Policy Research

Seeking to improve and inform decision making at the federal, state, and local levels, the Foundation provides general operating support to a small portfolio of organizations across an array of issues and resources for special fiscal, demographic, and analytical projects with broad implications for domestic policy. Read our strategy

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"City Hall's Pension Spiral Worsens "

From Crain's Chicago Business
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Evaluating the FY2014 Illinois State Budget thumbnail

Evaluating the FY2014 Illinois State Budget

A report from the Civic Federation’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability supports Governor Pat Quinn’s recommended $62.4 billion FY2014 Illinois state budget for balancing revenues and expenditures without borrowing and making progress toward ... Read More
Weighing Options for Reducing Medicare Costs thumbnail

Weighing Options for Reducing Medicare Costs

With Medicare spending projected to increase to 24 percent of all federal spending by 2037, policymakers are again considering ways to curb the program’s spending growth. Read More
Access to Medicaid Increases Healthcare Use thumbnail

Access to Medicaid Increases Healthcare Use

A MacArthur-supported study recently released in The New England Journal of Medicine found that access to Medicaid increased the use of healthcare. Read More

MT @CrainsChicago: Show #Springfield how it’s done. Balance the #Illinois #budget your way w/ interactive calculator: http://t.co/TEUzagSPtf

.@TheGovLab's 'Experiment' brainstorms ways to make engagement work http://t.co/RPDrKbNrR3 Follow #GovLab for inspirations from Day 2.

"New Community Planning Game Attracts Youth"

From Nonprofit Quarterly
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Civic Federation Releases Illinois State Budget Projections thumbnail

Civic Federation Releases Illinois State Budget Projections

The Roadmap shows the state is on track to accumulate nearly $22 billion in unpaid bills by FY2018 unless action is taken to curb rising pension costs. Read More

Staff

Portrait of Julia M. Stasch

Julia M. Stasch

Vice President, U.S. Programs
Portrait of Valerie Chang

Valerie Chang

Director for Policy Research
Portrait of Tara Magner

Tara Magner

Program Officer
Portrait of Lucy Blanco

Lucy Blanco

Program Associate
Portrait of Janice A. Dunbar

Janice A. Dunbar

Assistant Manager of Grants and Budget
Portrait of Beth Gutelius

Beth Gutelius

Research Assistant
Portrait of Gerry Sims

Gerry Sims

Program Associate