Unite America
Unite America is a Denver-based nonprofit philanthropic venture fund that raises and deploys cross-partisan donor capital into state and local ballot campaigns advancing open primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting across more than 20 U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Unite America does
Unite America is a Denver-based nonprofit philanthropic venture fund, founded in 2014 as the Centrist Project by Dartmouth professor Charles Wheelan and rebranded in 2019 around systemic election reform. The organization raises and deploys philanthropic capital from a cross-partisan community of donors into state and local ballot initiative campaigns, legislative advocacy, and partner organizations working to advance open all-candidate primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting commissions. Its primary "customers" in a functional sense are independent and unaffiliated voters, cross-partisan philanthropists, state-based campaign coalitions, and national partner organizations in the reform ecosystem, with deployment across more than 20 U.S. states including Alaska, Virginia, Colorado, Utah, California, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia.
The organization operates without a traditional product or technology stack; its core deliverables are grant capital, policy research, strategic campaign support, and shared infrastructure to portfolio campaigns and state organizations. Its most differentiated analytical asset is the proprietary Meaningful Vote Percentage metric, which quantifies what share of voters cast ballots that actually decide election outcomes, framed as the central diagnostic for the "Primary Problem" the organization exists to solve. Distribution is executed through a multi-channel content engine (website, newsroom, podcast, social, and the Simon & Schuster book "The Primary Solution" by Executive Director Nick Troiano) and direct field investment in state campaigns.
The revenue model is purely philanthropic: Unite America is a 501(c)(3)-aligned nonprofit that raises donations from individuals and foundations and deploys them as grants and campaign investments, with no product pricing, contracts, or commercial revenue. It maintains a multi-entity structure including 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and Unite America PAC Inc. activities, and reports cumulative deployment of approximately $150M into 50+ successful election reform campaigns since 2019. Governance is anchored by a cross-partisan board co-chaired by Kent Thiry (former DaVita CEO), Marc Merrill (Riot Games co-founder), and Kathryn Murdoch (Quadrivium co-founder), with a 35+ person professional staff.
Unite America firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unite America
- Legal name
- Unite America
- Website
- https://uniteamerica.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Unite America is a Denver-based nonprofit philanthropic venture fund that raises and deploys cross-partisan donor capital into state and local ballot campaigns advancing open primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting across more than 20 U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unite America industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Election Reform Advocacy and Civic Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Political Organizations (813940), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO)
Keywords
Where Unite America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unite America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Investment: As a philanthropic venture fund, Unite America raises and deploys capital from donors and philanthropists to invest in election reform campaigns, state initiatives, and partner organizations working to advance nonpartisan primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Unite America product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unite America is a philanthropic venture fund that raises and deploys charitable capital to advance nonpartisan election reform in the United States. It sources, diligenes, and recommends investment opportunities to a cross-partisan community of donors, then supports those investments with hands-on assistance and shared infrastructure for partner organizations and state campaigns. Its substantive focus is on party-neutral reforms — open all-candidate primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting — supported by in-house research such as the Meaningful Vote Percentage metric and UA Institute reports, and public education via its website, news analysis, and the book "The Primary Solution."
Product overview
Unite America is a philanthropic venture fund that invests in nonpartisan election reform. Rather than offering a technology product, the organization focuses on grant-making and advocacy to foster a more representative and functional government through party-neutral reforms such as open primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting. Their activities include funding state-level election reform campaigns, producing research and analysis, and publishing educational content including the book "The Primary Solution" by Executive Director Nick Troiano.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- State Campaign Investment Program (Philanthropic Venture Fund) A philanthropic venture fund that sources, diligenches, and deploys charitable capital to state-based ballot initiative campaigns and legislative advocacy efforts advancing nonpartisan election reform (open primaries, instant runoffs, independent redistricting). Funding recipients are state campaigns and partner organizations rather than commercial customers, with Unite America providing both capital and hands-on strategic/infrastructure support.
- The Primary Solution (book) A published book by Executive Director Nick Troiano articulating the thesis that open, nonpartisan primaries are the central solution to America's political dysfunction. Sold and distributed through Simon & Schuster; promoted by Unite America as thought leadership for its reform movement.
- Meaningful Vote Percentage Research & Data Briefings Proprietary research output by the UA Institute that quantifies the share of American voters who cast ballots that actually decide election outcomes, used to make the evidentiary case for nonpartisan primary reform. Includes data analyses and briefings on U.S. primary systems published through Unite America's website and news channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- In 2022, 83% of U.S. House elected by just 8% of Americans (359 of 435 seats decided in primaries)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Unite America
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Unite America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Unite America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered foundational, core and leadership.
