The Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation, also known as the Voter Network, is a left-of-center advocacy group that claims to promote increased voter turnout and civic engagement within “underrepresented communities” in the state of Kansas. It functions as part of the Mainstream Coalition network, which includes the 501(c)(4) Mainstream Coalition and the defunct MainPAC .¹

Background

Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation was established as the Mainstream Education Foundation to advocate in favor of local policies in Kansas promoting left-of-center causes such as strict separation of church and state, government transparency, increased protections for LGBT people, and abortion access. ² The foundation also began to engage in civic advocacy to increase voter turnout and participation for Kansas-state communities it claims are unrepresented. ³

The organization rebranded in 2020 while joining with the Mainstream Coalition network, founded in 1993. ³

Activities

In 2024, Mainstream Civic Engagement hosted the Kansas state premiere of the documentary Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy, with screenings in the cities of Lawrence and Leawood. The documentary claimed to advocate on the alleged dangers of what it calls “Christian Nationalism,” while those in attendance, which included Caitlin Brazner and Mainstream Civic Engagement executive director Michael Poppa, expressed opposition to “Christian nationalism” while voicing support for the separation of church and state as well as increased voter turnout to prevent the creation of a “theocracy” in the United States.  ⁴

Funding

The Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation has received funding from several nonprofit organizations and grantmaking foundations including the Arabella Advisors-managedf New Venture Fund, ⁵ the Voter Network Foundation, ⁵ the REACH Healthcare Foundation, Kansas Action for Children, and the Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program. ⁶

1. Mainstream Coalition. “About.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/about.
2. Mainstream Coalition. “Where We Stand.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/where_we_stand.
3. Mainstream Coalition. “History.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/history.
4. Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. “Community Members Speak Out Against Christian Nationalism.” Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, August 15, 2024. https://www.kcjc.com/current-news/community-news/9661-community-members-speak-out-against-christian-nationalism.
5. GuideStar. “Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/48-1143190.
6. Cause IQ. “Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mainstream-education-foundation,481143190/