Movement Voter Project

Movement Voter Project connects donors, big and small, to the most effective grassroots voter organizations in the country—organizations mobilizing their communities in critical battleground states and districts where we must win in 2018 and 2020.

The Problem

2018 is shaping up to be a WAVE year for Democrats. But we don’t just need any old wave. We need a GINORMOUS wave. This November could not be more important: Control of the House and Senate are up for grabs. Governors and state chambers we elect will draw maps to decide partisan control through 2032. Secretaries of State and ballot measures will determine who can vote in do-or-die states like Michigan and Florida in the all-important 2020 election. The entire future of the American republic - everything we hold dear - is potentially at stake. The Koch brothers get it. They have already pledged $400 Million in 2018 (60% more than in 2016).

The Solution

The proof of MVP is in the pudding: We’re on a winning streak that is unsurpassed, pound for pound, by any player on the progressive side. In 2016, we invested $188,000 in four small New Hampshire organizations who contacted 85,000 voters and definitively swung a US Senate race, electing Maggie Hassan by 1,027 votes and delivering Democrats a 48th seat in the US Senate. We invested $360,000 in eight organizations that helped swing the North Carolina Governor’s race by 4,716 votes. And we helped local groups swing control of the Nevada Senate by 1,036 votes, yielding a harvest of policy wins from climate to criminal justice.

Planned Use Of Funds

Our goal for 2018 is to move $10-$20 million to progressive grassroots vote groups in every key 2018 race - from high saliency local Prosecutor and Sheriff races to Governors, the Senate, a critical mass of winnable House races, flippable state chambers, and ballot measures. We work with local partners to target every nationally significant race - and fund as many as we can! To fulfill the potential of this coming wave, we need to scale up our local partners. We are growing our capacity to reach and advise more donors. We provide real-time analysis on where dollars will make the biggest impact in a constantly evolving landscape. In many cases, we provide high-level direct coaching, technical assistance, and capacity building support to our local partners as well. We have curated portfolios for the House and Senate as well as a Wave 2018 Fund - an easy one click option to fund a bunch of the most effective groups at once. And we’re building out a communications strategy to spread the word. People are hungry for the information MVP has. The problem is: Most people don’t yet know that MVP exists!

Stage of Development

  • Early Stage
  • Established Prototype
  • Scaling
  • Other

Organization to Receive Funds

Movement Voter Project, the flagship project of Gamechanger Networks. We are a nonprofit based in Massachusetts.

This project was nominated by: