PARTICIPATION & REPRESENTATION FOR ALL IMPACT COLLECTIVE
Reaching Voters, One State at a Time
In 2020, we worked to achieve voter justice by supporting marginalized communities, expanding the electorate, and removing barriers to participation so that everyone has a voice in our democracy.
New Georgia Project helps register new voters at Augusta University.
The framework of voter justice was woven throughout our work in 2020, ensuring that everyone had a voice at the polls across issues and strategies.
Voter Protection
COVID-19 changed the way we vote. Mail-in ballots became the norm in many states, and voters had concerns about the health risk of voting in person and the threat of voter intimidation at the polls. Because of deep-seated histories of voter suppression and disenfranchisement, we funded voter engagement and protection in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas.
Voter Engagement
The New American Majority is poised and ready to take action at the ballot box and beyond. In the lead-up to the election, we supported digital organizing and innovative communications strategies—via key social media channels, influencers, and messaging—that were more important than ever in engaging youth, first-time, and BIPOC voters.
Election Security
Election security continues to be a concern, with fake drop boxes popping up across the country and reports of foreign interference. Our Collective dedicated time to learn about what's being done to ensure our elections are secure. We didn’t just learn about it; we funded critical work in key states to help election officials ensure their voting devices were secure.
2020 Grantees
Arizona ($225,000)
• Arizona Coalition for Change
• Arizona Election Protection Coalition
Michigan ($150,000)
• ACLU Fund of Michigan
• Michigan Voice
Texas ($275,000)
• MOVE Texas Civic Fund
• Texas Civil Rights Project
• Texas Freedom Network
• Texas Youth Power Alliance
Georgia ($392,500)
• New Georgia Project
• ProGeorgia
North Carolina ($200,000)
• Blueprint NC
• CommonCause Education Fund
National ($355,000)
• GALvanize USA
• Verified Voting Foundation
Total funding includes grants approved by a Steering Committee as well as additional restricted contributions from members designated for specific grantees in this portfolio.
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT
Texas Freedom Network
With young people of color making up half of Texas' population, Texas Freedom Network is using grassroots organizing, power building, and civic engagement efforts to ensure every voice is heard. Our grant supported the Network's voter outreach and engagement, which consisted of a huge campaign that mobilized new voters through text, phone banking, direct mail, and digital organizing.
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT
Blueprint NC
In 2020, Blueprint NC aimed to collect 250,000 voter registration applications through canvassing, direct mail, and digital advertising on Black radio stations. Our funding supported their work to register youth and BIPOC voters. We also supported their partnership with North Carolina Black Leaders Organizing in Communities on a program that provided PPE at the polls.