More Perfect & iCivics Announce Major Commitments To Fund Civic Learning & Service Programs

More than $56 Million in Philanthropic Support, led by Carnegie Corporation of New York, Stand Together, and the Bezos Family Foundation, Drives Boost in Commitments Ahead of Constitution Day Summit

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- More Perfect, a bipartisan alliance of institutions and individuals committed to advancing five foundational Democracy Goals, today announced more than $56 million in funding commitments from leading philanthropies to expand civic learning and service opportunities nationwide. This landmark investment, led by Carnegie Corporation of New York, Stand Together, and the Bezos Family Foundation, comes ahead of the Civics, Citizenship, and the Constitution Summit co-hosted by More Perfect and iCivics at American University.

The Summit advances the mission of More Perfect and iCivics to catalyze a national upswing in civic energy as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. Sponsors of the Summit also include the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, Daniels Fund, Ibis Group, Jack Miller Center, Lumina Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Seedlings Foundation, and Trust for the National Mall.

The funding will propel a broad network of partners organized by More Perfect in collaboration with iCivics and the National Constitution Center (NCC) to advance comprehensive civic education and service. Projects include:

• Delivering history & civics education to millions of children, youth & adults
• Developing new technology & media for educators and students
• Launching civic learning programs focused on the country's 250th anniversary
• Creating new opportunities across local communities to deepen participation in service programs

"This historic investment reflects our shared commitment to renewing America's civic spirit," said John Bridgeland, CEO of More Perfect. "Leaders and institutions joined together to envision a civic learning and engagement moonshot, and we are so grateful the market is supporting the collective effort."

"This landmark investment in civic education by private philanthropy will help iCivics – and everyone in the More Perfect Alliance – carry out the critical mission of making high quality civic education available to all students," iCivics CEO Louise Dubé said. "This Constitution Day, we will advance that mission by reflecting on the document's enduring meaning and showing the power of civic learning to protect and sustain democracy for the next 250 years."

Representatives from Carnegie Corporation of New York, Stand Together, and the Bezos Family Foundation will join More Perfect, iCivics, and the National Constitution Center on Constitution Day to discuss their commitments and shared dedication to strengthening American democracy.

"At a moment when our country stands so divided, with far too many young people feeling alienated from the institutions of government, civics education represents an initiative that has strong bipartisan support," said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie and past head of the University of Oxford. "It actually took this country a long time to get to the point where social capital has evaporated in so many places. It's going to take a long time to rebuild. When this current political turbulence ends, we need to have an educated population, a civic minded population, that is willing and able to take the whole country forward."

"As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches, we're excited to work alongside this broad coalition of partners who share a vision for civics as the playbook that equips people to solve problems and live well together," said Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO of Stand Together. "Our founding principles weren't intended to sit on a shelf in a textbook. They're meant to be lived out. That requires reimagining civics to demonstrate that these principles are as relevant and actionable today as they've ever been."

"For decades, the Bezos Family Foundation has supported programs that promote dialogue, critical thinking, and civic education and action," said Mike Bezos, co-founder, Bezos Family Foundation. "As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we remain committed to amplifying the voices of adolescents, educators, and communities, expanding civic knowledge, and supporting the next generation of leaders."

Jeffrey Rosen, CEO of the National Constitution Center, concluded, "As Americans celebrate our commitment to constitutional democracy with the 250th of the Declaration in 2026 and the 250th of the Constitution in 2037, let's unite around our commitment to ensuring that future generations have the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions to enable our system to thrive."

Civics, Citizenship, and the Constitution will take place on Constitution Day, September 17, 2025, at the American University Washington College of Law.

Click here to register.

About More Perfect
More Perfect is a bipartisan alliance of 37 Presidential Centers, National Archives Foundation, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Karsh Institute for Democracy at the University of Virginia, and more than 100 organizations working together to advance five foundational Democracy Goals: 1) Universal Civic Learning; 2) Expanding National Service & Volunteering; 3) Bridging Divides & Building Trust; 4) Trusted Elections & More Representative and Responsive Governance; and 5) Access to Trusted News & Information.

About iCivics
Founded by Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2009, iCivics is the nation's leading provider of and advocate for high-quality, nonpartisan civic education used by 145,000 educators to teach 9 million students.

About the National Constitution Center
Founded in 1988, the National Constitution Center is the country's leading platform for constitutional education and debate.

About Carnegie Corporation of New York
Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.

About Stand Together Foundation
Stand Together is a philanthropic community that tackles the root causes of our country's biggest problems. They partner with the country's boldest changemakers to drive solutions on education, economic opportunity, bridging divides, and dozens of other pressing issues. Learn more at www.standtogether.org and Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Bezos Family Foundation
The Bezos Family Foundation is an independent, nonprofit private Foundation founded by Mike and Jackie Bezos, who, along with their family, serve as the Foundation's directors. Since 2001, the Foundation has partnered with remarkable organizations and individuals to transform how we prepare young people from before birth through adolescence to pursue their own path for success and meaningfully contribute to society. In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation runs two in-house programs, the Bezos Scholars Program and Vroom. Learn more at bezosfamilyfoundation.org.

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SOURCE More Perfect