Political Investing Not Driven by Big Names

While big names and celebrities may drive traffic to a charitable website, they are not so effective at creating donations, a study shows. Recommendations from family members and friends are the more important influencers. The study researchers also evaluate charities by their financial health.

NPC's philosophy is that it is the results that an organization can deliver that are important for its evaluation. That donors want to see a real return on their political investment PROI. When donors see how they can personally make an impact on the issue that concerns them - they are sure to stay engaged, continue to give and tell their friends how they did it!

Products Change Lives

One of the best things about being a start up in SOMA is watching ideas become companies. It is inspiring. Fundamental to each of these start-ups is the belief that there is a better/smarter/faster way. Innovation occurs when individuals are willing to step out of the current system and rethink a solution, are not tied to past patterns, and take risks on a new approach to solve a customer’s pain. Those of us who have experienced this understand a very simple, but powerful truth: Products change lives.

At NPC we want to revolutionize the way in which people make political giving decisions. Giving to organizations shouldn't just be about responding to an email asking for money or your friends “guilting” you into giving to a cause. We can no longer afford to be reactive in our political giving. Progressive change requires strategic investment. Remember what happened in the 1990's when small investors got access to financial research and expertise? A whole new wave of individuals became investors—and we desperately need a new generation of political investors supporting tomorrow’s leaders and their organizations. Here at NPC we will continue to launch products that change politics as usual; continuing to build a customer experience that enables them to create a strategic impact.

"Political Mutual Fund" Badges

If you've invested in our funds, we encourage you to post these badges to your site.








To all that have contributed to NPC’s first "Political Mutual Funds," thank you. You are making a valuable investment and a very real impact.

NPC "Political Mutual Funds" Launch

Check out our press release below:

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2007--Giving to political and charitable organizations no longer has to feel random, reactive, or confusing. Today, New Progressive Coalition, LLC (NPC), an online political giving advisor, introduces its first "Political Mutual Funds," which are unique and powerful portfolios of organizations that are working to address three pressing domestic challenges: energy independence and the environment, health care, and nonpartisan civic engagement and election-related issues.

NPC found that its customers were overloaded with donation requests and didn't know which organizations were effective or how to make strategic contributions. NPC researches, evaluates, and selects organizations for each of its funds so that its customers don't have to. With one click, the actively managed funds provide an easy way for citizens to harness their collective power and make a strategic impact without having to navigate the complex political and policy landscape.

"Individuals are searching for a way to make an impact that is more strategic than just responding to an email asking for money," said Kirstin Falk, CEO of NPC. "People want to see how their contributions translate into action and our 'Political Mutual Funds' do just that."

More than 120 organizations from across the country applied to be included in NPC's first three "Political Mutual Funds." NPC used its proprietary Political Return on Investment (PROI)™ methodology to analyze organizations and determine the success of their specific goals. The final holdings of each fund were then selected by NPC with guidance from leading issue-experts.

"During the current U.S. presidential election cycle alone, billions will be spent by the campaigns and countless independent organizations," said Andy Rappaport, a noted Silicon Valley venture capitalist and political donor and, with his wife Deborah, the major investor in NPC. "By providing a mechanism for every citizen to make informed decisions about where to make donations, to measure and track the effectiveness of these donations, and to be able to join with other contributors to have a real impact no matter what they can afford, NPC is contributing in a very real way to welcoming citizen participation back into the political and policy making process."

Progressive change requires investment. Remember what happened in the 1990s when the small investor got access to financial research and expertise? A whole new wave of individuals became investors. Just as companies like Charles Schwab provide investment research, analysis, and portfolio management, NPC provides the same services in the political and public policy arena. NPC's "Political Mutual Funds" are continuously managed. Depending on the performance of the first round of holdings, or to take advantage of opportunities that arise, organizations may be added or removed to improve the "political return" of the fund. Contributors will have access to "Impact Reports" in order to constantly monitor how their contributions are making an impact.

As of today, NPC is introducing the following "Political Mutual Funds":

The Energy Independence & Environment "Political Mutual Fund" invests in organizations that work to ensure a greener planet and an energy-independent country. Organizations in the fund include: Arizona League of Conservation Voters, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Energize America, Energy Action, Green Corps, Institute for America's Future, League of Conservation Voters, Rainforest Action Network, Science & Environmental Health Network, Vote Solar Initiative, and Western Organization of Resource Councils.

The Health Care "Political Mutual Fund" invests in organizations that are moving the United States towards an affordable and accessible health care system. Organizations in the fund include: America's Agenda Health Care Education Fund, Campaign for America's Future, Consumers for an Affordable Health Care Coalition, Herndon Alliance, Progressive States Network, Small Business Majority, Tennessee Justice Center & Tennessee Health Care Campaign Collaborative, and Universal Health Care Action Network.

The Victory in 2008 & Beyond "Political Mutual Fund" invests in organizations supporting progressive policies and infrastructure. The 501c(3)s listed engage exclusively in nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement activities. Other organizations support candidates and progressive policy change. Organizations in the fund include: 21stCentury Democrats, ActBlue, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Bus Project, Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Democratic GAIN, Faithful Democrats, League of Young Voters, Mainstreet Moms (the MMOB), MAPLight.org, Media Consortium, Netroots Nation, ProgressiveU.org, Take Back Red California, Voter Action, Wellstone Action, Women's Campaign Forum, and Young People For.

About NPC
Using a financial services model, NPC acts as a political giving advisor by providing its customers with products and services to target their political and charitable time and money more effectively. Behind NPC's products and services is its proprietary Political Return on Investment (PROI)™ methodology. The PROI™ methodology helps individuals understand the impact of their investments while also promoting transparency and accountability among organizations.

More information about NPC is available at http://www.newprogressivecoalition.com/.

Green Investments are Growing. Can Politics Follow Suit?

Read this WIRED article about Al Gore’s effort to boost the green economy by partnering with the well-known Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield and Byers. Together, they are aiming to help shift away from our carbon-based economy by investing in green entrepreneurs, innovators, and technologists.

As this partnership demonstrates, to make a substantial impact, the green movement requires investment. More and more we are seeing this market-based approach being used to catalyze significant social change.

In much the same way, political change requires investment too. We need to be making investments that are broad and not just limited to candidates and traditional organizations. Investments must also be made in fresh and effective organizations and leaders that are necessary in moving this country forward.

Soon, NPC will be releasing our flagship product that we hope will encourage and inspire long-term, strategic investments. Stay tuned.

NPC Featured in The Blue Funds' Book

Check out The Blue Way, a recently published book from our partners The Blue Fund, illuminating a new progressive approach to financial investing.

As we’re gearing up for our launch, it’s interesting (and exciting) to read in this book about our Political "Mutual Funds" concept that is very close to becoming a reality:

NPC will also be able to roll out “political mutual funds,” portfolios of progressive organizations whose success is tracked using the political return on investment metrics. Like stock market mutual funds, these portfolios will exist to spread and manage risk; political investors will be able to put their money into a wide range of organizations with the confidence that the money won’t be wasted if one or two groups go belly-up.

It also feels great to hear that some of our ideas about political investing are finally catching on:

Similarly, the first step in overhauling our transmission is for progressives to look at political spending as an investment, not a donation. Kirstin Falk, executive director [sic] of the New Progressive Coalition (NPC), an early leader in the new blue financial infrastructure, explains the essential difference in attitude: "Donors have created the transactional relationship, which is basically about getting asked for money, writing a check, and that’s it. Investors provide time and expertise, not just money.… They have a long time horizon and bring a strategic view of what their money is supposed to accomplish."