A nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Every student gets a seat at the table.Liberal, conservative, or somewhere in between.
We build student-led clubs where high schoolers take on hard public questions with people who see the world differently, and leave understanding each other better.
What we mean
Conversation in which people who disagree share their views honestly, hear the strongest version of the other side, and respond in good faith.
Political polarization happens when groups drift so far apart that they stop understanding one another. Students feel it too. Classrooms tend to inform rather than invite conversation, and online spaces sort people by what they already believe.
Open Discourse Clubs push the other way. Each one is a regular, moderated space where students say what they think, listen closely to those who disagree, and practice challenging ideas without attacking people.
We are not trying to produce agreement. We are building the habit of disagreeing well, which every functioning democracy depends on.
We take no side
We do not endorse candidates, parties, or policy positions. Our only cause is the quality of the conversation.
Students run it
Students choose topics, moderate discussions, and lead their clubs, with support from a faculty sponsor.
Nobody keeps score
There are no winners or losers. The measure of a good meeting is how much better people understand each other.
The Open Discourse Pledge
What every member commits to
Four promises we ask every member to make.
- I will listen to understand, not just to reply.
- I will state views I disagree with as fairly as my own.
- I will challenge ideas, never the people who hold them.
- I will stay open to changing my mind.
How you can help
Bring open discourse to more schools
Make a gift
Tax-deductible support helps new clubs launch, equips student moderators, and funds forums open to entire schools.
Start a club
Found an Open Discourse Club at your high school. Our founder's checklist walks you through each step.
Get in touch
Educators, parents, and partners can reach our team to learn more or get involved.
About
Building a culture of open discourse in high schools
We help students talk across political and philosophical divides with rigor, honesty, and respect.
Our mission is to give every high school student a place to work through difficult questions alongside people who see the world differently. Mission of the Open Discourse Collective
Why it matters
Young people are asked to form views on hard public questions, yet they rarely get to test those views against someone who disagrees. Many know the arguments but have had little practice actually hearing them out.
The Collective supports a network of student-run clubs that meet regularly for moderated discussion. Students bring the questions. Student moderators keep the conversation fair. Faculty sponsors help hold it to a high standard.
The result is a room where students can speak honestly, be taken seriously, and practice the civic skills that last well beyond high school.
Our approach
Four principles guide every club
Dialogue, not debate
Meetings are moderated conversations where students respond directly to one another instead of stating a position and moving on.
No viewpoint to promote
We bring students from across the political spectrum into the same room and never advocate for a policy, party, or ideology.
Clear ground rules
Every club adopts written norms for how to disagree. No student should be shut out for what they believe, and our policies are built to prevent it.
Student ownership
Students choose the topics and moderate the discussions. Faculty sponsors provide support while students lead.
Help us bring this to more students.
Start a Club
Found an Open Discourse Club at your school
As a club founder, you join the Open Discourse Collective. Here is everything you need to get started.
Founder's checklist
Four steps to launch your club
- 1
Find a faculty sponsor
Ask a faculty member to advise your club, serve as its liaison to your school's administration, and help with whatever it needs to flourish.
- 2
Build a founding group
Identify five other people in your school community who want to be involved in your new club.
- 3
Choose a co-founder
Pick at least one other person from your school to found the club with you. Your co-founder works alongside you on every part of the launch and is your equal within the Collective.
- 4
Submit the founder form
Tell us about your club so we can welcome you into the Collective.
Already finished steps 1 through 3?
Submit the founder form right away. If you are still working on them, keep going and complete each step as soon as you can.
How clubs run
A simple structure any school can adapt
Shared leadership
Co-founders lead the club as equals, with a faculty sponsor advising them and a founding group of members behind them.
Regular sessions
Small-group discussions held every few weeks. They build trust and give new members an easy way in.
Open forums
Larger moderated events on major public questions, open to the whole school.
Membership
What member clubs receive
- Support from our Director of Internal Affairs, who oversees Open Discourse Clubs and their leaders
- Ground-rule frameworks and moderation guidance
- Help proposing the club and getting it approved at your school
- Topic ideas and formats for sessions and forums
- A network of clubs at high schools across the country
Member Schools
Our network of clubs
The high schools whose student clubs make up the Open Discourse Collective.
Leadership
The people behind the Collective
A board of directors governs the Open Discourse Collective, and its officers lead our work day to day.
Board of Directors
Our board
Officers
Leading the work
Our team
Team members
Governance
How the Collective is governed
Our bylaws set clear rules for accountability and good stewardship.
An accountable board
The Board has three to eight directors. A majority must be present to act, and the Chair presides over every meeting.
Elected officers
The Board elects our officers by majority vote and may remove or replace them at any time.
Conflict of interest policy
Anyone with a financial interest in a decision must disclose it and leave the room for the discussion and vote. Directors and officers reaffirm the policy in writing every year.
Regular reviews
We periodically review compensation and partnerships to make sure they are reasonable and serve our charitable purpose. Our fiscal year ends December 31.
Interested in getting involved?
We welcome students and educators who share our commitment to open discourse.
Donate
Invest in students who can disagree well
Your gift helps high schoolers practice the kind of conversation our democracy needs.
Why your support matters
Students who learn to listen across differences carry that skill into every classroom, community, and election that follows.
Open Discourse Collective is a student-led nonprofit. We rely on individuals, families, and organizations who believe honest, civil conversation is worth investing in.
What your gift supports
- Launching and supporting new Open Discourse Clubs at high schools
- Moderation guidance and ground-rule frameworks for student leaders
- Open forums and events that include the whole student body
- Growing a national network of students committed to open discourse
Ways to give
Choose what works for you
One-time gift
A single contribution of any size supports our programs this year.
Monthly giving
Recurring support helps us plan ahead and reach more schools.
Organizations and foundations
We welcome partners who share our commitment to civic education.
Matching gifts
Many employers match charitable contributions. Ask yours to multiply your impact.
Our commitment to donors
Giving you can trust
Independent
Gifts support our programs, never a political viewpoint.
Board oversight
A board of directors governs the Collective, and our Financial Director oversees its finances. Checks and payments must be signed by officers the Board designates.
Conflict of interest policy
Directors and officers must disclose financial interests, step out of related votes, and sign a statement each year affirming our policy.