- Charles Wheelan (Founder)foundationalFounder who authored the Centrist Manifesto and launched Unite America to foster more functional and representative government
- American Enterprise InstitutecoreThink tank partner providing research and policy expertise on election reform and democratic governance
- Bipartisan Policy CentercoreBipartisan policy organization working on election reform and democratic process improvements
- Brookings InstitutioncorePremier think tank providing research and analysis on electoral systems and democratic governance
- Campaign Legal CentercoreNonprofit organization working on campaign finance, election law, and voting rights issues
- Cato InstitutecoreLibertarian think tank providing research on electoral reform and government accountability
- Election Law Clinic Harvard Law SchoolcoreHarvard Law School clinic providing legal expertise on election law and reform initiatives
- FairVotecoreNonprofit advocating for electoral reform including ranked choice voting and nonpartisan primaries
- Ranked Choice Voting Resource CentercoreOrganization providing expertise and resources on ranked choice voting implementation
- RepresentUscoreAnti-corruption organization working to fix American democracy at state and local levels
- R StreetcoreFree market think tank working on election reform and good government policies
- Kent ThiryleadershipBoard Co-Chair and former CEO of DaVita who has been a leader in seven successful statewide ballot initiatives across three states
- Marc MerrillleadershipBoard Co-Chair and co-founder of Riot Games providing strategic leadership and philanthropy
- Kathryn MurdochleadershipBoard Co-Chair and co-founder of Quadrivium leading cross-partisan philanthropy efforts
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Unite America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Issue One: Cross-partisan reform organization focused on reducing political corruption, reforming redistricting, and fixing elections. Comparable scale, bipartisan posture, and election-reform portfolio.
- FairVote: Nonprofit advocating for electoral reform including ranked choice voting and nonpartisan primaries. Most directly comparable peer — both are reform-oriented nonprofits pushing the same primary-system and RCV reforms and listed as Unite America's strategic partner.
- Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center: Resource hub for ranked choice voting implementation. Listed as a Unite America partner; complementary (more technical/educational) peer that supports the RCV half of Unite America's open-primary + RCV reform thesis.
- Open Primaries: Advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to open, nonpartisan primaries. Closest mission-overlap peer, focusing on the same primary-system reform thesis that anchors Unite America's portfolio.
- RepresentUs: Anti-corruption organization working to fix American democracy at state and local levels through ballot initiatives and lobbying. Listed as a Unite America strategic partner and operates a near-identical state-campaign investment model.
- Common Cause: Long-standing nonpartisan government-accountability organization with a major election-reform program (redistricting, voting access, campaign finance). Operates at similar scale and pursues overlapping state-level reforms.
- Campaign Legal Center: Nonpartisan legal organization working on campaign finance, election law, and voting rights. Listed as a Unite America partner; provides the kind of legal backbone that supports Unite America's state reform work.
- Brennan Center for Justice: Nonpartisan law and policy institute with a substantial democracy program covering election administration, redistricting, and voting rights. Comparable mission scope and policy depth to Unite America.
Broad incumbents
- R Street Institute: Free-market, centrist think tank with an election-reform and good-government program. Listed as a Unite America partner; brings policy-research capacity aligned with Unite America's reform priorities.
- Bipartisan Policy Center: Established bipartisan policy organization with an election-reform portfolio. Broader scope than Unite America (covers health, infrastructure, energy) but partners with Unite America and is a comparable voice on cross-partisan democracy reform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Unite America social profiles
Digital presenceUnite America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unite America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles34 records
Unite America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unite America 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 Unite America
What does Unite America do?
Unite America is a philanthropic venture fund that raises and deploys charitable capital to advance nonpartisan election reform in the United States. It sources, diligenes, and recommends investment opportunities to a cross-partisan community of donors, then supports those investments with hands-on assistance and shared infrastructure for partner organizations and state campaigns. Its substantive focus is on party-neutral reforms — open all-candidate primaries, instant runoffs, and independent redistricting — supported by in-house research such as the Meaningful Vote Percentage metric and UA Institute reports, and public education via its website, news analysis, and the book "The Primary Solution."
Is Unite America a public or private company?
Unite America is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Unite America founded?
Unite America was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Unite America based?
Unite America is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Unite America make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Investment.
Who are Unite America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Issue One, FairVote, Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center, Open Primaries, RepresentUs, Common Cause, Campaign Legal Center and Brennan Center for Justice. Broad incumbents are R Street Institute and Bipartisan Policy Center.
Does Unite America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unite America.
What industry is Unite America in?
Unite America's product category is Election Reform Advocacy and Civic Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAJAO, Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses. Its NAICS code is 813940 and its SIC code is 8600.