Improve public understanding about significant state issues and highlight solutions to important public concerns.

We support organizations that provide in-depth information to the public through quality news coverage, nonpartisan research and analyses, and public forums. Such efforts help policymakers and all Californians learn more about the complexities of important state concerns and strategies for addressing them. We also fund a series of statewide public opinion surveys to illuminate the public?s preferences and areas of agreement about key policy issues.

Types of activities supported

The Foundation supports projects that:

• Develop and strategically disseminate information on how key governance issues and other significant issues for the state?s future affect Californians' lives
• Educate people about how they can participate effectively in public decision-making processes related to these issues

Review criteria

Competitive projects will:

• Reflect a clear understanding of California's political climate and demographic realities
• Address the state as a whole or analyze data and issues according to regions or specific populations
• Specify the segment of the population targeted and include communication strategies that are tailored and appropriate for that population
• Discuss how the project activities will connect to public mobilization efforts
• Be undertaken by organizations with a track record of excellence in conducting research and strategically communicating information to the designated target populations

While we accept unsolicited inquiries from grantseekers, we are able to fund very few of them. Please click here. if you would like to learn more about submitting a letter of inquiry. Full proposals are accepted by invitation only.

Profile of illustrative grant

The following grantee profile is illustrative of the type of work the California Perspectives program seeks to fund through its Informing Californians priority:

• New America Media