Investment

The Democracy Alliance strives to foster:

  • An open, vibrant democracy
  • An opportunity-driven economy
  • A dignity-based foreign policy
  • An independent judiciary

We aim to achieve our goals by conducting cutting-edge, fact-based research and due diligence, evaluating gaps and opportunities in progressive movement infrastructure, and recommending support for a portfolio of high-impact organizations and investment opportunities.

We are uniquely positioned to help support organizations and progressive efforts by providing seed capital and growth capital.

"The Democracy Alliance’s steadfast focus on building progressive infrastructure has helped transform American politics."
Gloria Totten,
President, Progressive Majority

The progressive movement needs well-run organizations with increased capacity that can generate ideas, communicate them effectively, mobilize citizens, and train leaders. We recommend organizations that are positioned to have a long-term impact, but are also achieving short-term successes in four sectors identified as elemental to building a strong movement:

  • Idea and policy generation
  • Media monitoring and media capacity
  • Leadership development
  • Engaging the public in civic participation
"Democracy Alliance Partners are playing a leadership role in elevating the importance of long-term leadership training as a critical component of a healthy, vibrant progressive movement Through intensive training programs for youth, activists, political staff, and future candidates, CPL and our leadership training colleagues that receive support from Alliance Partners provide promising, young and diverse leaders with the skills, resources, and networks needed to build progressive political power in their community. Significant funding from Alliance Partners for this critical work is giving hope and critical career development opportunities to the next generation of progressive leaders."
Peter Murray
Executive Director, Center for Progressive Leadership

We have developed three investment products to give Partners investment options and to encourage collaboration:

  • Core DA Portfolio Investments direct long-term patient capital in the form of multi-year, general operating support to organizations that are key to the progressive infrastructure.
  • Dynamic Investments are more flexible opportunities to support organizations that can take advantage of near-term strategic opportunities.

Venture Investments drive initial seed investments and possible longer-term investments to emerging, innovative organizations or projects. These are smaller-scale grants that can be high potential, but also high risk. More information about the newest venture project, New Media Ventures, is available at www.newmediaventures.org.

We recommend organizations that represent the diversity of the progressive movement and this country, and that advance a progressive agenda. Organizations are presented to our Partners who make individual funding decisions.

"The DA is the only organization of its kind and has quickly grown to become a powerful force for change in progressive politics. By providing a range of tools to progressive groups -- strategic guidance, a community for collaboration and multi-year funding commitments -- the DA has enabled many organizations like ours to expand our impact and more effectively fulfill our mission."
Jon Cowan
President, Third Way

The investment process is currently closed and funding proposals are reviewed by the DA on an invitation-only basis.  We are always pleased to learn more about progressive organizations and will next begin to consider any new funding recommendations in summer 2011.  Please feel free to contact us for additional information.

The DA conducted extensive research to develop the 2009-2011 DA Portfolio of recommended organizations. An "Open Season" was announced in which any organization which fit the determined priority areas could apply via a Letter of Interest on the website. Ultimately, over 250 LOIs were received and reviewed by teams of Partners, staff and subject matter experts.