Trust for Civic Life
Democracy starts with neighbors showing up for each other, and the Trust for Civic Life funds the local groups that make that happen across rural America.
Who they are.
The Trust for Civic Life is a national philanthropic collaborative that invests in local organizations that help Americans connect, solve problems, and build a shared future together. They believe the health of our democracy starts with the everyday habits of civic life, such as showing up for your neighbors, working across differences, and making your town a better place to live.
The Trust identifies and funds “Civic Hubs,” which are organizations in rural and underserved communities that create the conditions for more people to get involved and take action where they live. Alta Futures was an early funder and learning partner.
Why we believe in the leader.
The Trust is led by Charlie Brown, who launched it in 2024 as a funder collaborative backing locally-led efforts that bring rural Americans together to solve the problems they care about most. Charlie grew up in West Virginia, where he saw what small, resourceful communities can do with room to lead, and that shapes how the Trust works. It has since raised over $70M and moved over $27M in fast, flexible capital to over 250 under-the-radar local groups and projects, work that put Charlie on the 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy list. He was at Alta Futures before that, so we got firsthand experience of his operational clarity, his ability to move fluidly between rural communities and national philanthropy, and his warmth and pragmatism as a leader.
Why the work got us excited.
The Trust for Civic Life provides a novel approach to a real, systemic problem: small, community-led groups doing the most important work in rural America are often challenging for national funders to find and hard to verify from afar. The Trust solves this challenge with a network of local nominators on the ground and multi-year, unrestricted funding. The model is built on trusting the people closest to the problem, and two and a half years in, we are seeing it work. The Trust has invested nearly $27 million in Civic Hubs across rural America, and their grantees have secured a nearly 2:1 match from regional and local funders.
“Change happens when people believe their actions can directly improve their lives, the lives of their family and friends, and their community. This sense of agency is the foundation of the American dream and grows when people have local opportunities to work with neighbors from all walks of life to solve the problems that matter most to them.”
— Charlie Brown
