The States Project (TSP) works to build Democratic majorities and drive policy change at the state level. It partners with Democratic leaders in key states to win legislative elections, with a focus on those contests that can make the biggest difference in who holds power, and it provides resources to help Democrats govern effectively to improve people’s lives.

Why This Work is Important

• States are increasingly important arenas of power. State governments have always had enormous influence over people’s lives, with wide power in areas such as education, criminal justice and economic development. But Supreme Court rulings in recent years have devolved ever more power to the states, including over reproductive rights and the rules governing elections. 

• Democrats are confronting both threats and opportunities in the states. Wherever Republicans have held power in recent decades, they have passed antidemocratic initiatives like voter restrictions and gerrymandering, while enacting policies to restrict reproductive rights, amplify corporate power and punish the poor. Conversely, in states where Democrats have gained, progressives have passed exciting new policies to fight inequality, expand democracy, combat climate change and protect basic rights. States act as testing grounds for new policies, and also serve as the first steps in future national political leaders’ careers.

• Donors can achieve more impact by giving for state races. Democrats tend to obsess over big-ticket national races, like the presidency and marquee Senate contests. But donor contributions are more likely to make a difference in state legislative races, which are far less expensive and often decided by much closer margins.

Why Donors Should Consider the States Project

• TSP has a record of impact. The States Project invested $60 million in 2022 to help win state-level races; these funds were targeted at the most competitive and consequential races in that election cycle. While it’s hard to pinpoint the impact of any single electoral group, TSP’s strategic approach and unprecedented spending likely played a key role in helping Democrats flip four state legislative chambers in 2022. But TSP is not just about winning elections; it also has a record of working closely with Democratic leaders to advance policy change.

• TSP has a rigorous methodology. Part of TSP’s mission is improving campaign strategy, which is why the group only supports candidates on the condition that they embrace research-based tactics, which they determine along with their partner The Analyst Institute. Running more effective campaigns is important at all levels of politics, but especially so in down-ballot races, where money is typically tight and candidates are facing an uphill battle on things like name recognition. TSP also takes a strategic, disciplined approach to how it supports policy change.

• The States Project makes giving to important races easy. Through TSP’s Give Smart fund, donors can easily support Democratic state legislative candidates in need of money. Rather than spending time sorting through poll numbers or parsing email donation pitches, donors can offload that work to TSP, whose team sorts through thousands of state legislative races to find the most important ones. Donors can also start a giving circle, gathering a group of people they know and using TSP’s resources to identify a state to focus on. In the process, the giving circle members will learn about the state’s politics and candidates and get a deeper understanding of how state legislative races work.

Conclusion

The States Project is a high-impact organization that offers a simple answer to the question, “Where should I give money to advance change in the states?” Its Give Smart fund is great for people who know that state legislatures are important but aren't sure how to help, and its giving circles are a useful option for donors who want to be more involved. Or you can support TSP’s overall operations, which includes its important policy work in the states.