Greater Greater Washington (GGW) is an advocacy group that promotes left-of-center policies within the Washington D.C metropolitan area. The organization publishes a blog and conducts organizing efforts to promote left-of-center housing and social justice issues. GGW has received from foundations such as Open Philanthropy, Arnold Ventures, and the Sixteen Thirty Fund. ^{1 2 3}

Background

Greater Greater Washington (GGW) originated in 2008 as a community blog focused on urban planning issues in the Washington, D.C., region. Founded by software engineer David Alpert, the site initially served as a platform for discussions on issues related to local transportation as well as housing development and finding contributions from local activists. The blog was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2015 and received tax-exempt status in 2016. ^{4 5 6}

GGW later shifted toward advocacy, hiring staff and launching campaigns to promote left-of-center poliices within the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. By 2018, it established a membership program to encourage donors and increase grassroots organizing. ^{7 8}

The group has also advocated in favor of emphasizing “racial, economic, and environmental justice in land use, transportation, and housing.” In 2024, the group launched a 501(c)(3) sister organization, Greater Greater Washington Commons, to promote educational and community advocacy. ^{9 8}

Activities

Greater Greater Washington (GGW) has previously published articles and opinion pieces on its blog, covering topics such as housing shortages, transit improvements, and urban equity in the D.C. area. ¹⁰

The group has conducted advocacy campaigns pushing for left-of-center land-use reforms, such as reducing parking requirements and rezoning neighborhoods to allow more multifamily housing. In Maryland, it supported efforts to increase housing production through state legislation, aligning with Governor Wes Moore‘s (D) initiatives. In the District of Columbia, Greater Greater Washington has advocated for bike lanes, pedestrian safety measures, and policies to address racial disparities in transportation access. It manages the DC Transportation Equity Network, a coalition of left-of-center groups focused on equitable transit for vulnerable populations. ^{2 11 12 13}

The group has organized “Do Something” campaigns to mobilize supporters of left-of-center community actions and has provided training for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners in D.C. towards advocating on housing and transportation policies. It released a 2026 survey in Maryland that claimed to show an increase in public support for housing growth within the state. Its sister 501(c)(3) group, Greater Greater Washington Commons, provides educational programs as well as promoting youth advocacy. ^{2 11 14}

Funding

Greater Greater Washington has previously received funding from left-of-center foundations and donors. In 2024, its major supporters included Arnold Ventures, Open Philanthropy, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, and the Welcoming Neighbors Network. ³

1. “About Us.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/about.
2. “Our Advocacy Efforts.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/about/advocacy.
3. “Our Supporters.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/supporters.
4. “About the Blog.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/about/blog.
5. “Greater Greater Washington Lost a Big Chunk of Its Funding. Now What?” Washingtonian. March 8, 2019. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://washingtonian.com/2019/03/08/greater-greater-washington-lost-a-big-chunk-of-its-funding-now-what.
6. “Greater Greater Washington.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/472738753.
7. “State of GGWash: A Lot Has Been Changing Behind the Scenes.” Greater Greater Washington. January 4, 2019. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/view/70367/state-of-ggwash-a-lot-has-been-changing-sustainable-future.
8. “Support Greater Greater Washington.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/support.
9. “Vision, Mission, Values.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/about/mission-values.
10. “Recent Posts.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/posts/P19230.
11. “Marylanders Agree: It’s Time to Do Something About High Housing Costs.” Greater Greater Washington. February 10, 2026. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/view/102300/2026-maryland-housing-growth-and-affordability-poll-wes-moore.
12. “Why Youth Advocacy Matters for Transportation Planning.” Greater Greater Washington. December 16, 2025. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/view/101827/the-importance-of-youth-advocacy-in-transit.
13. “DC Transportation Equity Network.” Greater Greater Washington. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/dcten.
14. “How a Simple Bingo Game Gets People Moving Through the City.” Greater Greater Washington. February 3, 2026. Accessed February 12, 2026. https://ggwash.org/view/102252/how-a-simple-bingo-game-gets-people-moving-through-the-city.