Democratic practice and spaces create the conditions for people to engage across difference. And civic education ensures the next generation has the tools to participate. Collectively, these areas address something fundamental: a country’s ability to debate, decide, and act together.

Foundations can play a unique role here — as interlocutor between private and public actors, between grassroots organizations and government funders, and across jurisdictions. This is new territory for us, and we are approaching it with the same disposition we bring to all our work: building relationships, investing early, experimenting deliberately, and learning as we go. We are also doing it collaboratively, alongside a growing group of funders who recognize that no single foundation can tackle this alone.

We’re at a moment in this country where we’re trying to rebuild what we are. And we intend to be part of that effort.