Community Change and its 501(c)(4) arm, Community Change Action, works to build the power of low-income people to “change the policies and institutions that impact their lives.” It collaborates with partners across the U.S. to advance grassroots organizing and electoral work to create a society “where everyone can thrive.”

Why This Work is Important

• Progress requires people power. Enacting structural changes to create greater equity requires shifting who holds power at all levels of government. Those people most affected by inequality and injustice need a stronger voice in deliberations over public policy. They will only have that voice if they organize to affect electoral outcomes and hold public officials accountable.  

• Supporting long-term organizing is one of the most important investments donors can make. In order to build a governing majority and advance a bold agenda, progressives must first get people to participate in politics who may otherwise not. This starts with connecting with people at the local level, getting them to not only engage with the issues in their communities, but to believe their participation can actually make a difference. This is long and difficult work for even seasoned organizers, but when done effectively, the results are engaged citizens who will work for progressive change.

Why Donors Should Consider Community Change

• Community Change is working to change who gets heard in public life. Community Change focuses on organizing communities with a low propensity to vote, but who could have a strong interest in policy outcomes because they are most “directly affected by injustice.” It prioritizes issues that people at the grassroots care about — for example, through its recent work to expand access to child care, working with nearly two dozen partner organizations across the country “to anchor a grassroots movement for child care and early learning justice.”

• Community Change has a record of impact historically and recently. Since its founding in 1968, Community Change claims to have incubated some 165 new projects and organizations, building state, regional, and nationwide coalitions focused on issues like wages, housing, immigration, and civil rights. During the 2020 elections, its electoral arm — Community Change Action — contacted millions of voters in key states via phone calls, text messages, door knocking, and digital media, turning out vital constituencies to help Democrats retake the White House and Senate. CCA also mobilized voters for the 2022 election. 

• Community Change has a dynamic vision for the future. In 2019, Community Change published a 15-year strategy document outlining its plans to shrink voter turnout gaps and build power for working-class communities of color. Along with setting ambitious goals for itself and the progressive movement, the report critiqued current models for organizing, calling them overly reliant on paid staff and a narrow set of funders. Community Change is working to build a new model driven by volunteer leaders and funded collectively by the communities they serve.

Conclusion

With its ambitious long-term vision, multi-issue focus, and strong partnerships with grassroots groups across the U.S., Community Change is among the nation’s most important progressive organizations. Donors looking to help build power from the ground up and create a more representative democracy should prioritize support for Community Change and Community Change Action.