1030 15th St. NW
Suite B255
Washington, D.C. 20005
Email: info@americanoversight.org
Press inquiries: press@americanoversight.org
Ph. (202) 869-5246
American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that uses public records requests backed by litigation to fight corruption and defend democracy. The organization believes that transparency is a critical tool to promote integrity in government and to protect justice, truth, and the rule of law. The organization has, according to its website, obtained & published tens of thousands of documents from federal, state, & local government agencies.
Priority issue areas:
- Exposing threats to democracy (includes investigations of money in politics)
- Attempts to restrict voting rights
- Ensuring that abuses of power are stopped
Brennan Center for Justice
New York Office, 120 Broadway, Suite 1750, New York, NY 10271
Washington DC Office, 1140 Connecticut Ave., NW, 11th Floor, Suite 1150, Washington, D.C. 20036
Click here to sign Up for Updates
Email: brennancenter@nyu.edu
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve systems of democracy and justice. The Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism.
The Center's work is divided into several "Issue Areas." Under the issue of "Reform Money in Politics," the Center presents several projects, one of which is the Dark Money project. This listing includes extensive resources, reports, and policy proposals to address the issue nationally and in the states. Interested persons can contact Brennan Center staff for more information. Each staff member listing indicates those with expertise in reforming the role of money in politics and "dark money."
Campaign Legal Center
1411 K St. NW, Suite 1400
Washington, DC 20005
202-736-2200 (o); (202) 736-2201 (o)
campaignlegalcenter.org
President and General Counsel – Trevor Potter
Executive Director, Gerry Hebert (Click name to email directly.)
Policy Director, Meredith McGehee
Senior Counsel on State Laws – Paul Seamus Ryan
The Campaign Legal Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that protects and strengthens our democracy in the areas of campaign finance, voting rights, political communication, and government ethics.
Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) and CPD Action
(CPD Action has 2 offices: 1 in New York & 1 in Washington DC)
449 Troutman Street, Suite A
Brooklyn, NY 11237
1730 M Street NW, Suite 1115
Washington, DC 20036
cpdaction.or
Ph. (347) 985-2220
Co-Executive Director: DaMareo Cooper
Co-Executive Director: Analilia Mejia
Email: cpd@populardemocracy.org
CPD Action, along with their sister organization Center for Popular Democracy, works to create equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions. CPD Action works on campaigns that promote a pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda and win victories to improve people’s lives.
The Center for Responsive Politics
1300 L St., NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005-5635
Ph. (202) 857-0044 • fax (202) 857-7809
Email for General Inquiries: info@crp.org
Media Contacts: press@crp.org
Achieving their mission through their website, OpenSecrets.org, which is the most comprehensive resource for federal campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis available anywhere. And for other organizations and news media, the Center's exclusive data powers their online features tracking money in politics - counting cash to make change. The OpenSecrets Blog features reporting about money-in-politics, including award winning investigative journalism.
Committee for Economic Development (CED), The Conference Board
Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board
845 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022-6600
Conference Board President, Lori Esposito Murray (Click on name to email.)
Vice President of Public Policy, John Gardner, Ph. (212) 339-0216
Ph. 1 (800) 676-7353 or 1 (202) 296-5860
Email: info@ced.org
The nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led organization delivers well-researched analysis and reasoned solutions in the nation’s interest. CED Trustees are chief executive officers and key executives of leading US companies who bring their unique experience to address today’s pressing policy issues. Collectively they represent 30+ industries, over a trillion dollars in revenue, and over 4 million employees. Policy issue work related to dark money can be located in their issue area, Sustaining Democratic Institutions, with specific recommendations on Money in Politics.
Common Cause
805 15th Street NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20005.
Ph. (202) 833-1200
Email: Grassroots action - CauseNet@commoncause.org
Email: Donations - giving@commoncause.org
Media: dvance@commoncause.org
A nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. Common Cause serves as an independent voice for change and a watchdog against corruption and abuse of power. Together with their sister organization, the Common Cause Education Fund, they combine grassroots organizing, coalition building, research, policy development, public education, lobbying and litigation for reform at all levels of government.
Common Cause, nationwide network of more than 900,000 members and supporters, has offices in 35 states & Washington, D.C., including a chapter in Kentucky.
