Protect Democracy

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.

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

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

• Democracy protection advocacy
• Election monitoring technology
• Civic legal services
• Government accountability research
• Nonpartisan policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Co-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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Co-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.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Co-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 SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Co-counsel in lawsuit against DOJ regarding voter data collection. Law school clinic provides legal research and support.
• National Task Force on Election CrisesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Cross-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 ElectionsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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 CommissionersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition supported by Protect Democracy that filed petition calling on FCC to rescind rule weaponized to chill press freedom.
• Union of Concerned ScientistsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization working to defend scientific integrity and democracy. Both organizations provide support networks, bridge funding, and educational resources for scientists facing political interference.
• Drummond WoodsumcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw 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 LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw 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

Broad 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

• Xbsky.app/profile/protectdemocracy.org
• Facebookfacebook.com/protectdemocracy.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protect-democracy/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/protectdemocracy?igsh=MTlrMTlwaG1qdWtpag==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Protect Democracy