Propel Democracy Forward Fund (PDFF) is a left-of-center fund that supports civic engagement and organizing efforts at the state level. The group has targeted politically competitive states with year-round activism since its founding by Propel Capital Network in 2016. ¹

PDFF has said that the right to vote is “under siege” and has quoted claims from Democratic Georgia politician Stacey Abrams that there is a “coordinated onslaught” of attacks on voting rights at the state level. The group also considers the United States to be living in a “multi-layered crisis of democracy” where those who are running the U.S. are seeking to amass and retain power by “harnessing racial resentment.” ²

History and Leadership

Propel Democracy Forward Fund (PDFF) was founded in 2016 by Propel Capital Network in an effort to build a strong network that can move funding in key moments of leverage to support state-based left-of-center organizations through canvassing, mobile outreach, and organizing efforts. ³

Sarah M. Williams is the co-founder and CEO of Propel Capital Network. ⁴ She leads the organization’s overall team and strategy. Williams is a lifelong liberal organizer and activist. In addition to her role at Propel, Williams is a board member of the Brooklyn Community Foundation, Color of Change, New Media Ventures, and Vera Action. She supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement. ^{5 6}

Activities and Funding

Propel Democracy Forward Fund (PDFF) is a left-of-center fund that supports left-of-center grassroots engagement and organizing efforts at the state level. PDFF has access to a network of state-based organizations that specialize on canvassing, mobile outreach, organizing, and digital advertising to support its objectives. ⁷

PDFF has supported the strategies of left-of-center groups including Color of Change and National Domestic Workers Alliance. ⁸

PDFF considers the United States to be living in a time of a “multi-layered crisis of democracy” where a “shrinking minority is fighting for permanent power to make it hard to vote, secure the ability to overturn the results of legitimate elections, and tighten their grip in geographies they already control.” The group has also said that those currently in charge in the U.S. are seeking to amass and retain power by harnessing racial resentment. PDFF has claimed the right to vote is “under siege” and has quoted accusations from Georgia politician Stacey Abrams (D) that there is a “coordinated onslaught” of attacks on voting rights at the state level. ⁹

Since its inception in 2016, PDFF has supported new ideas for left-of-center voter engagement. This includes supporting get-out-the-vote and activist organizations in Georgia and Arizona and investing in high-impact organizations to lay the groundwork for civic engagement in 2022 and beyond. The fund supports these activities by engaging in year-round activism and doing what it calls shoring up voting rights and protecting voting systems. ¹⁰

PDFF has used a network of state-based organizations to focus on canvassing, mobile outreach, organizing, and digital advertising at the state level. Through this work it has supported left-of-center groups such as Color of Change and the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance (NDWA) and worked to expand their membership. ¹¹

The fund also moves resources to organizations it has vetted that are involved in left-of-center civic efforts to protect the freedom to vote, connect with new voters, and show communities how government can deliver for them. With its funding, PDFF aims to deploy funds and drive effective grassroots campaigning that fit squarely in the context of the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial justice.  ¹²

Funding

Propel Democracy Forward Fund is a project of Propel Capital Network, ¹³ which covers all of its operating costs and fees. ¹⁴

PDFF also receives funding through contributions to a designated fund managed by ImpactAssets Inc. This fund also facilitates donor anonymity. ^{15 16}

1. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
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3. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
4. Williams, Sarah M. “Together We Sound Like.” Sarah Williams Medium. June 22, 2020. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://medium.com/propel-capital/together-we-sound-like-change-3ec9a667ca80.
5. “Tweet.” Sarah M. Williams Twitter. Posted October 22, 2017. Accessed July 1, 2023.  https://twitter.com/smcnwilliams/status/922262940295852032?s=46&t=3NS6kAbTQoTxAHIoHcM5iQ
6. Williams, Sarah M. “Together We Sound Like.” Sarah Williams Medium. June 22, 2020. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://medium.com/propel-capital/together-we-sound-like-change-3ec9a667ca80.
7. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel. Accessed July 2, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
8. “Building progressive power in the U.S.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy.
9. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
10. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
11. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
12. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
13. Williams, Sarah M. “Hope is a Muscle. Medium. July 25, 2022. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://medium.com/propel-capital/hope-is-a-muscle-cd13c54d4cd8.
14. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.
15. “Propel Democracy Fund.” ImpactAssets. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://iphi.stellartechsol.com/calvert/OnlineDonation/tabid/542/dispatch/contribution_id%24394896_hash%24c653f7d745966318ba19e962fe223fc2dec9bf91/Default.aspx.
16. “Propel Democracy Forward Fund.” Propel Capital. Accessed July 1, 2023. https://www.propelcapital.org/democracy/pdff.