Annual Report 2022

Civic Education

A Connective Tissue For Our Time

Board of Directors

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

Chair Emeritus Associate Justice (ret.) Supreme Court of the United States

Andrea Foggy-Paxton

Founder and CEO Foggy Paxton Consulting

Mary Henry

Partner & Managing Director (ret.) Goldman Sachs

Laird Malamed

Director of Operations, FRL-Research

Meta Jay O’Connor

Advisory Partner Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital

Ann M. Ravel Professor, School of Law University of California, Berkeley

Gerard Robinson Fellow of Practice Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Associate Justice Supreme Court of the United States

With Gratitude

Larry Kramer Chair President William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Charles Harris Special Advisor Blue Meridian Partners

Tom Lue

General Counsel and Head of Governance DeepMind Wendy May-Dreyer Partner (ret.)

Hartline Dacus Barger Dreyer, LLP

Arnold B. Peinado, III Senior Partner (ret.)

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

Lindsay Reimers Community Advocate Pritesh Shah Partner

Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP

Judge Ann Claire Williams Of Counsel (ret.) Jones Day

“I have had the privilege of participating in iCivics’ growth from premier resource provider to a national democracy leader. I have helped to guide a staff deeply dedicated to educators and passionate for the mission of responsible civic education for all students. I have partnered with iCivics’ visionary leaders, driven by integrity and brave enough to dream big dreams. I serve on the Board alongside women and men of different political ideologies, nonetheless equally committed to the greater good for American democracy and the rule of law while exemplifying the art of civil discourse at its finest. I am inspired by the genuine efforts all around me to preserve what is great and heal what is broken within our country.

I am filled with hope. And I am grateful for the insight this role has afforded me.”

Wendy May-Dreyer served seven years as Chair of the iCivics Board of Directors

Dear Friends of iCivics

At its very essence, our work is one collective act of trust.

We are the educators who commit each morning to their students; we are the artisans who dare imagine a better civic education; we are the donors who, in ways big and small, make it all happen.

I say trust because this project—our constitutional democracy, our way of life—was entrusted to us.

It is the precious invisible silk that binds us. Our connective tissue.

Now, with up to 9 million students served each year, iCivics has become more than I believe even Justice O’Connor imagined for us when she founded the organization 13 years ago.

We are a free, nonpartisan, high-quality civics curriculum for grades K–12.

We are those games that make civics relevant and engaging for students.

We are movers of more and better civic education in the United States—and so much more.

Yet beneath it all, we are something simpler: a collective of concerned Americans who believe only trust will keep us together.

In so many ways, this nation defies the odds. Our origin story is as colorfully complex as our people. In a very profound way, We The People of the United States share no common language, ethnicity, or arrival story. So what glue holds us together, if not our common vision?

A vision for a just nation—accountable to and representative of its people. A country that enshrines once-unthinkable freedoms. A government where compromise is baked into the crust. An acknowledgment that our political systems have both furthered, and sometimes hindered, our aspirational ideals of equality, liberty, and justice for all.

Yes, we exist to ensure all young people grow to be informed, thoughtful, and engaged members of our self-governing society.

But most of all, iCivics exists to inspire students for a common vision, rooted in trust.

Kind Regards,

Louise Dubé Executive Director

10Years as

an

Educator

Voices From the Field

on setting expectations…

“During back-to-school month, I tell parents, ‘This is a civics class. We’re going to have debates, discussion, there are going to be controversial issues—and the kids have to make their own decisions. I’m here to teach the kids, not to tell them what to think.’”

on

the virtues of a good civic education…

“My students always impress me with the questions they ask, the projects they turn in, the way they interact. I constantly feel impressed.… They can make a difference if they choose to…. They can vote, volunteer, write letters, run for office.… They can do a host of things that can bring about positive change.”

on iCivics as a curriculum provider…

“I’m thankful for iCivics. The lesson plans have been some of the best I’ve come across. I’m a part of the Educator Network and get a lot out of that. I love how iCivics takes into consideration feedback, be it on games, lessons, [or in] what direction the organization as a whole should head. To me, it’s one of the best free resources out there for instilling civic education to students across K–12.”

