With progressives’ current position of power, we have the opportunity to create a new America.

Democrats won in 2020 on a promise for legislation that would improve lives for all Americans. To buck all historic trends and hold power 2022, let alone expand it, Democrats must deliver, and also ensure that voters know it was Democrats in power that improved their lives, particularly on the economy. Way to Win’s strategy to maintain momentum is three-fold: pass bold policy, create compelling narratives, and organize early for the Midterms in 2022.

With progressives’ current position of power, we have the opportunity to create a new America.

Policy

Pillar I

Policy

Improve peoples’ lives and strengthen a multiracial democracy through policy and legislation

Democrats won in 2020 on a promise for legislation that would address the devastations caused by COVID-19, the current economic conditions in which millions of people are unemployed, and the healing that is needed given our nation’s history of racism and white supremacy. It is time to govern boldly. This Plan to Govern pillar outlines several areas of policymaking that are preconditions for the possibility of anything else, which include federal democracy reform, bold recovery, and resourcing state-based democracy fights.

View Pillar 1 Memo

MEMBERS ONLY

UPDATED JUNE 22 2021

Pillar II

Narrative

Tell the story of our wins and shape a national narrative

Winning policy isn’t enough. We won the Affordable Care Act, for example, but Democrats did not sufficiently leverage that victory to blunt a 2010 Midterm loss. We have to influence the Democratic Party to market their ideas by showing them what that looks like—we will develop and fund stories about our wins, so that we cultivate voter loyalty. This Plan to Govern pillar includes research and testing to tell our own story at scale, influencing Democratic Party organizations on messaging including promoting the Race Class Narrative, and supporting the progressive narrative ecosystem in states at scale.

View Pillar 2 Memo

MEMBERS ONLY

UPDATED AUGUST 12 2021

Pillar III

Organizing

Set the stage for the next fights: 2022, 2024, and beyond

The midterms are just around the corner, and now is the time to set the stage for more success in 2022 and beyond. This third and final Plan to Govern pillar includes supporting progressive candidates and campaign staff, investing in state infrastructure, and continuing to expand the map into new states where sustained investments over time can help build progressive power in more places in the traditionally red South.

View Pillar 3 Memo

MEMBERS ONLY

UPDATED OCTOBER 29 2021

This site is meant to provide a high level overview of Way to Win’s 2021 strategy— the Plan to Govern. Way to Win members have access to each Pillar, which includes regularly updated information on groups’ plans, budgets, and gaps. You can view them on our secure platform by clicking the buttons above and signing with your individualized login.

I'm A Way to Win Member

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If you would like to work on a personalized plan for your giving, we have a team of advisors who are ready to help. We can discuss your goals and make personalized recommendations based on your priorities, whether those are specific states, groups, issues, or a broader strategy. Whether you are interested in giving through Way to Win vehicles or directly to organizations, please reach out to our Senior Director of Advising, Elena Ruiz, to set up a time to connect.

Connect with Elena Ruiz

ELENA@WAYTOWIN.US

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The political industry was built by consultants, not by the movements powering change. Way to Win members are individual donors, donor advisors, and institutional funders working to upend philanthropy and politics as usual.

Way to Win members have access to top-notch advisors and to a community of like-minded donors and strategists. There are varying levels of partnership available ranging from $5,000 and up. If you’re interested in joining or if you’d like to learn more about the different membership levels and benefits, please reach out to our Director of Membership & Community Engagement, Leah Marsters.

Connect with Leah Marsters

LMARSTERS@WAYTOWIN.US

I'm A Way to Win Member

I’d like help with my giving strategy.

Connect with Elena Ruiz

ELENA@WAYTOWIN.US

Connect with Elena Ruiz

ELENA@WAYTOWIN.US

I'm Not A Member

I’d like to learn more about membership.

Connect with Leah Marsters

LMARSTERS@WAYTOWIN.US

Connect with Leah Marsters

LMARSTERS@WAYTOWIN.US

QUESTIONS?

Can I support this work through Way to Win if I’m not a member?

Absolutely. Way to Win moves money with a strategy that’s co-designed by the movements we fund. Anyone can take advantage of our professionally managed funding vehicles, and there’s no minimum to start giving. We believe strongly in doing this work in community, and are grateful for contributions of any size—there has never been a more critical time for us to band together! Please reach out to Leah or Elena above, for more information.

What does being a member of Way to Win entail?

Members are able to participate in our funding strategies for collective impact. We recognize that giving politically is not easy – and we are here to be a resource for you. There are innumerable organizations to choose from, and innumerable candidates that need support. Way to Win helps by:

Creating a comprehensive strategy—the Plan to Win and Plan to Govern—to help you move your resources efficiently.
Acting as a center of gravity for donors and funders that share a common vision, so as to help us achieve our goals more effectively together, in partnership.
Navigating the larger landscape of other institutions, to ensure that important gaps are filled.
Vetting organizations to ensure that they are accountable to communities closest to injustice, and implementing their work strategically and effectively.
Streamlining communications to reduce redundant work for Way to Win partner organizations as they seek to execute their plans while also raising resources.
Moving a communications strategy to affect a narrative shift rooted in solidifying our politics around a multiracial democracy.

There are varying levels of membership available, which include supporting Way to Win’s operations as well as supporting organizations and strategies in the Plan to Govern 2021 and Plan to Win 2022. To learn more, please reach out to our Membership Director, Leah Marsters, at lmarsters@waytowin.us.

Who can become a Way to Win member?

Way to Win was founded to upend philanthropy and politics as usual. Whether you’re a new individual donor, a practiced donor advisor, or an institutional funder, we welcome you to join Way to Win. We are more than a fund – we are a community. This is because the changes we seek are profound, and they will require us to work together for the long haul. We are building a community where all participants – whether donors or grantees – are respected and valued for the range of talents and resources they bring to our shared work. We are creating a context for funders to think about how to harmonize their 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC dollars to lay the groundwork for significant near- and long-term electoral and policy shifts. If you’re interested in learning more, please reach out to our Director of Membership, Leah Marsters, at lmarsters@waytowin.us.

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