Empower Project

Background

The Empower Project, also known as the Organizing Empower Project, began as a concept in 2011 amid recall election campaigns in Wisconsin. According to the organization’s website, activists following a campaign observed that it was only canvassing registered voters and had consequently run out of people to whom they could reach out. So, these activists began developing a strategy known as “relational organizing” to identify unregistered voters. ¹

In 2016, these activists began a research partnership with the Analyst Institute to identify research gaps in information available concerning relational organizing strategies. By 2018, the activists and the Institute had conducted eight experiments to test the efficacy of their strategy and found it to be particularly effective at identifying unregistered racial- and ethnic-minority voters. ¹

In 2019, the results of these experiments were published and in the following year, the organization claims the strategies developed through the partnership were used to reach one million people. ¹

In 2021, the Empower Project, under the name “Organizing Empowerment Project Inc,” was founded by Mike Pfohl, a former Democratic Party-aligned political operative, as a 501(c)(4) organization in McFarland, Wisconsin, focusing initially on advocacy efforts related to COVID-19 vaccination. ^{2 3 1}

Activity

In the years following the Empower Project’s launch, the organization expanded its reach to Nevada, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. However, as of 2024, the organization claims to be active in all 50 U.S. states. ¹

Organizations with which Empower Project has worked on campaigns and which Empower Project describes as “partners” include nonprofits such as ISAIAH, Rock the Vote, the Center for Popular Democracy, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Harriet Tubman Freedom Fighting, Indivisible, A. Phillip Randolph Institute, Movement Labs, Blueprint North Carolina, Voces De La Frontera, One Fair Wage, the Texas Freedom Network, the Humane League, Move On, NextGen America, and Black Lives Matter PAC; labor unions such as the AFSCME, AFT, AFL-CIO, UFCW 3000, and Unite Here! Local 11; as well as Democratic campaigns and Democratic Party organizations such as the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Kendra Horn for U.S. Senate, the Rhode Island Democratic Party, Mandela Barnes for Senate, Arkansas Democrats, Utah Democratic Party, Gabe Amo for Congress, Nevada Senate Democrats, and Heather Mizeur for Congress. ⁴

Funding

Though the Empower Project offers its services free-of-charge to charitable and advocacy nonprofit organizations, the organization does charge a fee to campaigns for candidates for office. Additionally, the organization accepts donations from “funding partners” and individuals by way of ActBlue and checks mailed to the organization’s office. ⁵ “Training and technology solutions for relational organizing: FAQ.” Empower Project. Accessed November 11, 2024. https://web.empowerproject.us/why-empower#FAQ[/note]

Leadership

Mike Pfohl is the president and founder of the Empower Project. Previously, he worked as the political and program director of America Votes Wisconsin. ³

Amanda Brink is the executive director of the Empower Project. Previously, she worked for Organizing for America, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential Campaign, and the campaign of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D). ⁶

James Herrmann is the campaign director of the Empower Project. Previously, he worked on political campaigns in New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Virginia, and North Carolina. ⁷

Stan Fils-Aime is the development director of the Empower Project. Previously, he worked as a political field organizer, as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives, and as a public affairs professional in the City University of New York system and at Blue Cross Blue Shield. ⁸

Araceli Villezcas is the communications director of the Empower Project. Previously, she worked at Arizona Wins (an affiliate of America Votes), Mi Familia Vota, and Worker Power. ⁹