5 Calls
5 Calls is a 501(c)(4) non-profit that runs a free web and mobile platform helping U.S. constituents contact their elected representatives by phone, providing location-matched officials, pre-written scripts, and real-time call statistics. It is funded by donations and serves politically engaged citizens nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What 5 Calls does
5 Calls is a U.S. 501(c)(4) non-profit civic-action organization, founded in 2017 by Nick O'Neill and Rebecca Kaufman and headquartered in San Francisco, that operates a free platform enabling American constituents to contact their elected representatives by phone. The organization researches legislative issues, writes issue-specific call scripts, identifies the relevant decision-makers, and publishes their direct phone numbers so users only need to make the call. Its primary customer segment is politically engaged U.S. citizens — particularly those seeking progressive-policy advocacy channels — and the platform supports calls to U.S. Representatives, Senators, Governors, and Attorneys General across all 50 states.
The core technology consists of a responsive web platform at 5calls.org and native iOS and Android applications, all of which use user-entered location (city, ZIP code, or address) to match the constituent with their specific elected officials and surface pre-written call scripts and direct DC and local-office phone numbers. The platform integrates authoritative third-party data sources including Congress.gov, theunitedstates.io, OpenStates/Plural, and ProPublica, and publishes a public interactive dashboard showing nationwide and state-by-state call statistics. The codebase is open source, with volunteer contributors across web, iOS, and Android development via GitHub. To date, users have placed more than 10 million calls to Congress through the platform.
The business model is donation-based: the platform is free to use, and the organization accepts user donations (with $25 suggested) and merchandise sales through ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising infrastructure partner. The only disclosed institutional funding to date is a $100,000 round from Higher Ground Labs in April 2018. Distribution is multi-channel, spanning direct web access, Apple App Store and Google Play downloads, a weekly newsletter via Buttondown, an active presence on Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, Mastodon, Threads, and GitHub, and earned-media coverage in outlets including Vox, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Vogue, and HuffPost. The organization is privately held, independently operated with no parent company, and structured as a 501(c)(4) non-profit.
5 Calls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 5 Calls
- Legal name
- 5 Calls Civic Action
- Website
- https://5calls.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- 5 Calls is a 501(c)(4) non-profit that runs a free web and mobile platform helping U.S. constituents contact their elected representatives by phone, providing location-matched officials, pre-written scripts, and real-time call statistics. It is funded by donations and serves politically engaged citizens nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
5 Calls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civic Engagement Software
- NAICS
- Telephone Call Centers (56142)
- SIC
- Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Political/GOTV & Advocacy Calling (Campaigns) (BPAAADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community/Group Chat Platforms (BPAMACAH)
Keywords
Where 5 Calls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
5 Calls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: 5 Calls is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from users and supporters. The platform is free for constituents to use, with optional donations through ActBlue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
5 Calls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
5 Calls operates a free web platform and native iOS/Android mobile applications that match U.S. constituents with their congressional representatives based on location (city, ZIP code, or address) and provide pre-written issue-specific call scripts. Users select from a rotating list of active political issues, call their senators, representatives, governors, or attorneys general directly from the platform, and log outcomes. An interactive dashboard tracks nationwide and state-level call statistics, and the organization supports tracking state-level issues across all 50 states.
Product overview
5 Calls is a single, unified civic engagement platform consisting of a mobile app (available for iOS and Android) and a responsive website. The core product helps U.S. constituents make phone calls to their congressional representatives about political issues by providing pre-written call scripts, congressperson phone numbers (both DC and local offices), and issue-specific talking points. An interactive dashboard complements the main platform by displaying real-time call statistics and state-by-state breakdowns. All offerings are provided free to users and are maintained by 5 Calls Civic Action, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 5 Calls Mobile App (iOS) Native iOS mobile application that lets U.S. constituents select political issues, receive pre-written call scripts and phone numbers for their representatives, place calls directly, and track advocacy outcomes.
- 5 Calls Mobile App (Android) Native Android mobile application that lets U.S. constituents select political issues, receive pre-written call scripts and phone numbers for their representatives, place calls directly, and track advocacy outcomes.
- 5 Calls Website Responsive web platform providing issue-based call-to-action pages, pre-written call scripts, and congressperson contact information (DC and local offices) for U.S. constituents.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10+ million calls made to Congress
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use 5 Calls
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
5 Calls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
5 Calls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- theunitedstates.iocoreData source providing congressional and governmental data used to match users with their representatives and track legislative information.
