About Center for Governmental Studies

Background

The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS), founded in 1983, empowers citizens to become more engaged in their communities, state and local governments. CGS identifies policy problems, conducts factual and legal research, builds consensus for reforms, drafts model laws, shapes public opinion, educates the public and communicates with elected and opinion leaders.

CGS was established by Tracy Westen, an expert in government, public interest law, teaching and media reform, and Robert Stern, an expert in government, public interest law and campaign finance reform.

Mission

CGS helps civic organizations, decision-makers and the media to strengthen democracy and improve government processes by providing rigorous research, nonpartisan analysis, strategic consulting and innovative media models of public information and civic engagement.

Expertise

CGS is an experienced, respected leader in political reform and community development. For nearly 25 years, CGS has received critical acclaim from community leaders, legislators, media, civic organizations and activists.

CGS has organized blue-ribbon commissions and published numerous groundbreaking books and reports. These address legislative and judicial campaign financing, media coverage of governmental institutions, ballot initiatives, redistricting, term limits, higher education, state budgeting, environmentally sustainable communities and healthcare.

Funders

The Center for Governmental Studies thanks the generous funders whose support has made CGS' work possible. CGS, a non-profit organization, relies on foundation and individual donor support. CGS welcomes your financial contributions. If you would like to support CGS efforts to improve democracy, please click here.

A sincere thank you to the foundations listed below that have supported CGS' groundbreaking work over the years.

• The Ahmanson Foundation
• ARCA Foundation
• Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Inc.
• Burton G. Bettingen Corporation
• California Community Foundation
• The California Endowment
• California HealthCare Foundation
• The California Wellness Foundation
• Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Stephen Case Foundation
• Columbia Foundation
• The Consumer Education Fund of California
• The Nathan Cummings Foundation, Inc.
• Earth Pledge Foundation
• Ford Foundation
• Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation
• The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
• The John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation
• The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• HKH Foundation
• The James Irvine Foundation
• JEHT Foundation
• The Joyce Foundation
• The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
• The League of Women Voters Foundation
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
• The John and Mary R. Markle Foundation
• Miller and Jeannette Nichols Foundation
• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
• Open Society Institute
• Pacific Bell Foundation
• The David and Lucille Packard Foundation
• The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
• The Penney Family Fund
• Public Campaign Foundation
• The QueensCare Foundation
• Charles H. Revson Foundation, Inc.
• Rockefeller Brothers Fund
• Rockefeller Family Fund
• The Rockefeller Foundation
• The Florence and John Schumman Foundation
• Sierra Health Foundation
• Spring Street Foundation
• Stern Family Foundation of Virginia
• S. Mark Taper Foundation
• Task Foundation, Inc.
• Weave Foundation
• Weingart Foundation