High School U.S. Government and Economics teacher, Department Chair for Social Science and AP US Government and Politics, and Junior State of America Advisor, Turlock, California

Isaac Farhadian

Blair Lynch

16Year Old Student

12Years as an Educato

on the media and civic consciousness…

“Right now there is a lot of divisiveness. That has pushed me, as a student, to acknowledge others’ perspectives. But honestly, it’s hard. As a young person, I’m exposed to a lot of media online. What often happens is if I watch one news story from this one news channel, I’ll get a million stories recommended from that same news source. And isn’t that dangerous?

As a student, it’s made me aware I need to diversify the information I’m consuming. To acknowledge others’ views, have discussions with people—even if I don’t agree with them. That is something that is supported by the school system I’m in.”

on looking back, and moving forward...

“We live in a society that is future driven. But often it seems people don’t acknowledge that we must look at our history to go forth. How did our government work back then, and how did it transform? What mistakes were made? How can we correct them, and prevent them from happening again?”

imagine you’re talking to our funders directly, what would you like them to know?

“I would thank them. Programs like these start off as an idea. But it’s the funding that makes it all possible. So I’m grateful to them. They should realize just how important their funding is. In my opinion, they’re supporting the future of the nation.”

on what drew her to the teaching profession… “I really love teaching. Each day is new. At the end of the day, every piece of American history and civics is applicable to a student’s real world. A sense of community, rights, obligations—they all converge.”

on family engagement and adapting to new laws…

“I have purposefully transitioned from using secondary sources to relying solely on primary sources…. Within the letter of the law, I know I can give this source. I also frontload my parents by sending a weekly email letting them know the topics and sources we are exploring. Parents really appreciate knowing what we’re talking about. When their kid comes home, they’re not surprised. They discuss these issues at their own dinner table.

Tennessee law states that you can’t make a student feel ‘discomfort or psychological distress due to their race, sex’ or what happened in the past. This puts considerable pressure on civics and history teachers. Our only goal is to present students an honest account of our nation—the good and the bad—to have students ask questions about what they’re discovering. Part of my job is just helping students explore and reflect on our shared history… even if this is sometimes uncomfortable to address.”

Brendan Kaminski Student, Baldwin, New York

8th grade social studies teacher, Memphis, Tennessee

Our Year in Review

Each year, up to 145,000 teachers across the country turn to iCivics. We offer a range of products and services: full curricula for middle and high school, innovative edu-games, educator professional development, and still much more.

When they use iCivics, teachers know what they get in return. Our quality is consistently high. iCivics engages students, and makes civic life relevant to their own young lives. Our resources are strictly non-partisan; they are safe to use in any civics and history classroom.

Most importantly: iCivics is always free.

Crisis

Alert:

New Game Teaches Foreign Policy!

Just imagine...

You are the President. A major earthquake hits a foreign trading partner. Their water supply is damaged and thousands are without shelter. What to do? Humanitarian aid is a popular move, but only a quick and temporary fix. Organizing an international summit may help the country recover long-term, but the odds of success are low and your ally needs urgent relief. Should the United States even intervene at all, given all the problems at home left to address? You can only choose one… and there is no right answer.

Convene the Council is iCivics’ newest game release! In this first-of-its-kind foreign policy game, students step into the White House Situation Room. They navigate humanitarian crises, military conflicts, and diplomatic disputes—while balancing priorities of security, prosperity, and values at home. Students learn that our choices, just like the world, are complex and interconnected.

game

President

You convene the National Security Council for help.

“The

helped me realize that the

is sometimes forced to make hard decisions... decisions not based on opinion but out of what’s best for the country. It’s really an eye-opener for me.”

ANTHONY 8th grade, Atlanta, Georgia

Civic Education Must Always Connect our Shared Values, Histories, and Philosophies.