Common Cause Kentucky
3044 Bardstown Rd., #200 Louisville, KY 40205
Kentucky State Chair: Richard Beliles, (Click name to email.) Ph.: (502) 592-5381
Kentucky State Treasurer: Tom Louderback,
Common Cause Kentucky advocates for open, honest, and accessible state and local government in affiliation with national Common Cause. They lobby the Kentucky General Assembly for bills that promote honest and open state and local government practices. Additional strategies include court petitions when necessary, and regular communication to public officials, the media, and community groups. Common Cause Kentucky distributes a state newsletter.
Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO)
501 3rd Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Ph.: (202) 434-1100
cwa-union.org
President, Larry Cohen
Mission Statement: CWA works with alliance partners like Common Cause to get corporate money out of politics and help make the American political process work for working families.
Demos
220 Fifth Ave. 2nd Flr.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-1405
demos.org
President, Taifa Smith Butler (Click name to contact.)
Demos means “the People.” It is a public policy organization working for an America where everyone has an equal say in this democracy and an equal chance in the economy. Demos carries out its mission through a combination of strategies: litigation; partnership building; policy research and communication.
End Citizens United
P.O. Box 66005
Washington, DC 20035
Ph.: (202)798-5253
Email: inbox@endcitizensunited.com
Media contact: pressteam@endcitizensunited.org
The mission of End Citizens United is to fix American democracy by getting big money out of politics and protecting the right to vote. Charging that the current political system is rigged, the group's strategies include by electing reform champions, passing meaningful legislative reforms, and elevating these issues in the national conversation. The organization works in partnership with other organizations and elected officials to overturn Citizens United, end the unlimited and undisclosed money in politics, and protect and expand the right to vote.
OpenSecrets
1300 L St NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
Ph.: (202) 857-0044
For citizens interested in digging into the money behind state races, start with this organization. The National Institute on Money in Politics and the Center for Responsive Politics joined forces to become OpenSecrets. Federal data is on the OpenSecrets.org website while data for candidates in state offices (state legislatures, judicial races, ballot measures, statewide elected officials, etc.) Here is the link for data about campaign spending in Kentucky, for example.
The nonpartisan, nonprofit National Institute on Money in Politics (NIMP) promotes an accountable democracy by compiling comprehensive campaign-donor, lobbyist, and other information from government disclosure agencies nationwide and making it freely available at FollowTheMoney.org.
The Institute researches and archives a 50-state federal/state database of contributions documenting $100+ billion, plus more than 2 million state lobbyist-client relationships (including Kentucky) that are registered annually. Recent expansions include selected local-level data, collecting independent spending reports for federal campaigns and in 31 states, and lobbying spending in 20 states.
$$$$$ The Institute provides training in conducting research and data analysis using their website. Given the magnitude of the available data, the training is highly recommended. Institute researchers deliver hands-on training at conferences and elsewhere. They also post recorded webinars on the MoneyInPolitics channel, covering an extensive number of topics, including short tutorials on how to use the website. Call their offices for information about scheduling training for a conference or event: 406-449-2480. $$$$$
Free Speech for People
505 West 38th Street, Unit A4
Austin, TX 78705
Ph.: (512) 628-0146
freespeechforpeople.org
Co-Founder & President, John Bonifaz
Free Speech For People works to challenge the misuse of corporate power and restore republican democracy to the people. Their focus in the area of money in politics includes the following, with briefing materials and online petitions to sign addressing these issues:
- Challenging foreign influence in elections:
- Defending state campaign finance reform laws
- Advancing new scholarship
- Challenging super PACs
- Advocating for the Free & Fair Elections Amendment
Issue One (formerly Fund for the Republic)
11 Dupont Circle, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20036
Ph.: (202) 299-0265
issueone.org
Executive Director: Nick Penniman
Director for External Affairs: Barbara Lawton
The fund is a nonprofit grant-making organization committed to putting everyday citizens back in control of our democracy by reducing the influence of well-financed special interests over American politics and policy-making.
League of Women Voters of the United States (LWV-US) and
League of Women Voters of Kentucky
1233 20th Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC, 20036
Ph.: (202) 429-1965
Media contact: Communications Department, ph. 202-263-1332; email: media@lwv.org
Chief Executive Officer: Virginia Kase Solomón
The League of Women Voters (LWV), a national membership organization, believes in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy. The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 by leaders of the women’s suffrage movement. For 100 years, LWV has been a nonpartisan, activist, grassroots organization that believes voters should play a critical role in democracy.
