Welcome to the newly-redesigned Civic Federation website, the digital voice of our organization. Here you can find our publications, as well as our new blog and multimedia content, all available free of charge. All Federation content is now more easily accessible by topic and searchable by date, issue, content type, and many other categories. Information about the new features available through this site, including the section dedicated to our new research institute, the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability, is available on the “Help” page.

As the Civic Federation enhances its web presence, our 115-year commitment to the evidence-based, non-partisan mission of our founders remains strong. Just as when the Federation was founded in 1894 by civic and business leaders Jane Addams, Bertha Palmer and Lyman Gage, today the top businesses and service firms in Illinois assist the Civic Federation as members of our Board of Directors.

Board members are integral to our work in support of rational tax policy, fiscal reform, and improved government efficiency. Their independent perspective and expertise is crucial to the execution of our mission to provide a non-partisan, objective perspective on State and local government tax and finance issues.

The Civic Federation has a well-earned reputation for producing authoritative research, providing reliable information, and taking action on public finance issues throughout the Chicago area and State of Illinois. We are proud to be a trusted resource to public officials, the media, and the general public for independent information on the most challenging issues facing our governments.

I encourage you to consider membership in the Civic Federation. You can visit our “Membership” page for more information about joining our organization. Your support and participation will continue a century-long tradition of Chicago’s business leaders working together to improve government.

Sincerely,

Laurence J. Msall
President
The Civic Federation