What Equity in Civics Actually Means…

We strive for a healthy, thoughtful, and plural American democracy. But our mission only works if every student—regardless of family income, skin color, language ability—succeeds.

For years, civic education has not been taught equally. Students from all backgrounds should get the same civic learning opportunities, too often limited to those most affluent. Students whose first language is not English should have adapted instruction for their particular needs. And in order to be truly relevant to all students, civic education must reflect America’s complex and rich diversity—which means acknowledging sometimes painful or hidden realities.

What Do Young People Think of Civic Education?

Each year, iCivics hosts an intensive, year-long Fellowship for high school students across the United States. Youth are given a voice—a stake—in how to make civic education more equitable. These students are trained to become civic experts and leaders.

Curious minds need to be fed. Our program cultivates their civic abilities: digital communication, media literacy and public policy, and campaign management.

Most importantly, youth Fellows get to apply their training directly. The hallmark of the program had them coordinate the nation’s largest student-led Listening Tour about young people’s civic learning experiences. Student Fellows gathered 4,840 responses from all 50 states, D.C. and abroad, with testimony spanning 5th grade through college. The survey goes in-depth about young people’s own civic definitions, perceptions, and behaviors.

Equity means striving for equal outcomes, only through intentional efforts.

A Policy Map of Civic Achievements

14 States Adopt Measures to Bolster K-12 Civics Education

This map shows the CivXNow Coalition’s policy progress in key states. This 2022 legislative session, 14 states passed positive bi-partisan civics bills—an auspicious sign for the field. These new state laws improve, in diverse ways, how civic education is taught and required.

Crucially, CivXNow spurs the creation and growth of coalitions in each state to promote favorable new legislation. State legislation simply cannot happen without their local input. Today, there are 40 state-coalitions striving for better civic education at home.

New Civics Course Requirements Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island

Civics Content Strengthened Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, Washington

New Experiential Civic Learning Opportunities California, Virginia

State Appropriations for Civics Massachusetts

Newly Established Civic Education Commissions Georgia, Hawaii

Establishing Civic Seals Nevada

WA OR NV CA

Building a Coalition for Better Civics Legislation

If iCivics is to achieve its mission—to prepare all students with the civic knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed for good citizenship—the field must be fueled by the scale of resources that only the federal level can provide.. For this very reason, in 2018, iCivics founded the CivXNow Coalition.

We are the largest, most unified force in the country advocating for better civic education policy. CivXNow aggregates networks, conducts research and writes policy menus. In just 5 years, we have grown to 250 organization-members. Every member of the Coalition—ideologically diverse and influential in its own right—is committed to making civic education a priority.

This year, we have stepped up efforts to engage members in CivXNow. A coalition our size demands substantial coordination. For years, members have sought ways to be more deeply involved in the Coalition’s actions and thinking.

In response, we have created three Affinity Groups: Research and Best Practices; Awareness; and Advocacy. These Groups allow members to apply their know-how, connections, and insights to our cause… continuously.

The Civics Secures Democracy Act

At the federal level, CivXNow has advocated the passage of the bi-partisan Civics Secures Democracy (CSD) Act—which CivXNow helped write. Re-introduced in the Senate in June 2022, CSD could authorize $1 billion, each year for 5 years, to expand educational programs in civics and U.S. History.

If passed, this unprecedented bill would transform our field. Civic education must be supported at the federal level. Our democracy depends on it. CSD is the best vehicle to achieve this.

When State Policy Intersects Demand for Civic Education

It must be stated clearly: civics educators are the foremost guardians of our constitutional democracy.

But in the last two years, they have weathered harsh storms. The COVID-19 epidemic pressured educators, practically overnight, to transform their practice to online learning. Much of civics and history classroom time was also cut—often a result of addressing learning gaps in prioritized subjects like STEM and ELA. Many states still lack policy to ensure high-quality civic education gets the attention it deserves in school.

This is the source of the problem… and it must be corrected.

