Edward M. Kennedy Institute Receives $500,000 Grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York

Funding will support expansion of flagship civic education program to students across the country

April 9, 2026 (Boston, MA) – The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate announced today that the organization has been named a recipient of a $500,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, for project support of their flagship in-person Senate Immersion Module (SIM) and launch of a new virtual experience for students. These modules are offered as part of a robust civic education program for K-12 and college students that has welcomed over 170,000 young people and over 14,000 educators from 45 states since the Kennedy Institute’s founding in 2015.

“We are grateful for Carnegie Corporation support to expand the reach of our Senate Immersion Module to more students, including those in under-resourced communities and who cannot travel to our Boston location,” said Interim CEO Joe Hale. 

Sarah Yezzi, Chief Education Officer, noted, “Our aim is to ensure that our experiential civic learning program enhances the understanding of democratic processes while building lifelong skills for civil engagement.”

 

The Kennedy Institute offers high-quality expertly facilitated, immersive, legislative role-play simulations in the Institute’s full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber. These programs give students hands-on opportunities to practice and engage in our democratic processes while deepening their understanding of vital national issues. The Institute’s flagship civic education program is the SIM, a technology-supported Senate simulation that puts students in grades 8-12 at the center of legislative decision-making.

 

In addition to the SIM, the Kennedy Institute currently offers 14 different civic education programs for educators to choose from, which include introducing real-world topics such as AI regulation, pathways to citizenship and farming subsidies for students to debate and negotiate as “senators for the day”. Programs are grade-level appropriate, student centered, curriculum-standards aligned, and supported by free classroom resources, such as pre-visit lessons, negotiation activities and civil discourse materials.

 

###

About the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

Founded in 2015, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. Home to the only full-scale replica of the United States Senate in the world, the Kennedy Institute also facilitates experiential civic education programs that has to date served nearly 200,000 students nationally. Learn more at emkinstitute.org.

 

About the Carnegie Corporation of New York

Carnegie Corporation of New York was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. Today the foundation works to reduce political polarization through philanthropic support for the issues that Carnegie considered most important: education, democracy, and peace.