"Money in Politics," a main issue and action area for the LWV, uses the following strategies:
- Advocating for financial transparency and ethics, such as urging the US Senate to bring the DISCLOSE Act of 2021 to the floor for debate & final passage.
- Litigation and advocacy, including filing as amicus partners in Gaspee v. Mederos, a case challenging Rhode Island's campaign disclosure laws.
League of Women Voters of Kentucky
115 South Ewing Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
Ph.: (502) 875-6481
Email: info@lwvky.org & kentuckylwv@gmail.com
The League of Women Voters of Kentucky (LWV-KY) works in coordination with the national league in ensuring that women are engaged, with equal access, to the tools for an effective democracy.
The League, a membership based organization, works with citizens through the American political process to bring about constructive change, through the following strategies:
- Registers voters & defends voting rights; monitors government activities – including city councils, school boards, state legislatures & the U.S. Congress;
- Educates citizens abut their rights & responsibilities;
- Sponsors candidate forums and public issue forums;
- Studies issues in order to reach member consensus;
- Takes action by lobbying, testifying and educating legislators on issues of interest to the league.
As a nonpartisan body, the League takes action on issues & does not support or oppose candidates or parties.
The LWV-KY is fully committed to diversity, equity & inclusion in the organization. These principles are central to the League’s current & future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities and policymakers to create a more perfect democracy.
Pursuant to the goals of diversity, equity and inclusion, the LWV-KY commits to recruit, mentor & retain members & leaders who represent a broad spectrum of people, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief, ability & being differently-abled, socioeconomic status, rural & urban locale, & political affiliation. (Adopted September, 2019)
The LWV-KY has four chapters: Hopkinsville; Lexington; Louisville; and Northern Kentucky. Interested persons can join a chapter or join as an "at large" member, as part of the state organization. Click here for more information about membership in the League of Women Voters of Kentucky.
MapLight
2223 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 868-0894
maplight.org
President & Co-Founder, Daniel G. Newman
Vice President of Communications and Editorial Director, Pamela Behrsin
MapLight is a nonpartisan research organization that reveals money’s influence on politics. They research and compile data about the sources of campaign contributions in U.S. presidential, congressional, state, and local ballot and candidate elections. Maplight provides journalists and citizens with transparency tools that connect data on campaign contributions, politicians, legislative votes, industries, companies, and more to show patterns of influence never before possible to see. These tools allow users to gain unique insights into how campaign contributions affect policy so they can draw their own conclusions about how money influences our political system.
Move to Amend
PO Box 610
Eureka, CA 95502
&
1402 M Street,
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 269-0984
movetoamend.org
National Field Director: Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap (click on name to email her); cell: (707) 362-0626,
Spokesman: David Cobb; cell: (707) 362-0333
Move to Amend is a loose network of hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of individuals committed to social and economic justice, ending corporate rule, and building a vibrant democracy that is genuinely accountable to the people, not corporate interests.
People for the American Way
1101 15th Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 467-4999
1-800-326-7329
Email: pfaw@pfaw.org
President, Michael Keegan
Marge Baker, Executive VP for Policy & Program (People for the American Way) (202) 467-4999
People For the American Way and its affiliate, People For the American Way Foundation, are progressive advocacy organizations founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity.
Public Citizen
1600 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 588-1000
citizen.org
President: Robert Weissman
Policy Director: Craig Holman
Public Citizen lobbies for the public interest before Congress, serving as the people’s voice in Washington to ensure that all citizens are represented in the halls of power.
Mail Address:
Hedrick Smith, Executive Editor
2700 Calvert St., NW, Apt 116
Washington, DC 20008
Administrative office:
Judy Bicknell, Treasurer
2424 Keller Farm Rd.
Boulder, CO 80304
Email: hedrick@reclaimtheamericandream.org
Reclaim the American Dream is an informational gateway aimed at helping people who are upset about America today to get engaged in fixing our democracy and making our economy fairer at the local level, where people power still has clout. The organizers have created an accessible, journalistic-style website to answer questions about American democracy.
Reclaim the American dream is not focused on one project or one particular strategy. The reader is introduced to multiple issues, strategies, and organizations to help interested citizens start a reform movement in their community or to join forces with others. The target audience is civic-minded Americans and local groups who want change but don’t know where to start.
The goal is to inform and arm thoughtful people with briefings on reform issues, progress reports on actions already underway, success stories from other states, plus a docket of organizations and experts offering advice and support. One of the issue areas is "Dark Money." The link provides briefing materials, background research, updates, and other resources.
