Our Story

During a tumultuous time brought about by the Vietnam War and anti-war protests, Close Up’s founder Steve Janger saw a growing cynicism amongst young people surrounding American government and policies. Driven by a desire to help young people gain a better understanding of their government, he founded the Close Up Foundation in 1971 – the same year 18-year-olds were granted the right to vote.

Close Up’s mission was built on the idea that young people from all backgrounds need a better understanding of the democratic process and their responsibility as citizens. The concept was simple: give students the opportunity to directly engage with the people, organizations, and institutions that represent our democracy, and they will develop the skills and attitudes they need for a lifetime of active citizenship. Close Up’s first program as a non-partisan organization included 554 students from Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas. This first group of students included Tim Davis, Close Up’s current president and CEO.

Tim’s Close Up experience profoundly impacted his life and brought him full circle back to Close Up to ensure that new generations of young people have the same opportunity he did. Today, our civic engagement organization’s work serves students and teachers from across the country through local and DC-based programs for middle and high school students, professional development for educators, and classroom resources.