Kettering Foundation to Host 2026 Summer Institute of Civic Studies in Dayton

The Kettering Foundation will host the 2026 Summer Institute of Civic Studies at its Dayton, Ohio, campus from August 2 to 8, bringing together scholars, graduate students, and civic practitioners for an intensive interdisciplinary seminar on democracy, community, and civic engagement. The program combines structured seminar discussions with community visits in Dayton, grounded in the civic studies tradition established by leading democratic theorists. Participation is free, with need-based travel stipends available, and applications are open on a rolling basis through April 30, 2026. For an organization like NCDD whose mission centers on advancing dialogue and deliberation, the Summer Institute represents a meaningful convergence point where theory, practice, and cross-sector civic relationships are built simultaneously.

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The Kettering Foundation has announced it will host the 2026 Summer Institute of Civic Studies (SICS) at its Dayton, Ohio, campus from August 2 through August 8, 2026. The intensive, in-person seminar brings together faculty, advanced graduate students, and practitioners from fields spanning higher education, nonprofits, philanthropy, community organizing, and civic and religious leadership. Rooted in the civic studies tradition established by a 2007 framing statement authored by scholars including Harry Boyte, Jane Mansbridge, and Elinor Ostrom, the Institute is designed to immerse participants in the literature and lived practice of democratic community life. The 2026 gathering marks the program's return to a U.S. location after recent iterations in Ukraine, Germany, Spain, and Virginia.

The week-long program combines seminar-style discussion groups with direct community engagement in Dayton, connecting participants with residents and organizations working at the intersection of civic life and democracy. Attendees are expected to arrive prepared, with 10 to 15 hours of pre-Institute reading required before arrival. Central framing questions guide the week's inquiry, exploring how communities address value disagreements and power disparities, what conditions allow voluntary civic organizations to succeed, and what institutional structures best support democratic participation. Participation is free, with all meals provided, though participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging; limited need-based stipends are available.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through April 30, 2026, with acceptances communicated no later than May 8. Kettering has noted that in-person attendance requirements and a full-week commitment present real access barriers, and the Foundation has indicated a willingness to work with accepted participants who have caregiving, financial, physical, or other needs to reduce those barriers where feasible. The Institute represents a significant annual opportunity for practitioners and scholars to deepen their civic studies knowledge, form cross-sector relationships, and contribute to an ongoing learning community centered on democratic renewal.
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Learn more: 2026 Summer Institute of Civic Studies at kettering.org/summer-institute-of-civic-studies-2026