Of By For is a consulting firm operated by the executive director of the left-of-center Pro-Democracy Center, David Donnelly. ¹

Donnelly launched the Princeton, New Jersey-based consultancy in 2020 to advance the critical race theory-influenced concepts of equity, structural change, and justice. Of By For also works with clients on the environmentalist concept of climate justice, the promotion of “democracy,” and engagement with academics and new potential philanthropic funders. ²

Of By For’s scope of work includes campaigning for structural change across three different areas: campaigns and advocacy; policy, politics, and power; and campaign strategy and fundraising. ³

History and Leadership

Of By For was incorporated in Princeton, New Jersey, in 2019. ^{4 5} The consultancy launched publicly in 2020. ⁶

Longtime left-of-center political operative David Donnelly is the founder and director of Of By For. ⁷ He is also the director of the left-of-center Pro-Democracy Center and Campaign. Previously, Donnelly was the CEO of left-of-center Every Voice. ⁸ In 2012, Donnelly launched the left-of-center super PAC Friends of Democracy with liberal donor Jonathan Soros, the son on liberal finance billionaire and political donor George Soros, and Ilyse Hogue, now the president of abortion advocacy organization NARAL Pro-Choice America. ⁹

Activities

Of By For is a left-of-center political consultancy operated by Pro-Democracy Center executive director David Donnelly. Donnelly launched the consultancy in 2020 to advance the critical race theory-influenced concepts of equity, structural change, and justice. ¹⁰ Of By For’s work is focused on campaigning for structural change across three different areas: campaigns and advocacy; policy, politics and power; and strategy and fundraising. ¹¹

Of By For’s consulting work also supports campaigns and other organizations with “bold progressive strategies” to work towards structural change in the United States, right what it identifies as “injustices in the past,” and build a critical race theory-influenced “equitable world.” ¹²

Of By For’s founder David Donnelly views the consultancy’s campaigns as a vehicle for power building within the broader left-of-center campaign apparatus. Donnelly seeks to build collaborative efforts across both fundraising and grantmaking by building up other organizations and developing strategies to attract funds in support of long-term efforts to make policy demands, secure future election victories, and build successful organizations. ¹³

To do this, Donnelly promotes his skills and experience with previous political campaigns and advocacy work as critical to the success of Of By For. Through Of By For, Donnelly offers client services including campaign and advocacy planning and implementation, management of legislative issues, analysis of political dynamics for campaigns, opposition research, writing and editing of reports and strategic communications memoranda, advising for philanthropic donors and institutions, public opinion surveys and message research, creation of communications strategies, relationship building with potential funders, political outreach, and negotiation skills. ¹⁴

Donnelly has worked with organizations that support issues related to the left-of-center concept of climate justice and the promotion of “democracy” and actively engages academics and potential philanthropic funders involved in these issues through the consultancy. ¹⁵

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2.  “About Of By For.” Of By For. Accessed January 8, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/about/.
3. “Home.” Of By For. Accessed January 8, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/.
4. “Business Entity Status Report.” Search Result for Entity ID 0101053918. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://www.njportal.com/DOR/businessrecords/EntityDocs/BusinessStatCopies.aspx.
5. “Of By For Consulting.” Idealist. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://www.idealist.org/en/consultant/f7a1059844d84fd19f8e9982ca359b4e-of-by-for-consulting-princeton.
6. “David Donnelly.” LinkedIn Profile. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-donnelly-145662a7/.
7. “About Of By For.” Of By For. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/about/.
8. “David Donnelly.” Campaign for America’s Future. Accessed January 5, 2023. https://campaignforamericasfuture.org/signer/david-donnelly/.
9. Eggen, Dan. “Son of liberal financier George Soros launches anti-super PAC super PAC.” Washington Post. July 12, 2012. Accessed January 7, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/son-of-liberal-financier-george-soros-launches-anti-super-pac-super-pac/2012/07/12/gJQABQlufW_story.html
10. “About Of By For.” Of By For. Accessed December 28, 2022. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/about/.
11. “Home.” Of By For. Accessed January 8, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/.
12. “Home.” Of By For Consulting. Accessed January 1, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/.
13.  “About Of By For.” Of By For. Accessed January 1, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/.
14. “About Of By For.” Of By For. Accessed January 8, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/about/.
15. “About Of By For.” Of By For. Accessed January 8, 2023. https://ofbyforconsulting.com/about/.