Building Common Ground Survey

This survey was conducted by Hattaway Communications from September 30 to October 8, 2025, to better understand how Americans think about connecting and collaborating across differences and the role that foundations should play.

1,000 American adults—nationally representative by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and region—were recruited and completed the surveyed online.
Respondents answered questions on their aspirations and concerns for America, attitudes towards foundations, attitudes towards work to collaborate across differences, and opinion on the role foundations should play in this work.

Key findings include:

89% of Americans support working across differences (92% Democrats, 85% Independents, 87% Republicans)
80% believe charitable foundations should model that collaboration
Over 75% say they remain optimistic about the future
Fewer than 25% believe the country is “hopelessly divided”
93% believe that people collaborate across differences to work together to solve hard problems

Download the document for full survey findings.