The Voter Network Foundation is a Kansas-based organization that focuses on voter turnout in underrepresented communities through outreach. ¹ Its donors include the New Venture Fund, a left-of-center nonprofit fund that is part of the Arabella Advisors network. ¹

The organization’s leadership includes staff who worked for Democratic elected officials and for left-of-center advocacy groups. ^{2 3}

Background

The Mainstream Coalition announced the launch of The Voter Network in July 2020. The coalition said it was not new but had changed its name from Mainstream Education Foundation and streamlined to work on voter turnout, voter education, and voter empowerment. ⁴

It is part of the Mainstream network, consisting of a 501(c)(4) Mainstream Coalition and the 501(c)(3) Mainstream Civic Engagement, formerly known as the “Mainstream Education Foundation” and now doing business as “the Voter Network.” ⁵

The Voter Network says only 10 percent of registered voters in Kansas vote in all elections. ⁶  Registered voters in Kansas are far more likely to miss voting in local elections or in primary elections, according to the Network. ^{7 8}

Voter to Voter

The Voter Network’s “Voter-to-Voter” process recruits volunteer “ambassadors” to persuade 10 people in their social network to vote. In theory, each of those 10 would recruit another 10 to vote. ⁹

The volunteer “ambassadors” are largely women and mothers, a National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate reported. ⁹

The organization contends the most effective way to increase voter turnout is for people to talk to their friends and family about voting, adding, “that’s right, no postcards or calls to strangers.” It says the voters it connects to turn out at a rate 25 percent higher than the statewide average. ⁶

KSBallot.org

The Voter Network’s KSBallot.org is offered as a “one-stop site” for information about the Kansas elections. ⁴

This online tool is available in English and Spanish and more than 5,000 Kansans have used it. It allows users to see what races are on their ballot, research candidates, and find out where to vote early or where to vote on Election Day. ¹

Funding

The Health Forward Foundation/Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City contributed $200,000 to the Voter Network in 2023. ¹

The left-of-center New Venture Fund, a nonprofit fund that is part of the Arabella Advisors political funding network, contributed $76,000 to The Voter Network in 2023. ¹

The Reach Healthcare Foundation gave $75,000 to the Voter Network in 2023. ¹⁰

The Mainstream Civic Engagement Foundation donated $66,408 to the Voter Network in 2023. ¹

NEO Philanthropy contributed $35,000 to the Voter Network in 2023. ¹⁰

Kansas Action for Children contributed $22,500 to the Voter Network in 2023. ¹⁰

Leadership

As of 2025, Lindsay Ford was the executive director of the Voter Network, taking the helm in 2023. She was previously the associate director from 2018 to 2022. Before that, she was director of the office of Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Mark Holland (D). Previously, she was the political director for Kansas State Treasurer Dennis McKinney (D). ²

As of 2025, Lauren Klapper was the director of training and partner support for the Voter Network. She was previously a Kansas organizer for Planned Parenthood of Great Plains. ³

Meaghan Schaible is the director of operations for the Voter Network. She was previously an accountant for Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City. ¹¹

Kjersti McDonald is the voter engagement director for the Voter Network. She previously was a project coordinator at Majority Action, and an organizing director at Missouri Health Care for All. ¹²

1. “The Voter Network.” Cause IQ. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/voter-network,921581742/
2. “Lindsay Ford.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-ford-9471645/
3. “Lauren Klapper.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-klapper-404285142/
4. Press Release. “Announcing The Voter Network, because democracy is strongest when we all participate.” July 14, 2020. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/announcing_the_voter_network
5. “Do More than Vote.” Mainstream Coalition. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/
6. “Voter to Voter.” The Voter Network. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://thevoternetwork.org/voter-to-voter/
7. “Who Are We.” The Voter Network. Accessed March 31, 2025.  https://thevoternetwork.org/
8. “Volunteer Toolkit.” The Voter Network. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://thevoternetwork.org/toolkit/
9. Ziegler, Laura. “These Johnson County moms use tech tools and peer pressure to get out the vote.” KCUR. October 23, 2024. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2024-10-23/johnson-county-kansas-voter-network-increase-turnout-voter-to-voter
10. “The Voter Network Foundation.” Instrumenl. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/mainstream-education-foundation
11. “Meaghan Schaible.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/meaghan-schaible-548b556b/
12. “Kjersti (KJ) McDonald.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 31, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kjersti-mcdonald/