In 2022, many policy efforts sought to bolster civic education. They may not make the headlines as much, but they are crucial to our success. In all, 85 bills across 26 states align with CivXNow’s State Policy Menu! They…

Raise

Fund

On the flip side, we also acknowledge that over a dozen states passed laws that restrict how teachers can discuss civics matters with their students. These laws run counter to our policy recommendations. They do not foster a high-quality, equitable civic education.

We must not forget: a majority of teachers and parents across the political spectrum agree that our children should be taught a full, inclusive and balanced history of the United States.

state standards

Prioritize universal access to high-quality civics

Offer new assessment and accountability measures

professional development for in- and pre-service educators and much more…

“The United States stands at a crossroads of peril and possibility. In times of crisis, We The People must unite love of country with clear-eyed wisdom about our successes—and failures—in order to chart our path forward.”

—Executive Summary to the EAD Report

What does a path forward look like when the substance of education—the what and how to teach—is still fiercely debated?

Let us be clear. Educating for American Democracy (EAD) is the single-best answer we have to grant all K–12 learners a better, more modern civics and history education. EAD is a content-driven framework, built around inquiry, localization, and culturally relevant teaching. It offers general guidance—for government, administrators, teachers, curriculum providers, and local leaders—to assess current practices, teaching standards, and teaching resources.

The EAD Roadmap has guided iCivics to build its own EAD curriculum, and implement it in three diverse public school districts: Jefferson County (CO); Oklahoma City (OK); and Santa Fe (NM). This year, iCivics recruited nine highly skilled teacher fellows to create a generalizable curriculum for U.S History I in Grade 8. It will then be localized, piloted, and evaluated in the districts over the next two years.

EAD Goals Collectively

By 2030, EAD Strives for:

100,000 Schools to be “civic ready”

A Civic Learning Plan and resources in place to support it.

1 Million Teachers to be EAD ready

Excellent pre- and in-service professional learning.

60 Million Students to be EAD trained

Access to high-quality civic learning opportunities—knowledge, skills and dispositions—including earning civic learning credentials.

“The work that you all are doing is beautiful and I cannot wait to see how it impacts America and its democracy for the better.”

TASHA-REE LEE iCivics EAD National Teacher Fellow

Civics, Service and Leadership

In recent years, one thing has become clear: great civic education for all is more than just an educational or a moral priority—it is also a national security imperative.

Our democracy is precious. It grants us rights to enjoy and obligations to appreciate. But dangers lurk. Disinformation will not go away, distrust runs deep. Our way of life is imperiled. What could be more important than to equip each and every student in the United States with a sense of ownership, pride, and care for our democratic republic?

In September 2021, iCivics was awarded a rare $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Defense Education Program (NDEP). The award funds our Civics, Service and Leadership program—enhanced civic education in schools across the country that serve military-connected students and families.

Our model teaches civics through the lens of service and leadership. It cultivates: an enhanced civic education, emphasizing:

Independent thinking, problem solving, and media literacy

Voting and other forms of civic engagement

Interest in public service and military careers

The program will pilot in two large school districts: Miami-Dade (FL) and Prince William (VA). It will combine an array of new high school resources; training for 130 civic educators across K–12; a leadership curriculum for Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) students; support for a year-end civics fair to showcase student achievement; and volunteer manuals for military families wishing to partner with schools and teachers.

ROBERT M. GATES

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former Director of the CIA

“The divisiveness in our country today is a reflection, in at least some part, of the absence of civic education.... We hear all the time about our rights as citizens; virtually no one—including our political leaders—talk about the obligations of citizenship.”

