How Funders Can Drive Democratic Innovation Through Citizens’ Assemblies

American democracy has operated within a largely unchanged governance model, even as public trust in government has steadily declined. Public frustration has reached a boiling point, evident in workforce reductions, increased scrutiny of public servants, and efforts to diminish government oversight. While changes have been made, the current political landscape calls for innovative solutions to rebuild trust, tackle polarization, and enhance government responsiveness to the communities it serves.

However, amid these challenges, innovators across the country are pioneering new ways to make democracy more participatory and responsive at the state and local levels. Citizens’ assemblies offer a solution by re-envisioning the roles and responsibilities of the public in shaping policy.

A citizens’ assembly is a deliberative process that brings together a representative group of community members to discuss pressing societal issues. Through guided deliberation, assembly members generate actionable policy recommendations for lawmakers. This model is part of the broader concept of collaborative governance, which fosters trust by enabling shared decision-making between government officials and community members.

Exploring An Innovative Approach to Democratic Governance: A Funder’s Guide to Citizens’ Assemblies, created as part of a partnership between New America and the Democracy Funders Network, aims to equip funders with a deeper understanding of the citizens’ assembly model, insights into how assemblies can serve as a vehicle for democratic experimentation in the United States, and an example of how philanthropic investment can catalyze democratic innovation.