The movement to strengthen American democracy is experiencing a significant challenge due to a surplus of advocacy groups, a situation described as overcrowding within the ecosystem of nonprofits, coalitions, and think tanks. This proliferation is undermining the collective fight for democratic governance.
Preliminary counts indicate a substantial number of organizations are operating at the national level, with an even larger presence at the state level. At least 387 organizations have been identified as working on democracy-related issues nationally, while over 1,200 additional groups are active at the state level. Some existing coalitions have expanded to become extensive bureaucratic structures, with certain coalitions reporting over 700 member groups. A notable portion of these organizations, at least 100, incorporate terms such as "Democracy," "Vote," or "Justice" in their titles. Furthermore, more than half of these groups have been established within the last decade.
While many of these organizations are undoubtedly undertaking valuable work with significant impact and integrity, the sheer volume creates a crowded field. This overcrowding affects an already bustling ecosystem of established nonprofits, coalitions, and think tanks that share similar missions and draw from the same donor bases. The sheer number of groups, many with overlapping objectives, leads to a diffusion of resources and potentially hinders coordinated efforts.
Several organizations are recognized for their substantial contributions to the pro-democracy space. These include the Lincoln Project, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Action Network, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Anti-Defamation League, the Brennan Center, Protect Democracy, Keep Our Republic, Article III Project of Keep Our Republic, Alliance of Former State Chief Justices, CREW, SPLC, Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF), State Democracy Defenders Action, States United Democracy Center, Democracy Docket, Leadership Now, and the Bipartisan American Election Project.