The official celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence culminate on July 4, when a well-financed, privately funded initiative will launch to connect hundreds of millions of Americans with efforts to solve local problems.
At a Glance
- Be The People campaign aims to shift perceptions of division and empower individual action.
- Over $200 million targeted for the first year.
- Funded by 50 foundations and individual donors.
- Why it matters: It seeks to spark a cultural change in civic engagement across the nation.
The launch of the campaign on July 4 coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary, a symbolic moment that the organizers hope will galvanize citizens to take part in solving pressing issues such as poverty, addiction, violence, and stalled economic mobility.
A $200M Push for Civic Engagement
Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO of the nonprofit network Stand Together, said the anniversary is a unique moment “to show people that they matter, that they have a part to play, and that the future is unwritten, but it depends on each one of us stepping up to play our part.”
Hooks framed the initiative as a 10-year commitment to achieve a profound shift in behavior and culture. He cited a 2024 Pew Research Center survey that found most Americans in 2023 and 2024 did not believe the U.S. could solve its most important problems, calling it a “red alert” for the country.
Founders and Funding
The campaign is backed by a mix of 50 philanthropic foundations and individual donors. Founding members span nonprofits, businesses, and major foundations:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Nonprofits | GivingTuesday, Goodwill Industries, Habitat for Humanity, More Perfect |
| Businesses | Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment, the National Basketball Association |
| Foundations | John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation |
The initiative will not incorporate as a new nonprofit; instead it will act as a banner for groups to organize under and connect to resources. For instance, at the Atlanta Hawks game on Monday, Martin Luther King III and his wife, Arndrea Waters King, linked their program Realize the Dream to the new campaign.
How the Campaign Will Operate
Hooks said the initiative envisions actions far beyond volunteering or service that people could do in their free time. He pointed to a role for businesses and schools and said the initiative would launch a major data collection effort to track whether people are actually more engaged and whether problems are actually getting solved.
Key actions outlined by the campaign include:
- Community partnerships: linking local organizations with national resources.
- Data tracking: measuring engagement levels and problem-solving outcomes.
- Business and school involvement: encouraging corporate and educational institutions to participate.
The campaign will also convene communications teams to help tell stories that are often lost in the current information ecosystem. Hooks said, “We’re holding up a mirror and a microphone to Americans to reveal to each other who we truly are.”
Community Examples and Early Impact
The Kings’ Realize the Dream program aims to increase acts of service. Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, said small actions can build on each other like exercising a muscle. “When people volunteer together, they find it harder and harder to demonize each other,” she said.
Hahrie Han, a political scientist at Johns Hopkins University, noted that people need more opportunities to authentically participate as problem solvers when connecting with local organizations. She explained that when people are invited into roles where professional staff do most of the problem solving, they may feel less committed.
Broader Context and Expert Views
The initiative comes against a backdrop of deep polarization, economic inequality, and the degradation of democratic norms and institutions in the U.S. Kristin Goss, professor directing the Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism at Duke University, said a growing number of private foundations are funding issues related to the health of U.S. democracy. While foundations cannot participate in elections, Goss said they can influence policy or public opinion in other ways.
Another group of funders, including the Freedom Together Foundation, launched a project last year to recognize people and groups who stand up for their communities, calling it a “civic bravery” award. In a November report, they issued a similar call for funders to invest in helping individuals organize together in response to a rise in authoritarianism.
What This Means for Americans
The Be The People campaign represents a concerted effort to mobilize citizens at a pivotal historical moment. By leveraging a significant financial commitment, a coalition of diverse partners, and a data-driven approach, the initiative seeks to transform how Americans engage with local problems and each other.
The U.S. Mint unveiled new coin designs for the 2026 dime, quarter-dollar, and half-dollar coins in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
