Dear Friends,

A new political landscape means new opportunities, and Reform for Illinois is ready. For 20 years, we've been leading the charge for a stronger democracy, taking on systemic corruption and developing transformative policy solutions to make our government work better for everyone. 

This has been an eventful six months for RFI. We were honored to serve onMayor Lori Lightfoot's Good Governance Transition Committee.We've deepened our relationships with community partners to raise awareness of the critical changes needed in our city and state. We’ve also been working with lawmakers in Springfield on significant legislation to address the role of money in politics, improve voter access and engagement, and change the way ethics investigations are handled in the state legislature.

AsJuly approaches, so does the end of our fiscal year at RFI. Donors like you share our commitment to rebuild trust in our local and state government.

We know that with your help, we can reach our donation goal of $10,000.

We couldn’t do this important work without you. Thank you for supporting our fight for a more ethical and equitable Illinois. 

WHY OUR WORK IS IMPORTANT

We provide a critical service to the people of Illinois by advocating for structural reforms that increase public voice in government and shed light on the role money plays in our political system.  At RFI, we’re developing policies that will:

  • Minimize the corruptive role of money in politics
  • Empower people of lower economic backgrounds to run for public office
  • Improve trust in government
  • Increase voter engagement

WHAT YOUR DONATION SUPPORTS

  • Upgrades and expansion of the Illinois Sunshine database
  • Integrity, accountability, and transparency in our political system
  • Advocacy for structural reforms that will reshape our campaign finance system in Chicago and Illinois
  • Partnerships and public events with organizations similarly committed to equity-focused policy solutions
  • Nonpartisan research and civic engagement that empowers the public to participate in government
  • Community-informed political research and advocacy. In the next few months, we will connect with underrepresented communities in Chicago and facilitate discussions that will inform our election-reform policy work at RFI.
  • Minimize the corruptive role of money in politics
  • Empower people of lower economic backgrounds to run for public office
  • Improve trust in government
  • Increase voter engagement

Please see below for more information regarding our organization and accomplishments over the past year.

PUBLISHED RESEARCH AND ARTICLES

Over the past year, we have published twenty-eight articles and have appeared in a total of sixty-eight media outlets. Our publications have advocated to reform for money in politics, shined a light on dark money in politics, detailed the prominence of self-funding among mayoral candidates , tracked the changing tides among the political financiers of Mayor Lightfoot’s runoff election, and more.

PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENTS

Additionally, we have partnered with several local political advocacy organizations such as the League of Women Voters of Illinois, and local political and business leaders to put on events geared to raise awareness about current political issues and reform initiatives. Through events such as our, Equal Voices: HR1 and Campaign Finance Reform in Illinois event as well as our Illinois Women Empowered we have continued to stake our place on the forefront of nonpartisan political advocacy and reform.

Our partnerships culminated in June with our annual fundraiser luncheon. We hosted Mayor Lori Lightfoot, State Senator Bush, and State Senator Peters for a two-part conversation on equity-focused policy for our city and state. 

LEGISLATION

Over the past six months, we have collaborated with a diverse group of state senators to further our mission of a more ethical and equitable Illinois government. Our legislation includes:

  • Senate Bill 1733 (sponsored by Sen. Heather Steans), propose a Small Donor Matching system that would use public dollars to fund elections, amplify the voices of small donors, and level the playing field for candidates to pursue public office.
  • Senate Bill 1503 (sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters), which would establishe a mechanism for local election authorities to share voter outreach methods and other election administration best practices
  • Senate Bill 1426 (sponsored by Sen. Melinda Bush), which would increase the transparency, independence, and fairness of ethics investigations in the Illinois General Assembly.

THANK YOU

Without the support of donors like you the important services that we provide to the state of Illinois would go undone. Achieving important political reform is not a simple bar to be accomplished overnight. This works takes a steadfast commitment to coalition work our grassroots partners, civic engagement events with a diverse audience, and consistent political pressure to bring about critical structural and substantive changes to our political system. 

Thank you for your continued support! 

-Reform for Illinois 

 

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