CityClub Programs
CityClub represents people from across the political spectrum and across sectors including businesses, non-profits, government, universities and grassroots community organizations. We believe there are not many places where diverse voices can be heard in civil discourse on vital issues of concern to all of us. CityClub models that discourse, fosters deliberation and inspires civic leadership and action.
Public Policy Forums and Election Debates
CityClub forums offer direct access to experts and leaders and feature diverse perspectives across the political spectrum. Forums address timely issues, public policy and conclude with audience questions and opportunities for citizen action. They are often developed as a series to provide a year-long review of topics around a central theme.
Living Voters Guide
CityClub hosts a community-generated online voters’ guide on statewide ballot measures to foster voter education, deliberation and civil discourse in uncivil times. Used by nearly 25,000 state voters over two election cycles, the Living Voters Guide offers promise as a tool to increase digital democracy and elicit broad public input for policy development.
Youth Civic Education Initiative
In May 2012 CityClub launched its newest initiative to increase the visibility of civic education renewal, reward excellence in existing civic education programs that serve middle or high school-aged students, and build a statewide network of practitioners and resources. The initiative features a Youth Civic Education Awards presented each fall, participation in a workshop showcasing the winners as mentors for other youth educators, and a website documenting the winners’ work to serve as a resource for youth civic education practitioners and best practices in civic education. Nominations are accepted each year starting in the Spring.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Our leadership as a trusted nonpartisan convener is never more in evidence than during election season when we present the most prestigious and thoughtful candidate and initiative debates in the region. Our new online Living Voters Guide, used by 25,000 Washingtonians in 2010 and 2011, extended our repertoire of voter education and deliberation tools. Last fall, we inaugurated Living Voters Guide 2012 with a new "fact checking" feature by our partners at Seattle Public Library. Our Living Voters Guide won “best overall” and “best state” at the Evergreen Apps Challenge, an Awards program designed to encourage the development of applications using government data to stimulate economic development in Washington. It also won the “Established Non Profit 1st Place Award” at the SIFP - Social Innovation Fast Pitch – Seattle in October!
CityClub launched a $650,000 "Civic Capital" Campaign to ensure that our region continues to enjoy robust civic health. The best news is that we are almost there! We have less than $30,000 left to raise to reach our goal! We hope that GiveBIG can put us over the top.
This campaign seeks investment to address three strategic priorities over our next decade of work:
Promote Informed Communities
Through continued diversification of in-person and online programming, broadcast, research and publications, we will expand our scope of service and participation. Our goal is to reach 50,000 participants over the next three years.
Revitalize Civics Education
We will advocate support for civics education, document and reward excellence, serve underserved youth, build a statewide network of practitioners and resources and develop a program that can be replicated in other places.
Achieve Organizational Sustainability
We will improve our fund development capacity and increase our contributions from individuals by 50 percent.
We are confident that a successful campaign will allow us to incorporate these priorities and goals into our operational budget going forward into the future.