- Congress.govcoreOfficial congressional data source used for accurate representative information and legislative tracking.
- OpenStates / PluralcoreState-level legislative data source being utilized as 5 Calls expands to track state-level issues across all 50 states.
- ProPublicasupportingData partner providing investigative journalism data and congressional information to enhance issue tracking capabilities.
- ActBluecoreDemocratic fundraising platform used for processing donations and merchandise purchases. Users can donate ($25 suggested) or purchase merchandise through ActBlue.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
5 Calls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Action Network: Action Network is a progressive digital organizing platform offering petitions, calls, and fundraising tools for advocacy campaigns. It is comparable to 5 Calls because it provides calling-as-a-service infrastructure for advocacy organizations and progressive campaigns, often serving as a downstream partner or alternative.
- Call Your Reps: Call Your Reps (now Use Your Voice) is a browser extension that gives users one-click access to call their representatives on current issues. It competes directly with 5 Calls on the same core use case of simplifying constituent-to-representative calling.
- Resistbot: Resistbot is a civic engagement tool that converts text messages from citizens into faxes, emails, or calls to their representatives. It is directly comparable to 5 Calls as a progressive-leaning citizen advocacy platform focused on lowering the friction of contacting elected officials.
Broad incumbents
- Common Cause: Common Cause is a nonpartisan good-government advocacy organization that runs campaigns encouraging constituent calls and emails to representatives. It overlaps with 5 Calls in promoting phone-based constituent engagement as the most effective lobbying tactic.
- ACLU: The ACLU runs a national action center mobilizing constituents to call and email legislators on civil liberties issues. It overlaps with 5 Calls in targeting progressive, politically engaged users with issue-specific advocacy calls.
- MoveOn: MoveOn is a large progressive advocacy organization running petitions, calls, and event campaigns at national scale. It is comparable to 5 Calls because it both competes for the same citizen advocacy audience and is a potential partner or distribution channel for calling tools.
Emerging players
- EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation): EFF runs an Action Center that prompts users to contact legislators on digital rights issues. It is comparable to 5 Calls because it operates an issue-driven advocacy call/email tool serving politically engaged citizens on technology policy.
- Indivisible: Indivisible is a progressive advocacy organization that mobilizes constituents to contact representatives through coordinated local group activity. It overlaps with 5 Calls in driving calling-based advocacy, and frequently recommends 5 Calls as a tool for its volunteer network.
- Swing Left: Swing Left is a grassroots organization that mobilizes volunteers in swing districts to contact representatives through calls, texts, and door-knocking. It overlaps with 5 Calls in phone-based constituent advocacy, with a more geographically-targeted approach focused on competitive districts.
Regional players
- Voto Latino: Voto Latino is a civic engagement organization focused on registering and mobilizing Latino voters and advocates. It is comparable to 5 Calls as a civic engagement platform but focuses on a specific demographic rather than the general constituent population.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
5 Calls social profiles
Digital presence5 Calls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
5 Calls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
5 Calls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
5 Calls M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 5 Calls
What does 5 Calls do?
5 Calls operates a free web platform and native iOS/Android mobile applications that match U.S. constituents with their congressional representatives based on location (city, ZIP code, or address) and provide pre-written issue-specific call scripts. Users select from a rotating list of active political issues, call their senators, representatives, governors, or attorneys general directly from the platform, and log outcomes. An interactive dashboard tracks nationwide and state-level call statistics, and the organization supports tracking state-level issues across all 50 states.
Is 5 Calls a public or private company?
5 Calls is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was 5 Calls founded?
5 Calls was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is 5 Calls based?
5 Calls is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does 5 Calls make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations.
Who are 5 Calls's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Action Network, Call Your Reps and Resistbot. Broad incumbents are Common Cause, ACLU and MoveOn. Emerging players are EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation), Indivisible and Swing Left. Voto Latino is listed as a regional player.
Does 5 Calls have an API?
No public API is recorded for 5 Calls.
What industry is 5 Calls in?
5 Calls's product category is Civic Engagement Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAAADAK, Political/GOTV & Advocacy Calling (Campaigns), with a secondary code of BPAMACAH, Community/Group Chat Platforms. Its NAICS code is 56142 and its SIC code is 4813.