The #2021APPAM Fall Research Conference will feature some fantastic sponsors from across the policy research spectrum. Today we're shining a spotlight on the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
What is the mission of your organization?
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is a non-partisan organization dedicated to addressing America’s long-term fiscal challenges to ensure a better economic future. Our mission is to increase public awareness of the nature and urgency of the key fiscal challenges threatening America's future and to accelerate action on them. To address these challenges successfully, we work to bring Americans together to find and implement sensible, long-term solutions that transcend age, party lines, and ideological divides in order to achieve real results.
Founded by Pete Peterson and led by Chairman and CEO Michael Peterson, the Foundation works with leading policy experts, elected officials, and the public to build support for solutions to put America on a sustainable fiscal path.
What are your strongest areas of work?
The Peterson Foundation engages in grant-making, partnerships and research to educate and involve Americans from a variety of perspectives.
A key part of building momentum to address our fiscal and economic challenges is educating Americans, raising awareness and inspiring action. The Peterson Foundation works to engage experts, elected officials and citizens alike, building consensus and the will to advance policy reforms that support a vibrant economic future.
A core component of this work is providing accurate and timely information to help policymakers, journalists, and the public develop a full understanding of the factors influencing our nation’s fiscal and economic health. We provide a robust selection of research and analyses on fiscal and economic trends, including reports produced by our research staff as well as outside experts. We are an un-biased source of information, presenting key facts and adding insights via substantive resources including charts, analyses, explainers, blog posts, infographics and more.
We also partner with and provide grants to respected organizations to support fiscal and economic research and advance new ideas from experts across the political spectrum. Grantees include research organizations, foundations, universities, associations, and other not-for-profit organizations.
In the past year, what has been the most influential work from your researchers?
Coronavirus State Funding Tool
During the pandemic, the Foundation has served as a go to resource tracking the actions of our leaders and providing insights on the state of America’s fiscal and economic outlook. In 2020, we launched the Coronavirus State Funding Tool, which is an interactive map detailing the state-by-state breakdown of federal coronavirus aid. It has become a valuable nonpartisan resource for many during the pandemic.
Northwestern University’s Peter G. Peterson Foundation Pandemic Response Policy Research Fund
In 2021, we helped establish the Peter G. Peterson Foundation Pandemic Response Policy Research Fund at Northwestern University. Although the pandemic has been devastating for our nation, we are hopeful this initiative can help illuminate key lessons learned to improve policy and preparedness going forward. The grant will support research to understand various policy responses to the coronavirus pandemic, including assessments of differing state-by-state approaches, economic impact modeling, and healthcare delivery efficiencies.