The Movement Cooperative (TMC) is a for-profit group that claims to be a collective of “independent organizations working together to advance the progressive movement through common infrastructure.” ¹ According to its home page, the group is “the executor of the strategy, planning, and mission of The Movement Institute Fund. The Movement Institute Fund is a fund of Tides Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.” ¹

TMC has provided logistical and database support to left-of-center nonprofits and organizations such as the Working Families Party, Common Cause, and Greenpeace. Following the 2024 presidential election, TMC announced that it was seeking applications to build alternative digital platforming structures. ^{2 3}

As of 2025, TMC’s employees were part of the Non-Profit Employees Union, NPEU-IFPTE Local 70. ²

Activities

The Movement Cooperative (TMC) describes itself as a collective of “independent organizations working together to advance the progressive movement through common infrastructure.” ¹ According to its home page, the group is “the executor of the strategy, planning, and mission of The Movement Institute Fund. The Movement Institute Fund is a fund of Tides Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.” ¹

TMC operates as a hub for left-of-center nonprofits and organizations to share data and messaging practices. TMC also provides digital infrastructure, tech support, research services, and community space for members.  ^{4 3}

Membership

As of February 2025, TMC has 95 “movement-building member organizations” and over 1,400 state and local organizations. ⁵ Its members include the Alliance for Youth Action, the Black Voters Matter Fund, the Rural Democracy Initiative, Voto Latino, the Working Families Party, Common Cause, Greenpeace, MoveOn, and the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation. ³

Member Futures Team

TMC runs the Members Futures Team, a group within its member organizations dedicated to developing new technology for left-wing advocacy. ⁵

Constituent Relationship Management

In February 2025, TMC put out a call for applications for assistance in developing Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems, or digital organization platforms for managing supporters or voters, for left-wing organizations. ⁵

According to a March, 2025 New York Times report, TMC’s solicitation was a response to troubles with the Democratic Party’s voter information database, run by a company known as NGP VAN. NGP VAN nearly collapsed due to excessive demand from users during the 2024 election until LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor Allen Blue intervened with technical expertise. CRMs developed by TMC may replace NGP VAN entirely. ⁶

Leadership

Julia Barnes is the CEO of The Movement Cooperative (TMC), serving in the role since 2022. Prior to this, in 2017, Barnes founded KPKB Consulting, a consulting firm whose clients included the Be A Hero Fund, People’s Action, the Working Families Party, and FairVote. The firm also managed five ranked-choice voting state elections during the 2020 primaries. Beforehand, Barnes worked as a senior advisor to the Be a Hero Fund, was campaign manager for former U.S. Representative Tom Perriello’s (D-VA) unsuccessful 2017 primary campaign for Virginia governor, executive director of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, national field director of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’s (I-VT) 2016 presidential campaign, and executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party. ³ “Julia Barnes.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpkbarnes/.[/note]

Josh Nussbaum is a founder and former CEO of TMC. Prior, Nussbaum was a senior advisor for data and technology at the Indivisible Project, an organizer-in-residence at Civic Hall, the mobilization director and deputy national organizing director of Everytown for Gun Safety, and the individual organizing director at Minnesotans United for All Families. Nussbaum was also the field and data director for U.S. Senator Al Franken’s (D-MN) reelection campaign in 2014. ⁷

Bridget Shanahan is the director of membership at TMC and previously worked as the group’s associate director and lead membership strategist. Shanahan previously worked for the Ali Forney Center, Sanctuary for Families, and the Drug Policy Alliance. ⁸

TMC describes itself as a “member cooperative” and its board is elected by and made up of leaders from member organizations. ⁹

Financials and Funding

TMC has received funding both from grants from foundations (constituting about one-third of revenue) and membership dues. TMC has received funding from the Open Society Foundations, the All by April campaign, and the David Rockefeller Fund ($320,000 since 2020). ³

In 2024, TMC’s budget increased to $15 million, though by June of that year, the organization reportedly faced a $3.4 million projected budget shortfall for the year overall. ³

1. “Intro.” The Movement Collective, accessed March 30, 2026. https://movementcooperative.org/intro
2. “Homepage.” The Movement Cooperative. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://movementcooperative.org/
3. Henry, Sarah. “An Urgent Moment for The Movement Cooperative, a Progressive Election Infrastructure Hub.” Inside Philanthropy. June 20, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024-6-20-an-urgent-moment-for-the-movement-cooperative-a-progressive-election-infrastructure-hub.
4. “The Movement Cooperative & TMC Staff Union Announce Finalization of Inaugural Collective Bargaining Agreement.” NPEU. August 14, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://npeu.org/news/tmc-first-cba.
5. “Request for Proposals: Next Generation Voter Contact CRM.” The Movement Cooperative. February 26, 2025. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a26dc85ccc5c5e4f13ce409/t/67bf51f5d733271194491469/1740591622983/The+Movement+Cooperative+2025+Next-Gen+CRM+RFP.pdf.
6. Goldmacher, Shane. “Inside the Democratic Disaster That Didn’t Happen in November.” The New York Times. March 1, 2025. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/us/politics/democrats-voter-data.html
7. “Josh Nussbaum.” Clay. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://clay.earth/profile/josh-nussbaum-f120ede0.
8. “Bridget Shanahan, LMSW.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-shanahan-lmsw-csm/.
9. “The Movement Cooperative.” Idealist. Accessed March 6, 2025. https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit/f9ee073977804832ac006a449162954d-the-movement-cooperative-washington.