Mission & Values
Mission & Values
Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious strategies that lead to tangible progress.
Inspired by our founders’ entrepreneurial and optimistic spirit, Pew has evolved with the times while remaining true to the Pew family’s enduring interest in research, practical knowledge, and making a difference in people’s lives.
Our mission is to:
- Improve public policy by conducting rigorous analysis, linking diverse interests to pursue common cause, and insisting on tangible results.
- Inform the public by providing useful data that illuminates the issues and trends shaping our world.
- Invigorate civic life by encouraging democratic participation and strong communities, particularly in our hometown of Philadelphia.
Our Values
Our values are based on our history, our mission, and our commitment to finding common ground. After internal discussions, we have defined and adopted these organizational values:
Equity
We believe systemic inequities must be recognized, illuminated, and addressed. We operate from a perspective of mutual respect that affirms our individual differences and our common humanity.
Humility
We recognize that our ability to create change is linked with the capacity and knowledge of our colleagues and our partners. We listen and foster understanding to serve the common good, acknowledging our mistakes and changing course when needed to learn and grow.
Impact
We are ambitious and know that the path to success often comes through incremental steps. We know our strengths and apply our efforts where we see the greatest potential to make a difference. We measure our progress and seek a high return on investment in all that we do because we know that lasting, measurable results matter for the communities we serve and support.
Inclusion
We believe that diverse voices generate better ideas. We collaborate with others because we are more effective and creative together than we are alone. We understand that adapting to multiple viewpoints is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to a welcoming and inclusive culture.
Innovation
Since its founding, Pew has been a dynamic organization, discovering and pursuing new approaches to meet the challenges of the day. We continually seek opportunities to improve the world through the work we do and the way we do it. We welcome bold ideas and the changes required to advance them.
Integrity
We provide trustworthy information to ground public discourse and advance solutions. We are committed to accuracy, and we hold ourselves accountable for conducting rigorous research and developing recommendations grounded in data and science. We keep our commitments to our colleagues and partners. We are open about what we know and don’t know, and we avoid exaggeration.
Nonpartisanship
We follow the facts wherever they lead us. When we take a stand, we do so based on evidence, not ideology or opinion. We are advocates for civil public debate, respectful dialogue, and thoughtful compromise that will lead to positive change. We remain steadfast in our belief in the power of expanding common ground and building bridges among different perspectives.
Pew is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or any other protected characteristics. Pew complies with all laws, including but not limited to anti-discrimination laws, when making business decisions such as the awarding of grants, contracts, and fellowships in the pursuit of our charitable mission.
