The Fairmount Group is a marketing firm that works with left-of-center activist groups and Democratic campaigns in advocating for the elimination of restrictions on abortions, particularly for late-term abortions, and organizing LGBT events. ¹

Background

The Fairmount Group is an Ohio-based marketing firm that works with local government organizations, including health departments and school districts, as well as abortion providers, housing providers, churches, and for-profit organizations on left-of-center advocacy efforts. It conducts campaigns in support of late-term abortions, including with Democratic campaigns, and in support of LGBT activism. ^{2 3}

In October 2019, Fairmount Group President and CEO Mallory McMaster published an article condemning former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America Leana Wen for supporting the idea that it is good to prevent situations in which people feel compelled to get an abortion and for insisting that advocates of unrestricted abortion access are of the “most extreme ideology.” McMaster claimed that the idea of preventing unwanted pregnancies is a “damning right-wing talking point” and argued that it should not be tolerated by Democrats or abortion advocates. ⁴

Activities

In August 2019, the Fairmount Group published a blog post to recount its liberal activism for the year. The post discussed its campaigns as well as its work with advocacy groups and the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s support for late-term abortion, positively describing the advocacy as “intimidating.” It also stated that it worked with Chicago area abortion providers and advocacy groups to “practice pivoting away from ridiculous anti-choice talking points.” The Fairmount Group mentioned that it was working with Democratic candidates “at all levels” to campaign for eliminating restrictions on abortion services. The post went on to say it worked with LGBT activist groups in addition to Cleveland Metropolitan Schools District where it helped develop a “Responsible Sexual Behavior program.” ⁵

In August 2020, the Fairmount Group published a blog post claiming that white supremacists were “waging war” across the country. It advised businesses who wish to claim support for the Black Lives Matter movement without being “superficial” to prevent having too many Black employees in certain areas of the business, evaluate the number of Black board members they have, and seek to work with Black owned businesses. ⁶

Clients

The Fairmount Group’s website lists local health departments, school districts, investment firms, homeless shelters, and churches. Its more notable clients include Black Entertainment Television (BET), Energy Avenue, Fairport Asset Management, Gay Games, National Network of Abortion Funds, Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC), and Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio. ⁷

Energy Avenue is a consulting firm that works with NOPEC to negotiate gas and electric utility rates for its members, which consists of over 200 Ohio communities as well as voluntary members. The Fairmount Group worked with Energy Avenue and NOPEC to campaign to increase membership. ^{8 9}

Leadership

Mallory McMaster has worked as president and CEO of the Fairmount Group since 2017. Prior to joining, she served as outreach and advocacy coordinator for Preterm, a national abortion provider, where she organized a campaign that sought to normalize abortion. ¹⁰

1. Nosanchuk, Zachary. “Our Progressive Values in Action – The Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, March 30, 2020. https://thefairmountgroup.com/august-update/.
2. Nosanchuk, Zachary. “Our Progressive Values in Action – The Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, March 30, 2020. https://thefairmountgroup.com/august-update/.
3. “About Us – the Fairmount Group:” The Fairmount Group, May 5, 2019. https://thefairmountgroup.com/about-us/.
4. McMaster, Mallory. “The Only ‘Extreme’ Abortion Position Is One Taking Away Access to Health Care.” Truthout, October 19, 2019. https://truthout.org/articles/the-only-extreme-abortion-position-is-one-taking-away-access-to-health-care/.
5. Nosanchuk, Zachary. “Our Progressive Values in Action – The Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, March 30, 2020. https://thefairmountgroup.com/august-update/.
6. McMaster, Mallory. “Don’t Say Black Lives Matter If You Don’t Mean It – the Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, August 31, 2020. https://thefairmountgroup.com/dont-say-black-lives-matter-if-you-dont-mean-it/.
7. “Client List – the Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, May 5, 2019. https://thefairmountgroup.com/industries-served/client-list/.
8. “NOPEC and Energy Avenue – The Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, March 14, 2014. https://thefairmountgroup.com/featured-clients/nopec/.
9. “To Enroll, You Don’t Actually Have to Do Anything.” NOPEC. Accessed May 20, 2023. https://www.nopec.org/enrollment.
10. “Mallory McMaster – The Fairmount Group: Cleveland, Ohio.” The Fairmount Group | Cleveland, Ohio, January 30, 2019. https://thefairmountgroup.com/industries-served/client-list/meet-our-team/mallory-mcmaster/.