Join the Civic Federation

Partner with us to advance our non-partisan government research that strengthens Chicago, the State of Illinois, and the region we call home.

Join a network of civic, business, and nonprofit leaders who are shaping the future of Chicago and Illinois. Our members bring deep expertise across a wide range of sectors—and a shared passion for civic engagement, collaboration, and driving real change.

Membership includes access to a series of exclusive programs and events held throughout the year, connecting you directly with Civic Federation staff, public officials, subject-matter experts, and fellow leaders. These gatherings spark dynamic conversations, foster new partnerships, and turn bold ideas into actionable solutions for our region’s most pressing challenges. We offer several levels of membership, thoughtfully calibrated to organization type and size, individual needs, and the desired level of engagement and impact.

Reach out to us to learn more or consider making a contribution to the Civic Federation to help empower our work.

Budgets & Bevvies

The Civic Federation is building a cohort of young professionals who have the desire to be civically engaged and connected to our work. To help support their learning and grow their network, we provide an opportunity for young professionals to hear directly about our latest research, preview our next publication, and meet other members. It is also an opportunity to introduce guests of members to our work. Events feature a presentation by Civic Federation research staff and an opportunity to network, and are typically hosted by existing members.

To learn more about Budgets and Bevvies, or if you are interested in sponsoring a future event, please contact Jaye Hobart at [email protected].

Since launching Budgets and Bevvies in August 2024, we have featured the following Civic Federation research topics and reports:

Speaker Series

The Civic Federation's Speaker Series is an exclusive member programming initiative that features a guest speaker or panel discussion of high-profile civic and government leaders. They also provide our members with a chance to engage with subject matter experts and network with each other. The Civic Federation's membership is made up of civic and business leaders spanning a range of sectors. Events are typically hosted by existing members. If you are an existing member and would like to sponsor a future Speaker Series, please contact Ellen Morris Palermo at [email protected].

Past topics include:

Chicago’s Fiscal Reality: What Comes Next?
Assessing the System: A Deep-Dive Conversation on the Future of Cook County Property Tax Assessment
Fireside Chat with Congressman Mike Quigley: Chicago's Road Ahead
Navigating Chicago’s Fiscal and Economic Crossroads: A Conversation with Karen Freeman-Wilson (August 2025)
Modernizing Illinois' Sales Tax for a 21st Century Economy (April 2025)
Two Weeks In: Looking Ahead with Chicago's New Hybrid School Board (January 2025)
In Conversation with Congressman Mike Quigley (November 2025 - Board Meeting sponsored by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation)
Budgeting for Chicago’s Future (September 2024 - Board Meeting)
The Future of Transit: Breaking Down the Metropolitan Mobility Act (July 2024 - Board Meeting)

In April 2026, we launched a spinoff of our Speaker Series, Policy in Practice, which brings together practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to discuss the real-world impact of policy, break down complex topics, and incubate ideas for future action. Our inaugural event, "The State of the Nonprofit Sector: Fiscal Stability in a Volatile Moment," explored how federal volatility is affecting Illinois service delivery and where state choices matter most. The moderated discussion featured Chicago nonprofit leaders Mark Ishaug (Thresholds), Emily Sweet (Jewish United Fund), and Lauren Wright (Illinois Partners for Human Service) and was moderated by Kristin Carlson Vogen (SOCAP Global).

Chicago’s future will be decided by the work we do today to build the City we need tomorrow, even as we address the challenges inherited from the past. Visioning and building that City of tomorrow will require the energy, creativity, and commitment of a new generation of civic leaders and investors who appreciate the unique platform the Civic Federation provides as a neutral broker advancing evidence-based analysis.

The Federation’s founding mission is still relevant today as it was over 130 years ago to address concerns about the city’s economic and social challenges: Promote the responsible, effective delivery of government services. Now Chicago stands at another crossroads that calls for deep generational re-assessment of the priorities and commitments needed for building a 21st century infrastructure.

The 2037 Society is the Federation’s answer to this challenge. As we approach the bicentennial, the Society will provide strategic counsel to the Federation on key research and pressing issues that are necessary to our city’s success, such as promoting a city charter, comprehensive pension reform, recalibration of the region’s tax structure, and regional governance for critical infrastructure. Society members will also benefit from exclusive access to Federation leadership, special projects, and private briefings on our budget analyses.

Society members commit to a multi-year investment of at least $25,000, participate in relevant meetings, events, and working groups, and help identify other leaders and funders to join this important effort.

We invite you to join our efforts to ensure a generative, self-sustaining, and equitable future for Chicago. Learn more by submitting a membership information request.

To support Chicago's next generation of leaders, Civic Federation's Young Professionals is offered to potential members under the age of 35. As a Young Professional, members are invited to network and attend regular Civic Federation programs, like Speaker Series and Budgets & Bevvies, and receive access to exclusive research updates.