Company Profile

Charles F. Kettering Foundation

Company Overview

We envision a world of thriving democracies where the rights of all are protected and people fulfill their civic responsibilities.

Our Mission
We advance inclusive democracies by fostering citizen engagement, promoting government accountability, and countering authoritarianism.

The Kettering Foundation advances inclusive democracies by empowering people with the knowledge and tools to build and preserve resilient democratic systems. We do this through:

Research: We are committed to leading and supporting research initiatives that provide people with information grounded in truth and equip them to advance and defend democracy.

Narrative Making: We create and support narratives that inspire people to embrace their power and role in democracy and that disrupt false narratives that are designed to divide community and harm democracy.

Communication: We provide people with information about the opportunities in democracy and to help them stay ahead of what threatens it.

Innovation: We continually search for new, responsive, and impactful ways to advance and defend democracy.

Partnerships: We build and cultivate alliances to strengthen commitment to democracy worldwide.

Learn more at https://kettering.org/our-approach/

Company History

Our History
Since the foundation was established nearly 100 years ago, we have been committed to the advancement of human knowledge; the progress of the arts and sciences; and the endowment of public, educational, and other charitable projects. Our fellows and partners today conduct cutting-edge research and lead innovative programs to advance and protect inclusive democracies around the globe.

The Charles F. Kettering Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, operating foundation engaged in research for the improvement of society. Founded in 1927 by Charles F. Kettering, best known for inventing the automobile self-starter, the foundation carries on his legacy of rigorous research and his steadfast belief that progress and a better future are attainable through change and innovation.

Since our founding, the foundation has undergone two major changes in how we do our work: In the late 1960s, Kettering shifted from being a grant-making foundation to an operating foundation. In the 1980s, the foundation decided to center all our research and programming on the project of strengthening democracy, both in the U.S. and around the globe, with a special emphasis on the role of citizens in democracy. Over the course of more than four decades, Kettering has earned a distinguished reputation in the field of deliberative democracy, guided by the belief that democratic societies advance through mechanisms and rights that foster citizen engagement.

Now, under Sharon L. Davies’ leadership and working against the backdrop of rapidly evolving global threats to democracy, Kettering is widening our aperture. This new focus enables the foundation to tackle the most pressing challenges to democracy today and contribute to a future where people are informed and engaged in shaping their collective future.

Positions Available
  • 2 days ago

    Applied Demographer and Data Visualization Specialist for Inclusive Democracy

    Charles F. Kettering Foundation - Dayton, OH, United States

    The Applied Demographer and Data Visualization Specialist for Inclusive Democracy supports the foundation s mission by analyzing demographic and social trends to provide insights across all program areas. This role explores the implications of demographic shifts including migration, aging, religious affiliation and identity, racial and ethnic diversity, gender fluidity, and multiculturalism for inclusive democratic governance. The position critically examines patterns of social exclusion, backlash ...

    See full job description