Back Office for Organizing in Michigan (BOOM) is a left-of-center consulting firm that provides back office services such as accounting, human resources, payroll, and other services to a variety of left-of-center and far-left organizations in Michigan. The group was formed at least partially by the Movement Voter Project and Forward Michigan and was highlighted at a 2024 summit hosted by the left-of-center Funders Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP) as part of a larger agenda aimed at providing funding and support for left-of-center organizations, particularly in politically competitive states ahead of the 2024 election. The group’s executive director is Mary Brady-Enerson, who previously held roles at Clean Water Action and State Voices. 1 2 3
Background
Back Office for Organizing in Michigan (BOOM) was formed in 2022 and appears to have become fully operational in 2023. The group is organized as a for-profit LLC designed to serve as a “back office hub” for left-of-center advocacy and organizing groups with the goal of streamlining operational expenses and resources for such organizations to allow for them to further advance the policy and electoral goals of such groups. The group’s website states that its services include finance, legal, administrative, and human resources to “support Michigan’s movement ecosystem.” It further states that “BOOM contracts with member organizations to provide a variety of services using economies of scale and shared infrastructure approach.” 4
Corporate filings from the Back Office for Organizing in Michigan’s 2022 incorporation indicate that the group was formed in partnership with Forward Michigan, a left-of-center advocacy group. 5
Activity
The group’s website as of mid-2024 stated that potential clients or “partners” of the group must be referred by an existing organization and that potential organizations must “Focus on serving vulnerable and marginalized communities in Michigan” and employ electoral work, lobbying, 501(c)(4) work, issue campaign, base building, and leadership development strategies. 4
The group’s website also employs far-left rhetoric, stating that “Capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy have shaped a society of gross inequities, in which working-class, BIPOC, and other marginalized communities exercise the least amount of power.” 6
Funders Committee for Civic Participation
In April 2024, Back Office for Organizing in Michigan was highlighted at a summit hosted by the left-of-center Funders Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP) as part of a larger agenda aimed at providing funding and support for left-of-center organizations, particularly in politically competitive states ahead of the 2024 election. Jamila Martin, Michigan state adviser for the Movement Voter Project, a left-of-center funding collective run by Democratic political operatives, spoke about the MVP partnering with BOOM in Michigan to help “social justice and community-based organizations” focused on “multiracial working class power building.” The event’s agenda read that “BOOM is a movement-owned back-office for-profit that provides accounting and operations services to MI’s multi-entity organizing groups — a significant innovation.” The agenda further indicated plans to replicate BOOM in other competitive states, including Florida and Ohio. 7
Leadership
Mary Brady-Enerson is the executive director of Back Office for Organizing in Michigan, working for the group since August 2023. She was previously the Michigan state director for Clean Water Action, a Michigan field coordinator for State Voices, and had an earlier stint at Clean Water Action as an event coordinator and fundraiser. 1
References
- “Mary Brady-Enerson.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-brady-enerson-44533733/
- Washburn, Logan. “Democrats Get the Best Bang For Their Buck By Funding Election Infrastructure.” The Federalist. April; 25, 2024. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://thefederalist.com/2024/04/25/democrats-get-the-best-bang-for-their-buck-by-funding-election-infrastructure/
- “About.” Back Office for Organizing in Michigan. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://www.backofficemi.org/about.html
- “What We Do.” Back Office for Organizing in Michigan. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://www.backofficemi.org/what-we-do.html
- “Articles of Organization: Back Office For Organizing in Michigan, LLC.” Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (Michigan). 2022. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSearchViewPDF.aspx
- “Home.” Back Office for Organizing in Michigan. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://www.backofficemi.org/
- Washburn, Logan. “Democrats Get The Best Bang For Their Buck By Funding Election Infrastructure.” The Federalist. April; 25, 2024. Accessed May 12, 2024. https://thefederalist.com/2024/04/25/democrats-get-the-best-bang-for-their-buck-by-funding-election-infrastructure/