Education and
Awareness

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 support and the will to advance policy reforms that support a vibrant economic future.

Through a range of innovative outreach, the Foundation raises the level of understanding of complex issues, driving a thoughtful national dialogue on pathways to fiscal stability and economic growth. Our education and engagement programs demonstrate that there is bipartisan support among Americans for a comprehensive approach to solving our fiscal problems.

Convening Thought Leaders

One important way we raise awareness and educate Americans is through our many events, including our signature gathering the Fiscal Summit. The Foundation regularly convenes policy leaders, experts, and elected officials from across the political and ideological spectrum to discuss fiscal and economic issues and policy solutions.

Through strategic sponsorship of events like the Politico Playbook Interview series, the Peterson Foundation highlights a range of voices in the conversation about our fiscal and economic future, including top leaders from Capitol Hill and the business community. We also host Congressional briefings and meetings with leaders in Washington and across the country, fostering thoughtful dialogue and debate about ways to grow and strengthen our economy.

Taking the Pulse

The Fiscal Confidence Index is a monthly survey that provides policymakers, reporters, and the general public with a regular and current measurement of how Americans view the nation's fiscal condition and Washington’s progress in addressing it.

Empowering College Students

Up to Us is an innovative nationwide campus competition that empowers students to educate their peers on our long-term national debt, how it could affect their economic opportunities, and what their generation can do to have a voice in raising awareness of our fiscal challenges. Students from across the country compete by designing and running fun, thought-provoking campaigns to raise awareness about the national debt.

The PGPF Fiscal Internship program offers full-time paid internships to a select group of college and graduate school students interested in fiscal policy. Interns live and work in Washington D.C. for ten weeks during the summer, while gaining professional experience, skills, and contacts that will serve them throughout their careers. Past participating organizations have included:

Reaching Americans

The Peterson Foundation produces a range of print, digital, and television advertising campaigns aimed at increasing the understanding of how solving our nation’s long-term fiscal challenges can enhance economic growth, opportunity and mobility. During the 2016 election, the Foundation encouraged voters to reach out to candidates to ask them for their fiscal plans. The integrated campaign included digital, radio, and television ads. As a result, more than 80,000 tweets and emails were sent to candidates.

The Peterson Foundation engages with a lively community through its various social media platforms, including:

Content Creation

Peterson Foundation infographics, explainers, and videos help explain complex policy issues using more accessible presentations, combining key data points with illustrative visuals.

Many of our materials — like the Guide to Complex Budget Terms and Processes — serve as valuable reference materials for both policy insiders and lay audiences. Our new series of infographics, Fiscal Issues Illustrated, helps put some of today’s most pressing fiscal debates into context.