Americans across the political spectrum believe that our democracy is at risk. Despite real divisions, a growing body of evidence shows that Americans with disparate political perspectives share a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction with our current system.

An ideologically diverse movement has emerged to address the challenges facing American democracy. But practical on-the-ground efforts are hampered by a lack of relevant, actionable evidence showing what approaches are likely to work. And we are not building on existing knowledge to refine interventions and practices in ways that fit changing circumstances and diverse communities.

The Democracy Renewal Project is the inaugural application of Public Agenda’s new Research Accelerator model, a method for catalyzing, translating, synthesizing, and communicating rigorous research on practice-relevant questions about how to strengthen American democracy. Public Agenda will solicit proposals, distribute grant funds to researchers, translate and synthesize findings, and share them with advocates, practitioners, policymakers, journalists, and philanthropists.

Public Agenda has a long history of conducting research on critical questions for our democracy and providing tools and resources for advocates, policymakers, and public leaders to turn that knowledge into action. With capacity for both research and engagement, Public Agenda is uniquely suited to serve as a network hub for applied research in support of the movement for democracy renewal.