The Kettering Foundation is a US-based

non-partisan Nonpartisanship, also known as nonpartisanism, is a lack of affiliation with a political party and a lack of political bias. While an ''Oxford English Dictionary'' definition of ''partisan'' includes adherents of a party, cause, person, etc., ...

research foundation founded in 1927 by Charles F. Kettering that works to inspire and connect individuals and organizations to advance thriving and inclusive democracies around the globe. The foundation believes that "all people belong and have the right to engage in and shape a democracy that serves them." The foundation's current president and CEO since April 2022 is Sharon L. Davies. She succeeded F. David Mathews who presided over the foundation from 1981 to 2022. Past notable board members have included Lisle Carter, Jr., Katherine W. Fanning, Mary Futrell, Daniel Kemmis, and Daniel Yankelovich. Current board members: * Sharon L. Davies, President & CEO * Ed Dorn * Beverly Wade Hogan * Les Ihara Jr. * Peter Levine * Sherry Magill (Chair) * Hank Meijer * Suzanne Morse Moomaw * Edwin C. Moses * Roberto Saba

History

The foundation was established in 1927 in

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...

, with the mission of conducting scientific research for the betterment of humanity. Founded by Charles Franklin Kettering, a prolific inventor and former

General Motors General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. The company is most known for owning and manufacturing f ...

executive, the foundation initially focused on areas aligned with his interests, including science education, energy conservation, and medical research. Dayton, a hub of innovation, was a fitting home for the foundation, given its connection to pioneering advancements such as the Wright brothers’ early aviation work. After Kettering’s passing in 1958, the foundation expanded its focus to address societal needs, shifting its research toward primary and secondary education. By 1968, it moved away from traditional

grantmaking A grant is a fund given by a person or organization, often a public body, charitable foundation, a specialised grant-making institution, or in some cases a business with a corporate social responsibility mission, to an individual or another e ...

to concentrate on its own research, with prominent figures such as

George Gallup George Horace Gallup (November 18, 1901 – July 26, 1984) was an American pioneer of survey sampling techniques and inventor of the Gallup poll, a statistics, statistically-based survey sampling, survey sampled measure of opinion polls, public ...

and Norman Cousins influencing its direction. This period saw the foundation explore topics such as citizen participation, international relations, and the role of journalism in public discourse.

In the 1980s, under the leadership of F. David Mathews, the foundation deepened its commitment to democratic engagement by experimenting with public deliberation, bringing citizens together to discuss pressing societal issues. It also collaborated with educators and community leaders to explore the role of active citizenship in democracy. As it entered the 21st century, the foundation refined its research around the question of how to make democracy function effectively. 20240920_Sharon_Davies_01

Today, under the leadership of Sharon L. Davies, it continues to champion inclusive democracy by fostering citizen engagement, ensuring government accountability, and resisting authoritarianism.

Focus Areas

The foundation has five primary research focus areas: # Defending Inclusive Democracy # Information for a Democratic Society # Democracy and Community # Democracy and the Arts # Democracy around the Globe

Fellowships

The foundation awards several

fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

ships to support its mission. Kettering Foundation fellows are distinguished global leaders and experts dedicated to addressing the most pressing challenges facing democracy.

The Katherine W. Fanning Fellowship in Journalism and Democracy

Named in honor Katherine “Kay” W. Fanning, a trailblazing newspaper editor and publisher who played a significant role on the Kettering Foundation’s board of directors for 12 years, including serving as chair from 1994 to 1996. In August 2023, the foundation awarded its Katherine W. Fanning Fellowship in Journalism and Democracy to

Judy Woodruff Judy Carline Woodruff (born November 20, 1946) is an American broadcast journalist who has worked in local, network, cable, and public television news since 1970. She was the anchor and managing editor of the ''PBS NewsHour'' through the end of 20 ...

, veteran correspondent and former anchor and managing editor of ''

PBS NewsHour ''PBS News Hour'', previously stylized as ''PBS NewsHour'', is the news division of PBS and an American daily evening news broadcasting#television, television news program broadcast on over 350 PBS Network affiliate#Member stations, member stat ...

''.

The Charles F. Kettering Global Fellowship

The Charles F. Kettering Global Fellowship brings together international leaders from fields like academia, civil society, and journalism to support the foundation’s work on democracy. List of 2025 Charles F. Kettering Global Fellows: * Koketso Moeti * Chris Njeri Muriithi * Flávia Pellegrino * Gábor Scheiring * Ivan Vejvoda

The David Mathews Democracy Fellowship Award

Named in honor of David Mathews, who served as the foundation's president and CEO from 1981 to 2022. In August 2023, the foundation awarded its first David Mathews Democracy Fellowship to Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of Kansas and a cabinet member in the

Obama administration Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois, took office following his victory over Republican nomine ...

The Ruth Yellowhawk Fellowship

Named in honor of Ruth Yellowhawk, who was a radio journalist and storyteller dedicated to community-centered reporting. She worked with the foundation from 1997 to 2010. In January 2025, the foundation awarded its Ruth Yellowhawk Fellowship to American Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.

Senior Fellows

Kettering Foundation senior fellows collaborate with the foundation to further its mission of promoting inclusive democracy. List of 2025 Kettering Foundation Senior Fellows: * William J. Barber II * Johnnetta Betsch Cole *

James Comey James Brien Comey Jr. (; born December 14, 1960) is an American lawyer who was the seventh director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2013 until Dismissal of James Comey, his termination in May 2017. Comey was a registered Repub ...

* Neal Katyal * María Teresa Kumar *

Steven Levitsky Steven Robert Levitsky (born January 17, 1968) is an American political scientist and professor of government at Harvard University and a senior fellow for democracy at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a senior fellow at the Kette ...

* Sarah Longwell * J. Michael Luttig *

Chris Matthews Christopher John Matthews (born December 17, 1945) is an American political commentator, retired talk show host, and author. Matthews hosted his weeknight hour-long talk show, ''Hardball with Chris Matthews'', on America's Talking and later on M ...

* Maureen O’Connor * David Pepper * Kelley Robinson * Alexander Vindman *

Christine Todd Whitman Christine Temple Whitman (; born September 26, 1946) is an American politician and author who served as the 50th governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001 and as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush ...

References

External links

Kettering Foundation website
{{Authority control Political and economic research foundations based in the United States Organizations established in 1927 Kettering, Ohio Foundation, Kettering