Nurturing our Civic Health

The Foundation’s purpose is to make New Hampshire a more just, sustainable and vibrant community where everyone can thrive. Because when a community can draw on the potential of every person, it will be a healthy, happier, more prosperous and better place for everyone to live.

It’s easy to draw a straight line between that aspiration and public and individual health, basic needs like housing, environmental protection, education, arts and economic opportunity. That’s why we are humbled and proud to support and partner with some 2,000 nonprofits doing work in those areas in every community, every year.

But what about “civic health?” Where does that fit in?

Everywhere.

Civic health undergirds every issue and is a good in and of itself: People are more productive and happy when they are informed, welcomed and respected.

We are living in a time of polarization and disinformation — and where a small but vocal minority is increasingly hostile to the people and institutions dedicated to practicing and protecting democracy at all levels. That is all undeniable.

But just look around. It’s equally true that people and organizations are working tirelessly and in countless ways to repair our civic life, sustain our democracy and build a sense of belonging. Our most recent issue of Purpose illustrates just a few examples.

Our lead story on page six shows how local officials and volunteers in Milford keep democracy running smoothly, how nonprofits are nurturing civic health, how young people and New Americans are leaning in and how 20 local media outlets are collaborating to help Granite Staters understand critical issues and make informed decisions.

In these pages you will also meet students who are getting the education that will help them thrive in their communities thanks to generous scholarship donors; volunteers in Nashua converting a former youth camp to a permanent fund to benefit children and families; and Raude Raychel and Hershey Hirschkop, who are working tirelessly on behalf of our communities. All of it contributes to civic health — to making our New Hampshire a community where everyone can thrive.

     Read Purpose Fall/Winter 2022 (PDF)