About
Project 2026 is a comprehensive, multi-phase effort aimed at facilitating citizen flourishing along the life course. Our work is based on the belief, stated in the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, that all humans are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Why
As Americans, we are fortunate to live in a country founded on these ideals, but unfortunately, we have fallen short of realizing them for all members of our society. Project 2026 is dedicated to working towards a future in which these principles are fully realized, and all Americans are able to pursue their own happiness and well-being.
Vision
Project 2026 envisions an active, well informed citizenry engaged in a thriving American democracy that facilitates an opportunity for all Americans to flourish.
Mission
Our mission is simple but transformative: to ensure that the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—first envisioned in 1776—are fully realized through an informed, empowered citizenry. We believe that democracy is not only about institutions or elections; it’s about people showing up—with purpose, skill, and solidarity—to co-create a just and flourishing society.
With the help of new technologies and crowd-powered solutions, and through initiatives like Moonshot Press, the Citizen Toolbox, and Thrive in Montco PA, we’re working to rebuild trust, renew participation, and reimagine the role of the citizen in the 21st century.
What is at Stake
Project 2026 is launched into a polarized American public that has lost faith in government; views fellow citizens as enemies; political representatives as corrupt; the system as rigged. Where many fellow citizens were excluded from participation in the national enterprise, denied a voice and marginalized. An information environment shaped by media and social media players that promote conflict and divisiveness further exacerbates the toxic environment.
America has not yet fully delivered on the radical promise declared in 1776: that all people are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Despite progress, we face growing inequality, deep political division, declining trust in institutions, and the isolating sense that public life no longer belongs to the people. The rise of new technologies—particularly artificial intelligence—further accelerates these shifts, threatening to concentrate power unless guided by democratic values.
Theory of Change
Project 2026 is grounded in the belief that the citizen is sovereign.
We are reclaiming the founding vision of 1776 and reimagining it to meet the realities of the 21st century—with its new risks, new tools, and new possibilities. Our work is shaped by the needs of future generations and powered by innovations like artificial intelligence, which we aim to harness for the common good.
Our theory of change begins with a paradigm shift: when citizens reclaim their rightful place in the political ecosystem, democracy is not only renewed—it becomes more just, more generative, and more future-facing.
Our Strategy in Action
We work across scales—from national forums to local pilots—to demonstrate what 21st-century democracy can look like in practice:
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The Citizen Toolbox – A suite of digital and physical tools that make engagement easier, smarter, and more meaningful
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Moonshot Press – A public-interest media and storytelling and deliberation platforms that informs, provokes, and connects
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Signature Initiatives – Including The First 1,000 Days Initiative, The People's Commission to Make Our Children Healthy, and The 2026 Election Initiative
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National Forums – Public conversations on democracy, justice, health, AI, and generational responsibility
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Local Pilots – Like Thrive in Montco PA, which test, refine, and scale citizen-led models of democratic participation and public health
Our Values
We are:
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Utopian and practical – Bold in vision, grounded in action
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Citizen-focused and solution-oriented – Driven by public insight, not partisanship
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Salutogenic – Promoting health and human flourishing at every stage of life
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Equity-centered, inclusive, and nonpartisan – Welcoming all who share the work
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Interdisciplinary – Drawing from philosophy, political theory, network science, behavioral research, and beyond
Invitation
Project 2026 is not just a civic initiative—it’s a shared platform for public renewal.
We invite Americans of every age, background, and belief to help close the gap between the country we are and the country we aspire to be. Together, we can rebuild trust, forge new pathways for participation, and make democracy live up to its founding promise.
The real question isn't only What's broken?
It’s this:
What can we build—together—to create the future we were promised?