Institute of Politics

Activities

The Institute of Politics’ activities include organizing civic engagement and student-led programs, providing internships for students, and hosting Pritzker Fellows to lecture on political issues. ^{6 7}

“UChicago Votes” is a civic engagement group aimed at increasing voter turnout on the University of Chicago’s campus. ⁸

Student-led programs at the Institute of Politics include “Spectrum,” a program described by the Institute of Politics as building the leadership skills of “queer people who are interested in public service” and “queer political and policy issues”; “W+,” a group of women and “Gender Minorities” described as working “to create a space that empowers female, nonbinary, and trans students to explore and cultivate their passion for public service”; and “Bridge,” a program focused on criminal justice and providing voter education for those in prison, according to the Institute of Politics. ⁷

Pritzker Fellows

The Institute of Politics hosts the “Pritzker Fellowships Program.” Named quarterly, Pritzker Fellows lead seminars on political issues and hold office hours for students. ⁹

As of February 2025, current fellows included U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary during the Biden administration Pete Buttigieg, 2024 Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita, former U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture during the Biden administration Xochitl Torres Small, and Office of Management and Budget Director during the Biden administration Shalanda Young.” ¹⁰

Former Pritzker Fellows include Secretary of State during the Biden administration Antony Blinken, former U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, and Press Secretary during the Biden administration Karine Jean-Pierre. ¹¹

Funding

In 2023, the Joyce Foundation gave $100,000 to the Institute of Politics.  ¹²

In 2022, the Zell Family Foundation gave $200,000 to the Institute of Politics. ¹³

The Alphawood Foundation gave $900,000 to the Institute of Politics from 2021 to 2023. ¹⁴

The Institute of Politics received $130,000 from the Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation from 2019 to 2023. ¹⁵

In 2017, the Tricoastal Foundation gave $200,000 to the Institute of Politics. ¹⁶

From 2014 to 2018, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation gave a combined $500,000 to the Institute of Politics. ¹⁷

In 2014, the Institute of Politics received $279,000 from the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute for the “Sargent Shriver Program for Leadership in Public Service” at the Institute of Politics. ¹⁸

People

David Axelrod was the founding director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. He left his role as director of the organization in 2023, becoming a senior fellow at the organization and chairman of its advisory board. Axelrod was previously “the former chief strategist and senior advisor to President Barack Obama,” according to UChicago News. ^{2 5}

Zeenat Rahman is the executive director of the Institute of Politics. Rahman previously worked as the director of the “Inclusive America Project,” a program of the Aspen Institute that “promotes religious pluralism.” She has also worked for the U.S. State Department as a special advisor to Hillary Clinton and John Kerry during their periods as Secretary of State and as acting director of the Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Rahman is also a former Pritzker Fellow at the Institute of Politics. ³