FY2022 FY2021

Revenue and Expenses

Grants and Contributions 20,728,434 4,492,078

In-Kind 782,667 1,036,930

Royalties and Contract Income 239,353 499,557

Interest Income and Other Revenue (21,464) 147,327

Total Support 21,728,990 6,175,892

Program Expenses 7,080,027 (87%) 4,751,211 (84%)

Management and General 581,080 (7%) 396,795 (7%)

Fundraising 460,181 (6%) 534,282 (9%)

Total Expenses 8,121,288 5,682,288

Change in Net Assets 13,607,702 3,876,345

Change in Net Assets, Excluding Board Designated Funds* 3,893,719 493,604 Net Assets, Beginning of Year 8,361,166 4,484,821 Net Assets, End of Year 21,968,868 8,361,166

*Sandra Day O’Connor Growth Fund (Board Designated) 14,842,717 5,128,734

Day O’Connor Growth Capital Fund

Sandra Day O’Connor (SDOC) Growth Capital Campaign

At the close of FY22, iCivics raised $24.6M towards its Growth Capital Campaign, launched in 2020. The campaign includes donations to the Growth Capital Fund and other strategic initiatives and will be invested over the course of the five-year strategy.

Sandra

Mackenzie Scott

Those Who Make iCivics Possible

iCivics is deeply grateful to all of our generous supporters. In FY2022, two donors made extraordinary, one-off contributions: Mackenzie Scott and Leonard & Judy Lauder.

Describing her approach to philanthropy, Ms. Scott “identifies organizations with high potential for impact in order to pave the way for unsolicited and unexpected gifts given with full trust.“

In 2022, iCivics presented the Lauders with its Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Award for their transformative impact on our mission.

$500,000+

Charles and Lynn Schusterman

Family Philanthropies

Council on Foreign Relations

Kenneth C. Griffin

Leonard and Judy Lauder

MacKenzie Scott

U.S. Department of Defense

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

$100,000–$499,999

Anonymous Bari Lipp Foundation

Carnegie Corporation of New York

Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Funds

Einhorn Collaborative Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation

Koret Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities

Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund

Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Unity Technologies

$25,000–$99,999

Amazon Web Services

Anonymous

Clifford Family Foundation

Charitable Trust

Comcast NBCUniversal

Craig and Dorothy Stapleton

ECMC Foundation

Foundation of the International Association of Defense Counsel

FThree Foundation Greenbridge Family Foundation JCDRP Family Foundation

Kathleen Smalley

Laird and Rebecca Malamed

Lee and Juliet Folger Fund

Library of Congress

Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund

National Council for the Social Studies

Norman Raab Foundation

Park Foundation

Paul and Ann Sagan Family Fund

Present Progressive Fund Universal Music Group Zegar Family Foundation

$1,000–$24,999

Alice Pannill

American Institutes for Research

Ann Claire Williams

Anonymous (4) Arnold Peinado

Barbara Russell Betsy Bliss Bresky Foundation

Carol Wilner

David and Ingrid Gould Ellen Diana Aviv and Sterling Speirn Esta Stecher

Evelyn M. and Norman Feintech Family Foundation

Gerard Robinson

Google Matched Giving

Gordon I. and Carole B. Segal

Henry E. Niles Foundation

Herb Block Foundation

Hillel: Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Intel Foundation

Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC Karen Shapiro

Katherine Adams and Forwood Wiser III Kelli and Brian Cullinane Lawrence Coben

Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation

Louis DeJoy

Macauley Taylor

Marc Rindner and Younjee Kim Margaret Vick

Mark Perry and Adele Mouzon

Mary C. Henry and Rajpal Sandhu Foundation

Mauree Perry

Morrill Family Foundation

Nancy Heinen and Dennis DeBroeck

Nasser Kazeminy

Oren Root

Paul Funk

Pritesh Shah

Richard Fishman

Robert E. Long, Jr. Sandra Day O’Connor Charitable Fund

Sandra and Kenneth Malamed

Shepard Broad Foundation, Inc. Silvija Strikis

Steven Norris

Susan Dunn

Susan Morgenthau

Tavan L. R. Pechet

Thomas Fain

Thomas and Victoria Rollins

Thomas Wilner

Tom Dillon

Tom Lue

Viacom Inc.

Vivian Feintech and C. Allen Greenfield

Warren and Geralyn Smith

William B. Wiener Jr. Foundation

William Neukom

Wollenberg Foundation

WoloKahn Family Foundation

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iCivics, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization