Trust in American Institutions Challenge

Trust in American Institutions Challenge is sponsored by Lever for Change. A challenge aimed at identifying and supporting innovative solutions to strengthen trust in American institutions, with funding amounts varying based on the proposal's scope and impact.

The Trust in American Institutions Challenge - Lever for Change The Trust in American Institutions Challenge The $10 million Trust in American Institutions Challenge was an open call designed to scale a bold solution that will build and restore public trust in the core institutions that form the pillars of our society in the United States. CalMatters was selected as the awardee on April 14, 2026.

On December 12, 2024, Reid Hoffman and Lever for Change launched The Trust in American Institutions Challenge, an open call designed to scale a bold solution that will build and restore public trust in the core institutions that form the pillars of our society in the United States. On April 14, 2026, Reid Hoffman and Lever for Change awarded $9 million to CalMatters through The Trust in American Institutions Challenge.

As statehouse reporting has declined, independent oversight has weakened, and voters have fewer opportunities to engage with their representatives, while lobbyists maintain constant access. CalMatters’ “Digital Democracy: Restoring Trust in Government” platform addresses this gap by giving the public and journalists direct access to comprehensive legislative data in one place: every vote cast, every dollar donated, every word spoken.

Custom AI tools analyze the data to surface patterns and generate story leads, giving reporters a head start and strengthening accountability. The platform brings together the process, finances, and voting behavior of elected officials in one public, easy-to-use platform that puts power back in the hands of voters. Digital Democracy will strengthen public trust by making government transparent, accessible, and accountable.

Proven in California and successfully adapted in Hawaii, the platform will expand to additional states and levels of government while continuing to improve usability and public access.

On September 30, 2025, Reid Hoffman and Lever for Change announced five finalists for The Trust in American Institutions Challenge, a $10 million open call designed to scale a bold solution that will build and restore public trust in the core institutions that form the pillars of our society in the United States.

As public trust in institutions continues to reach historical lows, each of the five finalists have identified key leverage points to renew, rebuild, and/or establish trust in core institutions across the country. In doing so, they seek to strengthen the ties Americans have to one another, the health of our communities, and the future of American democracy.

The five finalists are listed below in alphabetical order: American Journalism Project , Rebuilding Local News to Restore Trust and Reunite American Communities CalMatters , Digital Democracy: Restoring Trust in Local Government Recidiviz , Retooling Corrections to be Responsive to Americans Results for America , See It to Believe It: Building Government Trust Through Results Transcend Inc. , Co-designing Education: Community Voices to Rebuild Trust in Public Schools “These five finalists offer a powerful roadmap for building trust in the institutions that shape our daily lives, and they hold the potential to reshape how people engage with and believe in the systems that serve them.

”- Cecilia Conrad, CEO, Lever for Change The finalists represent a diverse breadth of backgrounds and were selected based on the four Challenge criteria: whether they were bold, transformative, scalable, and durable in their approaches. Data shows that public trust in public schools, government bodies, the media, and the medical system has declined significantly since 2015.

This decline in trust has far-reaching ripple effects, both for our present and for our future, particularly in light of the polarized political landscape of the recent U.S. presidential election. It can result in fewer resources being devoted to these institutions—as is the case of many libraries, where budget cuts mean fewer services, including after-school programming and free Wi-Fi, on which our communities rely.

Dwindling trust also undercuts cohesion in our physical and virtual communities, and fosters an environment in which polarization can thrive. Our ties to one another, the health of our communities, and the future of our democracy are dependent on the strength of the institutions that underpin them. The Trust in American Institutions Challenge received 375 applications from organizations based in 43 states and Washington, D.

C. Applicants proposed solutions that sought to build trust in institutions – from education to government to local news – and underwent multiple rounds of review. Organizations serving people in urban areas and rural areas applied to this initiative in equal measure, underscoring that Americans have more in common than they might think.

During Participatory Review, each applicant organization reviewed the applications of four peer applicant organizations using the scoring rubric that outlines four criteria: bold, transformative, scalable, and durable in their approaches. Top-scoring proposals from Participatory Review advanced to the Evaluation Panel , where projects received additional review and comments from four Evaluation Panel Reviewers.

During the Evaluation Panel Review, proposals were assessed using the same scoring rubric. The awardee and finalists will be added to our global network , which offers ongoing learning and networking opportunities to expand the impact of their work, raise their visibility, and increase their potential to secure funding. If you’re interested in learning more or providing support to the awardee or any of the finalists, please contact us .

Total applications from 43 different states Expert reviewers participated in the Evaluation Panel Different subject areas represented across applications Non-governmental Organization/Nonprofit American Journalism Project News and public information An accomplished entrepreneur, executive, and investor, Reid Hoffman has played an integral role in building many of today’s leading consumer technology businesses including as the… Learn more about Reid Hoffman Non-governmental Organization/Nonprofit American Journalism Project News and public information Non-governmental Organization/Nonprofit Information and communications Non-governmental Organization/Nonprofit Non-governmental Organization/Nonprofit