Protect Democracy
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, cross-ideological nonprofit that uses litigation, advocacy, research, and technology tools (VoteShield, OpenOMB, AI for Democracy Action Lab) to defend U.S. elections, prevent authoritarian consolidation of power, and build pro-democracy coalitions across 20+ states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Protect Democracy does
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, cross-ideological nonprofit organization founded in 2016 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that works to prevent the decline of U.S. democratic institutions into authoritarianism. It operates through two sister entities, Protect Democracy United (501(c)(4)) and Protect Democracy Project (501(c)(3)), and combines litigation, policy advocacy, research, communications, and technology to defend free and fair elections, stop the consolidation of executive power, build pro-democracy coalitions, and shape structural democratic reforms. Its staff of 100+ includes former White House counsel, bipartisan policy experts, lawyers, technologists, and communications strategists, and its board includes former senior officials from Democratic and Republican administrations.
The organization's technology stack centers on three purpose-built tools. VoteShield is an election-monitoring platform that uses data analysis to review public voter registration databases and surface anomalous changes, currently protecting 167 million voter records across 26 states. OpenOMB is a transparency website that allows journalists, members of Congress, NGOs, and the public to evaluate whether the White House is complying with federal spending laws. The AI for Democracy Action Lab incubates AI-enabled civic tools and develops policy responses to AI-enhanced threats to democracy. Supporting resources include the Authoritarian Action Watch threat tracker (covering seven authoritarian playbook tactics), the Nonprofit Toolkit for organizations facing government investigations, and The Authoritarian Playbook framework.
Protect Democracy is funded through charitable donations and contributions, not commercial sales. Donations to the 501(c)(3) entity are tax-deductible while donations to the 501(c)(4) provide greater advocacy flexibility; both can be made by check, wire transfer, or planned giving. Distribution occurs through direct engagement (website, newsletter 'If You Can Keep It,' social channels including Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram), earned media (25,000+ stories generated), coalition partnerships with civil society organizations and law firms, and litigation representation for plaintiffs including Common Cause and individual voters. It has filed 100+ lawsuits challenging government actions and supports election administrators, journalists, civil society organizations, and policymakers across 20+ states.
Protect Democracy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Protect Democracy
- Legal name
- Protect Democracy United
- Website
- https://protectdemocracy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, cross-ideological nonprofit that uses litigation, advocacy, research, and technology tools (VoteShield, OpenOMB, AI for Democracy Action Lab) to defend U.S. elections, prevent authoritarian consolidation of power, and build pro-democracy coalitions across 20+ states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Protect Democracy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civic Advocacy and Democracy Protection Services
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy (BPAGAFAN), Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ), Digital Rights, Privacy & Free Expression Advocacy (BPAGAFAL), Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH)
Keywords
Where Protect Democracy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Protect Democracy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Protect Democracy operates as a nonprofit organization with two entities: Protect Democracy United (501(c)(4) social welfare organization) and Protect Democracy Project (501(c)(3) charitable organization). Revenue comes from donations to both entities. Donations to the 501(c)(3) are tax-deductible, while donations to the 501(c)(4) are not tax-deductible but allow for greater advocacy flexibility.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Protect Democracy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, cross-ideological nonprofit organization that combats authoritarian threats to U.S. democratic institutions through four integrated activities: litigation (100+ lawsuits filed), policy advocacy, original research and analysis, and technology development. It builds and maintains civic technology tools including the VoteShield election monitoring platform (protecting 167 million voter records across 26 states), the OpenOMB federal spending transparency website, and the AI for Democracy Action Lab.
Product overview
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan anti-authoritarianism organization that offers a portfolio of advocacy, litigation, research, and technology tools to defend democracy. The core technology products include VoteShield (election monitoring software protecting 167 million voter records across 26 states), OpenOMB (federal spending transparency website), and the AI for Democracy Action Lab (AI-enabled civic tools incubator). Supporting resources include the Authoritarian Action Watch threat tracker, the Nonprofit Toolkit for organizations facing government investigations, and The Authoritarian Playbook framework. These products work together to monitor threats, protect elections, and provide resources for civic engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VoteShield Election monitoring software that uses data analysis to review public voter registration databases and identify unusual changes and malicious activity, supporting election administrators and protecting 167 million public voter records across 26 states.
- OpenOMB A transparency website that makes it easier for journalists, members of Congress, NGOs, and the public to assess whether the White House is following or flouting spending laws through analysis of Office of Management and Budget data.
- AI for Democracy Action Lab An initiative that incubates AI-enabled civic tools and develops policy and governance solutions to check AI-enhanced threats to democracy, including research into generative AI platforms.
- Authoritarian Action Watch Threat Tracker A tracking tool that monitors how rapidly the use and effectiveness of seven authoritarian playbook tactics (spreading disinformation, aggrandizing executive power, politicizing independent institutions, corrupting elections, stoking violence, targeting vulnerable communities, and quashing dissent) is changing in the U.S.
