Client-directed original research includes federal, state and municipal candidates (see Maria's List) in primaries and general elections and organizations (see client-funded organizations below) that meet Partnership standards. Findings include candidates and organizations that are actively engaged in the systemic shifting of political power to constituencies and leaders who support an inclusive, educated and democratic society. Partnership research and analysis uncovered an opportunity for early support of certain candidates for the New York State Legislature in 2006, whom — once elected — supported a more than $7 billion increase in state education funding. Since 2002, Partnership clients have funded the following national and Massachusetts-based organizations that were researched and assisted by the Partnership.
The National Electoral Project (NEP) assists clients who seek to shift the balance of political power toward constituencies and leaders who support an inclusive, democratic and compassionate society. Begun in 2003, NEP clients fund organizations, leaders and efforts to build a representative political movement and advance a progressive policy agenda. NEP’s synergistic strategy of political investing includes support for: (1) messaging progressive issues and crafting strategic policy agendas that motivate voting and win increasingly broad public support; (2) grassroots mobilization and building mass constituencies in support of progressive public policies and candidates; and,
(3) the development, appointment and election of progressive women and people of color to state and federal office. This synergistic strategic support takes the form of financial and technical assistance to (c)(3) and (c)(4) non-profits, donors, PACs, 527s, parties and candidates. The three components of the NEP strategy — issues, voters, and candidates — are integrated and mutually reinforcing. NEP research has identified promising candidates early in their runs for office, many of whom have prevailed. This includes the long-shot candidacy in the Spring 2004 United States Senate Primary race of a then-little-known, but gifted State Senator in Illinois who went on to win that Senate seat and who later won election to the highest office in the land.Client-funded Organizations:
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Client-directed original research includes candidates in primaries and general elections (see Maria’s List) and organizations that meet Partnership standards. Founded in 2002, the Massachusetts Progressives Pipeline Project (Pipeline Project) is the result of keen client interest in increasing the number of progressive women and men from the Commonwealth’s communities of color that are elected to public office at the municipal, state and federal levels. The Pipeline Project was created to instigate and support development of a pipeline infrastructure. The goal of the Pipeline Project is to inspire, prepare and elect such candidates and — once elected — to increase their capacity to set budget priorities and craft public policy that advance the interests of low income communities of color.
The Pipeline Project has drawn clients who share the Partnership's vision of a vibrant, inclusive society in which every person has the opportunity to participate in and steer the decisions that affect their lives. Organizations that receive funding from Partnership clients also gain access to technical assistance, drawing on the deep knowledge and expertise of the Partnership Team. Pipeline Project research has resulted in support for candidate development organizations, campaigns for elected office, ballot initiatives and supporting organizations that advance the interests of communities traditionally excluded from the Commonwealth’s influential political institutions.
Pipeline Project research in Massachusetts has identified talented candidates in primaries and candidate development organizations whose graduates have won elected office and senior gubernatorial appointments. This includes the Partnership's identification of a skilled newcomer in the 1996 primary for governor of Massachusetts who won the primary and general election and was sworn in as Governor. The Pipeline Project's uncanny knack for discovering new, game-changing political opportunities in Massachusetts enables its clients to make early — and sometimes seemingly contrarian — political investments that often lead to changes in budget and policy priorities.
Client-funded Organizations:
Coalition for New American Voters
Initiative for Diversity in Civic Leadership