Each issue area also include a "Tool Kit" action strategy, with resources for each step in the process. This link provides the "Tool Kit" for taking action on financial disclosure & dark money.
Represent.US
P.O. Box 60008
Florence, MA 01062
Ph.: (855) 585.8100
Email: info@represent.us
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder: Joshua Graham Lynn
RepresentUs describes itself as America’s leading nonpartisan organization fighting to protect & strengthen democracy. The organization unites unlikely allies from across the political spectrum who put country over party to pass pro-democracy laws, fight corruption, & to defeat authoritarian threats.
Interested citizens can participate by starting and/or joining a "Action Brigades" which works to implement anti-corruption ordinances, laws, or rules at the state and local level. RepresentUS has, as of 2022, worked with local groups to pass pro-democracy reforms in cities and states, declaring 161 victories across America.
Together Frankfort has been an organizational member of Represent.US since 2018. Several members have participated in events organized by RepresentUS, most notably their two national conferences entitled "UnRig the System!"
Issue 1. Our right to autonomy over our own bodies.
Together Frankfort encourages citizens across the Commonwealth to become informed about the proposed amendment to Kentucky's constitution, known as the "No Right to Abortion in Kentucky's Constitution Amendment." The website, Ballotpedia, provides background and an overview of the proposed amendment, as well as discussing the groups that are supporting the amendment as well as those opposed to the amendment. We encourage citizens to read, watch podcasts, discuss with neighbors and friends, and consider the gravity of amending Kentucky's constitution with this proposed amendment.
Constitutional Amendment 2 would amend the Bill of Rights of the Kentucky Constitution to state that nothing in the state constitution protects or secures a right to abortion or requires the funding of abortion.
On Monday, August 28, 2022, Together Frankfort's leadership team adopted a resolution to oppose Constitutional Amendment #2. As an organization, we are encouraging other organizations to review and adopt similar policies in opposition to Constitutional Amendment #2.
****In addition, we encourage individuals to Sign (click here) the Pledge to Oppose Amendment #2 on the November 8, 2022 ballot in the Kentucky General Election.****
Together Frankfort needs YOU!
As Together Frankfort continues the important work of this challenging year 2022, we are looking ahead to 2023 (can you believe it?). We request your involvement and, if possible, your support. Click on the link, fill out the form, make a declaration of your Together Frankfort membership & involvement.
Thank you!
Issue 2. Eliminate dark money from American politics.
Together Frankfort invites citizens to participate in our work group on dark money. This group evolved from the discussions following the community viewing of the movie, Dark Money. The group meets periodically (every two months or so) to provide informational sessions about actions to address dark money, about what other organizations are doing in which one can participate, and about what YOU can do! Click here to register to participate!
Together Frankfort invited the community to a screening of the movie, Dark Money, Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, Brown Forman Room, 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY . Over 60 participants viewed the film and then engaged in a group discussion led by Richard Taylor.
- The Movie: DARK MONEY examines one of the greatest present threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials. The film takes viewers to Montana—a frontline in the fight to preserve fair elections nationwide—to follow an intrepid local journalist working to expose the real-life impacts of the US Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Through this gripping story, DARK MONEY uncovers the shocking and vital truth of how American elections are bought and sold.
- Background:
- During 2017, Together Frankfort's first year as an organization, the leadership decided to conduct a year - long examination of dark money in politics. Click the links below to learn more, which included:
- ~ A meeting with Kentucky's 3rd District Congressman John Yarmuth, who has sponsored legislation to address the issue of dark money;
- ~ A guided discussion of Jane Meyer's book, Dark Money;
- ~ A presentation from a representative of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky;
- ~ Presentations from national organizations working to address money in politics, through Congressional action, including proposals for a Constitutional amendment
- ~ A panel discussion with presenters from several national and regional organizations, who have worked to address money in politics.
Organizations working to address the impact of dark money in politics
Though scores of organizations are working to address the impact of dark money on politics, the magnitude of the challenge grows ever greater with each election cycle. After meetings, discussions, and research, Together Frankfort recommends that every person interested in our democracy work to become more informed, and to share information with others.
One way to better educate oneself is to study the research reports about previous involvement of dark money in elections and to question candidates, when they are running for office, about their view of dark money and PACs.
The following organizations provide specific information about dark money's impact, who's spending it, who's getting it, and the issues which dark money groups and PACs work to influence.