Civic Nebraska creates a more modern and robust democracy for all Nebraskans.
Built to meet this moment
Civic Nebraska combines grassroots energy with strategic know-how to protect, strengthen, and expand democratic life across Nebraska. In a landscape full of narrowly focused or nationally driven efforts, we stand out for our local roots, our breadth of programming, and our deep commitment to building the long-term civic infrastructure for our communities to thrive.
Three programs. One mission.
Most civic organizations work within a single lane: voting access, civic education, or community engagement. Civic Nebraska integrates all three. Our nonpartisan programs to protect and expand voting rights are matched by immersive, hands-on civic learning for young people and a statewide focus on civic health: the trust, belonging, and connection that bind communities together. These parallel efforts reinforce one another, creating a stronger foundation for democracy in both the short and long term.
Rooted in Nebraska
Civic Nebraska was founded in and for Nebraska. It reflects and responds to the state’s unique civic identity: a one-house, officially nonpartisan Legislature; a mix of rural, urban, and suburban communities; a longstanding culture of volunteerism; and one of the most distinctive electoral systems in the nation. Because of this, our strategies are never one-size-fits-all. Instead, we work directly with communities to build programs that make sense for their geography, history, and needs, whether that’s hosting a Capitol Experience Day for a rural middle school or organizing voting rights efforts in Omaha.
We believe that democratic change is both a science and an art. That’s why we pair research, such as regular publication of the Nebraska Civic Health Index, with deep relationship-building. We use data to track civic trends and evaluate progress, and also center people’s stories, identities, and lived experiences. From statewide research to one-on-one organizing right where people are, Civic Nebraska operates with both precision and heart.
Investing in civic infrastructure
Unlike advocacy groups that move from one issue to the next, Civic Nebraska is focused on the long game. We build civic infrastructure: trained election observers who protect voters’ rights on Election Day, volunteer networks that mobilize neighbors in moments of need, community news watchers who track local government decisions through initiatives like the Documenters, and spaces for regular civic reflection such as Civic Saturdays.
Our work is about creating habits, systems, and relationships that make democratic participation possible and sustainable for generations. From developing youth civic leadership programs to advocating at the statehouse for pro-voter policies, we invest in the underlying structures that keep our democracy strong, not just for today’s challenges, but for the decades ahead.
A nonpartisan bridge in a divided time
Civic Nebraska is proudly nonpartisan. We are committed not to short-term political outcomes, but to our state’s and nation’s democratic values. We bring people together across ideological and geographic divides and invite them into the ongoing work of democracy. We help Nebraskans disagree better, connect more meaningfully, and remember what it means to live in a shared civic home.
Civic Nebraska is strategic, hopeful, and deeply practical, building power from the ground up through education, organizing, storytelling, and care. We know that democracy isn’t something that happens to us; it’s something we build together. In communities across Nebraska, Civic Nebraska is doing just that.
Why a honeybee?
Civic Nebraska’s mascot is the noble honeybee, one of the most commonly known and ubiquitous friendly flyers. It’s a common misperception that bee societies are monarchies; in actuality, honeybees make decisions collectively and democratically. Every year, faced with the task of choosing and traveling to a new home, they undergo a process that includes collective fact-finding, vigorous debate, and consensus-building.
We believe that what works for bees also can work for humans. Decision-making and moving forward together must include debate, shared interests, mutual respect, diverse solutions, and faith that the majority can be counted on for a wise resolution. Such prosocial aspects are what makes democracy the most powerful organizing force in human history – and like our winged friends, it’s what we seek to create and sustain at Civic Nebraska.
