What Authentic does

Authentic Campaigns, Inc., operating as Authentic, is a Chicago-based digital marketing and fundraising agency founded in 2018 that serves progressive political campaigns (federal, state, and local candidates), Democratic-aligned political action committees, and progressive non-profit organizations. The firm provides an integrated service stack across online fundraising, digital paid media execution, creative content production, logo and branding, mobile messaging, website design, and digital strategy consulting. Headquartered at 321 N Clark St Ste 730 in Chicago, the company operates with a remote-first staffing model and publishes transparent salary bands of $54,000-$100,000.

The agency's core technology stack integrates with major Democratic fundraising and organizing CRMs (ActBlue, NGP, EveryAction, Action Network, ActionKit), Meta and Google advertising platforms, and SMS/messaging providers (Switchboard, Scale to Win). Its distinguishing technical capability is a conversational AI system integrated with Facebook Click-to-Messenger, originally deployed during the 2020 Biden/Harris presidential campaign to conduct autonomous one-on-one voter dialogues at scale, routing supporters toward voting plans and handing undecided voters to campaign volunteers. The system reached 250,000 voters at under $10 per connection, produced 15,000 Arizona undecided-voter engagements that surpassed the margin of victory, and has since been productized and recognized through the inaugural Adweek AI Award, Reed Best New AI Tool and AI Pioneer of the Year, and CampaignTech Innovation in AI.

Authentic operates a fee-for-service professional services model with custom-scoped project and multi-year retainer engagements; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Reported cumulative client outcomes include $1B+ raised online from grassroots donors, a 77% electoral client win rate in 2024, and over 350 partner campaigns since inception. The company has accumulated more than 70 industry awards (Pollies, Reeds, CampaignTech, Shorty, Webby) and operates under a worker-ownership model featuring 5% quarterly profit-sharing and transparent compensation. Ownership and leadership reside with founder and CEO Mike Nellis, a 2024 Shorty Impact Strategist of the Year recipient; no external venture capital or private equity investment is disclosed.

Name

Authentic

Legal name

Authentic Campaigns, Inc.

Website

https://authentic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Authentic is a Chicago-based digital fundraising and marketing agency serving progressive political campaigns, PACs, and nonprofit organizations with integrated online fundraising, paid media, creative content, and conversational AI voter outreach services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political Digital Marketing Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Activation/Experiential Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

PR, Reputation Management & Earned Media Platforms (BPAMALAO)

Keywords

• Digital fundraising services
• Political campaign marketing
• Paid media advertising
• Creative content production
• Mobile messaging campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Digital Agency Services: Authentic generates revenue by providing fee-for-service digital marketing, fundraising, and creative campaigns to political campaigns, PACs, and non-profit organizations. Services include online fundraising, digital paid media, creative content, logo/branding, and mobile messaging. Compensation is likely project-based or retainer arrangements with clients, not publicly disclosed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Authentic is a digital marketing and fundraising agency that provides online fundraising, digital paid media, creative content, logo and branding, and mobile messaging services to progressive political campaigns (federal, state, and local), political action committees (PACs), and non-profit organizations. The agency integrates storytelling expertise with data-driven digital execution, including conversational AI voter outreach, to raise money from grassroots donors and drive electoral and advocacy outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Fundraising

Quantifiable outcome

• $1B+ raised online from grassroots donors
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vocal MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Vocal Media recruited 50 non-political influencers (lifestyle, fashion) to produce pro-choice content for the House Majority Forward reproductive rights campaign. Authentic turned the influencer content into paid video ads targeted to women 18-30 across the web and social platforms, achieving 9M completed video views and reaching 1.5M persuadable swing voters.
• House Majority ForwardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022House Majority Forward partnered with Authentic and Vocal Media to defend reproductive rights following the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Authentic provided paid media and ad creative; the partnership targeted female voters 18-30 in swing districts and contributed to preventing the 'Red Wave' in the 2022 midterms.
• Rope Line MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRope Line Media produced GOTV video assets (snackable 6-second reminder videos) for the Wisconsin Democrats digital persuasion campaign across 9 key battleground races.
• Senate Majority PACcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthentic manages Senate Majority PAC's full digital program including email fundraising, branding redesign, and website, consistently ranking among top fundraisers on ActBlue.
• House Majority PACcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthentic provides digital paid media and creative services for House Majority PAC, including the influencer marketing partnership with Vocal Media.
• EMILY's ListminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMILY's List endorsed the 'Governor Barbie' stunt by Authentic for Governor Gretchen Whitmer's campaign, providing political backing for the marketing campaign tied to the Barbie movie release.
• Taylor Swift (cultural moment)minorOthersAuthentic's Katie Hobbs campaign leveraged a Taylor Swift cultural moment by creating a 'Midnight Deadline Alert' meme that generated a surge in grassroots donations and reached a new demographic of supporters. This was an organic cultural tie-in, not a formal partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bully Pulpit Interactive: Bully Pulpit Interactive is a leading progressive digital agency providing fundraising, paid media, creative, and strategy to Democratic campaigns and causes. It is the closest direct competitor to Authentic in client base, service mix, and progressive positioning.
• Mothership Strategies: Mothership Strategies is a progressive digital agency offering email fundraising, paid media, and online organizing for Democratic campaigns and nonprofits. Directly comparable to Authentic in service mix and progressive client base.
• Trilogy Interactive: Trilogy Interactive is a digital agency specializing in websites, fundraising platforms, and digital strategy for Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations. Overlapping service offering with Authentic, especially in fundraising tech and creative.
• Precision Strategy Group: Precision Strategy Group is a digital-focused firm offering fundraising, online advertising, and direct response for Democratic campaigns and progressive causes. Directly comparable to Authentic in mission and core digital services.
• Rising Tide Interactive: Rising Tide Interactive is a progressive digital agency providing online fundraising, email, and digital advertising for Democratic campaigns and progressive nonprofits. Directly comparable to Authentic in client base and core digital fundraising services.

Broad incumbents

• GMMB: GMMB is one of the largest bipartisan political advertising and communications agencies in the U.S., serving Democratic and Republican campaigns, nonprofits, and corporations. Comparable to Authentic on paid media and creative, but at significantly greater scale and broader client base.
• SKDKnickerbocker: SKDK is a top-tier political consulting, public affairs, and communications firm serving Democratic campaigns, Fortune 500s, and nonprofits. Comparable to Authentic on message discipline and campaign strategy, though SKDK is much broader in scope and service lines.
• Hilltop Public Solutions: Hilltop Public Solutions is a full-service political consulting and public affairs firm providing advertising, communications, and digital strategy to Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations. Overlaps with Authentic on paid media and digital, with broader consulting scope.

Emerging players

• 270 Strategies: 270 Strategies is a progressive political firm offering organizing, digital, and direct voter contact services. Comparable to Authentic in progressive positioning and campaign digital execution, with a stronger field organizing emphasis.

Regional players

• Targeted Victory: Targeted Victory is one of the largest Republican political digital agencies, providing fundraising, advertising, and data services. Comparable to Authentic in service mix and scale, but operates exclusively on the Republican side of the political market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Authentic_HQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/authentic-campaigns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Authentic