The Partnership for Democracy and Education provides donor services, including research, grantmaking and program development to select individual donors and donor groups who seek to shift political power to women and people of color from low income communities. The aim of our clients is to see such individuals develop their leadership, advocacy and civic skills and practices so that they set and advance budget and policy priorities that benefit everyone. We do this within the following vision, mission and core belief of the Partnership’s initial donor clients.
VISION: A vibrant, inclusive society in which every person has the opportunity to participate in and steer the decisions that affect their lives.
MISSION: To nurture the systematic shifting of power to constituencies and leaders who support an inclusive, educated and democratic society.
CORE BELIEF: We recognize that an excellent education system and political power are inseparable and necessary for the well-being of all and especially for the prosperity of women and people of color.
On behalf of its clients, the Partnership conducts original research. We seek out and identifies organizations, candidates and potential candidates on the federal, state and municipal levels. Our clients and client-supported organizations gain access to deep synergistic strategic support from the Partnership team. This comes specifically in the form of expertise in 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(3) organizations, PACs, 527s, political parties and political campaigns. By precisely calibrating and harnessing each of these levers of change, Partnership clients maximize their potential to achieve their long-term social justice and progressive political goals.
The core belief of our founding clients drives the Partnership to instigate, incubate and collaborate and leads to novel approaches. Through convenings, programs, and research projects, the Partnership serves its client mission: we help our clients and the organizations they fund find effective solutions and seize new opportunities that lead to enduring systemic political change.
We've been effective.
National Partnership research identifies promising candidates for federal office early election cycles. Many have prevailed. This includes the long-shot candidacy in the Spring 2004 U.S. Senate Primary race of a then-little-known, but gifted, State Senator in Illinois who went on to win that U.S. Senate seat and who later WON ELECTION TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND.
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.
Partnership 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 2006 primary for governor of Massachusetts who won the primary and general election and was SWORN IN AS GOVERNOR.
The Partnership's uncanny knack for discovering new, GAME-CHANGING POLITICAL OPPORTUNITIES and matching them with charitable giving enables our clients to make early — and sometimes seemingly contrarian — political and philanthropic investments that often lead to changes in budget and policy priorities.
For examples of WHAT WE DO, please see PROGRAMS.
To explore how the Partnership could research, guide and manage your progressive political investments, please contact us at 617-499-9901.
