U.S. Chamber Foundation 250th Celebration for Business Playbook
America's 250th Celebration for Business Toolkit Index
Published
October 27, 2025
Bring America’s 250th to Life
Access the interactive, online playbook here.
July 4, 2026, will mark 250 years since the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence. Businesses and chambers of commerce have a unique opportunity to lead their communities in commemorating this once-in-a-generation milestone in ways that strengthen civic pride and unity. Recent studies by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation show that while civic knowledge is lagging, 82% of Americans believe businesses (and by extension chambers) can help bring people together.
We have developed this playbook to help chambers, businesses, and organizations of all sizes plan inclusive, nonpartisan celebrations that educate, engage, and inspire.It is designed for any organization, from large, staffed businesses to small, volunteer-led groups. Each strategy is presented with tiered options (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced) to accommodate different capacities and budgets. Whether you can undertake year-long programs or a single event, you will find scalable ideas. The emphasis is on building community by ensuring celebrations welcome all citizens and leveraging help from local governments, schools, libraries, museums, and businesses.
Above all, the tone is joyful, meaningful, and unifying, framing the 250th not as just a celebration of our history but as a chance to rekindle civic trust and strengthen community connection.
The playbook includes five toolkits aimed at getting you started. These are not comprehensive guides but are meant to help you take the first step in planning and executing your celebration. You can download the full playbook, including toolkits, or view the playbook online via our interactive dashboard and download individual toolkits as needed.
Goals and Guiding Principles
Before diving into activities, please keep these core goals in mind. Every initiative should strive to:
- Reinforce Civic Identity and Pride: Highlight your community’s contributions to the American story and celebrate the shared values that bind us.
- Support Civic Education and Participation: Use the 250th to boost understanding of our history and government. Encourage learning and foster opportunities for people of all ages to actively participate in civic life (e.g., voting, volunteering, community discussions).
- Be Inclusive and Nonpartisan: Ensure celebrations welcome people of all ages, backgrounds, and political stripes. Activities should focus on shared history and values, free of partisan messaging. Emphasize themes of unity and gratitude for community contributors.
America’s 250th anniversary will be a national celebration, with governments and organizations participating across the nation. Partnerships can be an effective way to expand and amplify your organization’s efforts:
- Align with National Civics Initiatives: Tap into nationwide programs, including those led by the U.S. Chamber Foundation, like the National Civics Bee® and Civics@Work, that provide ready-made frameworks to engage students, families, and communities. Tie local efforts to larger movements to amplify impact.
- Leverage Existing Programs: No need to reinvent the wheel. Many states and counties have committees and grants to support local events related to America’s 250th birthday. Many provide useful toolkits and resources to reduce effort and build consistency.
Share Your Celebration
This playbook is a living webpage, updated regularly with new initiatives and ideas shared by chambers, businesses, and other organizations. Have a creative way to celebrate the semiquincentennial? Share it—we’ll amplify your ideas nationwide.
Made for Adaptability
Initiatives each come with tiered activity options and tactical tips. Please note that all of the initiatives included in this playbook are designed for adaptability.
- BASIC: Execution can be achieved with minimal time and volunteer help.
- INTERMEDIATE: Combines initiatives with regional partners; recommend dedicated staff resources or internships to support implementation.
- ADVANCED: Leverages these initiatives as flagship programs with public relations campaigns, funding partnerships, and potential for national recognition.
Remember that every idea can be scaled. For instance, if your simple essay contest gets significant participation, a way to adapt your idea is to turn it into a public awards night or publish a booklet of the best essays. Use tiered activity options to help you modulate plans if circumstances change (maybe a grant comes through so you can expand your event, or if a key partner backs out and you need to simplify).
Latest Research
Planning Toolkits
Our ready-to-use toolkits can be used for different project types: event planning, funding, volunteer engagement, media and marketing, and measurement and impact are included at the end of the PDF playbook or available for download directly from our website. Using toolkits:
- Ensures you don’t overlook permits, accessibility, or other critical logistics in the excitement of planning.
- Saves time and promote consistent messaging (e.g., a template proclamation for the mayor to declare “250th Anniversary Day” in your town, which you can draft for them to sign).
For example, the Event Planning Checklist breaks down tasks from months out (forming a committee, securing dates) to the day-of event (sound checks, volunteer briefings).
By taking on this playbook’s strategies, your organization positions itself as the heartbeat of the community, honoring the past, energizing the present, and shaping the future. Whether it’s a small-town ceremony or a countywide festival, approach it with enthusiasm and inclusivity. In doing so, you’ll not only commemorate 250 years of independence, you’ll strengthen the foundation of civic pride and cooperation that carries your community into its next 250 years.