- Nonprofit Toolkit for Government Investigations An extensive resource bank for nonprofits facing government investigations, including primers on congressional investigations, subpoenas, search warrants, executive actions, data demands, asset freezes, and IRS investigations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ lawsuits filed challenging authoritarian actions
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Protect Democracy
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Protect Democracy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Protect Democracy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)coreCo-counsel in lawsuit against DOJ to stop the collection of voter data. CREW and Protect Democracy are working together with other organizations to protect voter privacy and prevent federal interference in elections.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)coreCo-counsel in lawsuit against DOJ regarding voter data collection. ACLU and Protect Democracy represent Common Cause and individual voters in challenging federal government actions.
- American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia (ACLU-D.C.)coreCo-counsel in lawsuit against DOJ to protect voter privacy and prevent federal interference in elections.
- Democracy and the Rule of Law Clinic at Harvard Law SchoolcoreCo-counsel in lawsuit against DOJ regarding voter data collection. Law school clinic provides legal research and support.
- National Task Force on Election CrisesflagshipCross-ideological coalition convened by Protect Democracy that brings together the country's most prominent elections experts from left, right, and center, including people who served under George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Has served as a resource for hundreds of media outlets.
- Committee for Safe and Secure ElectionsflagshipCo-created by Protect Democracy to forge partnerships between election officials and law enforcement. Has hosted 150 trainings and tabletop exercises in 35 states.
- Bipartisan Coalition of Former FCC Chairs and CommissionersmajorCoalition supported by Protect Democracy that filed petition calling on FCC to rescind rule weaponized to chill press freedom.
- Union of Concerned ScientistsmajorPartner organization working to defend scientific integrity and democracy. Both organizations provide support networks, bridge funding, and educational resources for scientists facing political interference.
- Drummond WoodsumcoreLaw firm representing Maine ICE protesters alongside Protect Democracy in federal class action lawsuit against DHS for unconstitutional tracking and intimidation of observers.
- Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLPcoreLaw firm co-representing Maine ICE protesters with Protect Democracy in lawsuit Hilton v. Noem alleging First Amendment violations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Protect Democracy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- National Democratic Institute (NDI): Core institute supporting democratic institutions globally; comparable in mission framing though focused internationally rather than on U.S. domestic democratic defense as Protect Democracy primarily is.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF): Established digital-rights organization focused on free expression, privacy, and government surveillance — comparable to Protect Democracy's Free Expression program, OpenOMB transparency work, and DHS surveillance litigation.
- Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT): Nonpartisan nonprofit working at the intersection of civil liberties and technology policy, including AI governance — overlapping with Protect Democracy's AI for Democracy Action Lab and digital-rights advocacy.
Direct peers
- Common Cause: Nonpartisan government-accountability and voting-rights organization; Protect Democracy represents Common Cause in litigation against DOJ and the two organizations collaborate on election-integrity and democratic-reform initiatives.
- Brennan Center for Justice: Nonpartisan law and policy institute at NYU focused on democracy, voting rights, election integrity, and reform of the justice system — directly comparable in mission, election-monitoring research, and litigation activity to Protect Democracy.
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Largest U.S. civil liberties organization with deep litigation capacity on voting rights, free expression, and government accountability. Protect Democracy is an active co-counsel with ACLU on multiple priority cases, indicating overlapping workstreams.
- Issue One: Cross-ideological political reform and democracy-reform nonprofit working on election security, money-in-politics, and government ethics — closely comparable to Protect Democracy's bipartisan democratic-reform positioning.
- Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: National nonprofit legal organization conducting voter-protection litigation and election-monitoring work — overlapping heavily with Protect Democracy's election-integrity and voting-rights portfolio.
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW): Government accountability and anti-corruption nonprofit that litigates against executive-branch misconduct — explicitly co-counsels with Protect Democracy on the DOJ voter-database lawsuit, making it a near-direct functional peer.
Others
- Union of Concerned Scientists: Listed formal partner of Protect Democracy in defending scientific integrity; functionally adjacent in providing support networks, bridge funding, and educational resources for professionals facing political pressure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Protect Democracy social profiles
Digital presenceProtect Democracy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Protect Democracy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Protect Democracy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Protect Democracy 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 Protect Democracy
What does Protect Democracy do?
Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan, cross-ideological nonprofit organization that combats authoritarian threats to U.S. democratic institutions through four integrated activities: litigation (100+ lawsuits filed), policy advocacy, original research and analysis, and technology development. It builds and maintains civic technology tools including the VoteShield election monitoring platform (protecting 167 million voter records across 26 states), the OpenOMB federal spending transparency website, and the AI for Democracy Action Lab.
Is Protect Democracy a public or private company?
Protect Democracy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Protect Democracy founded?
Protect Democracy was founded in 2016. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Protect Democracy based?
Protect Democracy is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Protect Democracy make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Protect Democracy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are National Democratic Institute (NDI), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT). Direct peers are Common Cause, Brennan Center for Justice, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Issue One, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Union of Concerned Scientists is listed as an others.
Does Protect Democracy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Protect Democracy.
What industry is Protect Democracy in?
Protect Democracy's product category is Civic Advocacy and Democracy Protection Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAJ, Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAN, Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy. Its NAICS code is 8133.