Progressive Multiplier Fund

Introduction

The Progressive Multiplier Fund (PMF) is a nonprofit organization aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability and capacity of progressive groups in the United States. Founded in 2017, it supports progressive non-profits by providing innovative fundraising solutions and revenue generation strategies.

Mission and Activities

PMF's mission is to shift the progressive movement towards scale, self-determination, and sustainability by creating high-leverage investment opportunities that strengthen the independent financial position of movement groups. It focuses on helping organizations move beyond dependency on foundation funding by developing independent revenue streams.

Funding Initiatives

• Test and Innovation Fund: Provides grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 for organizations testing new revenue generation models or replicating successful ones.
• Growth Fund: Offers grants up to $120,000 to scale existing revenue projects, requiring a 2:1 return on investment within five years.
• Transformative Growth Fund: Focuses on providing recoverable grants and securing program-related investments to accelerate independent revenue growth.

Center of Excellence

The PMF operates a Center of Excellence as an information hub for progressive organizations. This resource center shares best practices and analytics on revenue generation, member recruitment, and retention across key progressive issues like climate change, democracy, economic policies, and social justice.

Parent Organization and Funding

PMF is a project of the Center for Community Change Action, a 501(c)(4) organization. It has received support from various foundations, including grants from the Open Society Policy Center and the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.

Finances

As a 501(c)(3) organization, PMF's primary income sources are contributions, which account for the vast majority of its revenue. The organization also generates some income from program services and investment income, although these amounts are significantly less.

Leadership and Founding

Co-founded by Phil Radford, a former Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, PMF was established following research by a group of progressive thought leaders to address the challenges faced by non-profits in generating sustainable revenue beyond institutional philanthropy.

Impact and Goal

By fostering a culture of independent revenue generation among progressive non-profits, PMF aims to enhance the financial sustainability and reach of these organizations, thus amplifying the progressive movement's impact on issues such as climate change, voting rights, economic justice, and social equality.

[1] https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/d317f5ce2e634609ac81f92d8e03694e-progressive-multiplier-fund-washington [2] https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/progressive-multiplier-fund/ [3] https://progressivemultiplier.fund/our-story [4] https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831264302 [5] https://progressivemultiplier.fund/home