Chicago Civic Federation

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The Chicago Civic Federation, founded in 1893, was a Chicago-based social reform organization.

The federation originated in a mass-meeting rallied by English journalist, William Thomas Stead. Stead had travelled to Chicago to attend the World's Columbian Exposition, but had spent much time documenting poverty and vice in the city, which was then suffering the aftermath of the panic of 1893. A committee was appointed to carry out suggestions made at the meeting, which then formed the basis for the Civic Federation.

The Federation's first president was Lyman Gage, then president of the First National Bank of Chicago. Ralph Easley, who went on to found the National Civic Federation, was the Federation's first secretary.

Now known as the Civic Federation of Chicago, the non-partisan, not-for-profit organization conducts independent government policy research and analysis, promoting efficiency and good government through the policy-making and budgetary processes in the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the surrounding collar counties.

The Civic Federation’s policy analysis is conducted by professional staff, but its Board of Directors includes many business and civic leaders from the Chicago area.

The current President of the Civic Federation is Mr. Laurence Msall (pronounced muh-SAAL). Biographies of Mr. Msall and the staff of the Civic Federation, as well as copies of their budget reviews, reports, and policy proposals, are available at civicfed.org