University of Arizona Foundation

Bitter polarization severely limits Congress’ effectiveness. The National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD) is dedicated to building Congress’ capacity to engage its political differences more constructively. Through its CommonSense American program, NICD organizes over 36,000 Americans from across the country and political spectrum into a powerful force championing bipartisan policymaking. With this general (program) support grant, NICD will continue to grow the program’s membership. Working with its bipartisan board co-chaired by Tom Daschle and Christine Todd Whitman, NICD will also continue engaging Congress with program members’ views on solutions wise enough to attract bipartisan support, including reforms that build trust in election results.

The University of Arizona’s National Institute for Civil Discourse is a nonpartisan organization that works to promote healthy and civil political debate across political differences. The organization works with Congress, state legislatures, and citizens to bridge partisan divides and solve urgent national problems. It was founded in 2011 by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after the shooting that wounded her and killed six people at one of her constituent events. In 2019, it refocused its programming around Congress and strengthening dialogue across partisan divides between constituents and members of Congress on substantive policy issues.

In 2011, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ "Congress on Your Corner" concluded in the tragic Tucson shooting. The University of Arizona founded the National Institute for Civil Discourse in response to address the incivility and political dysfunction that prevents Congress from functioning effectively. The institute works not only with current and future members of Congress, but also with the public and journalists who create the context within which Congress operates, to carry out this work. Through a range of integrated projects, the institute enhances the capacity of the nation to engage our differences with greater civility and respect so that Congress can more effectively address the challenges we face by passing legislation that can attract broad, cross-partisan public support.