About SNF Agora

Strengthening global democracy through powerful civic engagement and informed, inclusive dialogue.

The SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University was founded in 2017 with a $150 million gift from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. We are a multi-disciplinary academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy by improving and expanding civic engagement and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting inquiry that leads to real-world change. By building integrated partnerships with scholars, practitioners, students, and the public, we use research to identify and sharpen strategic choices that members of the public and civic and political stakeholders around the world can make to realize the promise of democracy.

The institute draws its name and inspiration from the ancient Athenian agora. Originally a marketplace, the agora grew to become the heart of democratic governance in Athens. It provided a structured forum for debate, disagreement, and deliberation, a place where Athenians learned both the rights and responsibilities of democracy, and where they developed capacities for participation in public life.

Building on the unique strengths of Johns Hopkins University, we seek to reinvigorate the ethos of the ancient agora for the 21st century. Our scholars study the behavioral, organizational, and institutional foundations of democracy; develop and test interventions to reverse trends toward decline; and share lessons learned to promote civic engagement and inclusive dialogue around the critical issues of our time. We seek to create agora-like spaces, critical to deliberative democracy.

Learn More About Snf Agora

  • People speaking on a stage.
    Mission + Impact

    The SNF Agora Institute is an academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy through research, teaching, and practice. The institute draws inspiration from the ancient agora to foster civic engagement, bridge divides, and support inclusive dialogue.

  • People

    Our faculty, fellows, staff, and students bring expertise and experience to the work of strengthening democracy. Together, they drive the institute’s mission through research, teaching, public engagement, and collaborative initiatives that foster inclusive dialogue and civic participation.

  • Leadership + Staff

    The SNF Agora Institute’s senior leadership and staff oversee the administration of its programs, operations, and partnerships.

  • Building + Campus

    The SNF Agora building on the Homewood campus will serve as a hub for research, teaching, and public dialogue. The space reflects the spirit of the ancient agora with areas for faculty, labs, classrooms, and community events. Its open, accessible design invites connection, collaboration, and civic engagement.

  • Ancient statue.
    Board of Overseers

    The Board of Overseers advises and supports the Institute’s leadership in fulfilling its mission, and helps steward the strategic direction of the Institute.

  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation

    Since 1996, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) has made grants to nonprofit organizations and projects around the world, working with an incredible community of partners to create transformative change whose benefits multiply and are shared widely.

  • Our Work

    The SNF Agora Institute creates opportunities for people with diverse with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas to participate meaningfully in civic life. Its scholars and practitioners collaborate to address challenges to democracy, bridge divides, and cultivate democratic resilience through research, innovative interventions, and public engagement.

  • Annual Reports

    The SNF Agora Institute’s annual reports provide a yearly summary of our achievements and ongoing work. Each report offers a detailed overview of our projects, initiatives, and impact across research, teaching, and public engagement, reflecting our mission to strengthen democracy through discovery, design, and dialogue.