What Data for Progress does

Data for Progress is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit progressive polling and research organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in the United States (governed by California law). The organization conducts national, state-level, and congressional district-level web-panel surveys, typically with 1,200 to 2,350 likely voter respondents per survey, weighted to representative likely voter profiles with margins of error of approximately ±2-3 percentage points. Its core product suite includes polling services, in-depth insights and analysis, research reports and memos, an email newsletter, and issue-specific briefs spanning climate, economy, healthcare, democracy, foreign policy, LGBTQ+ rights, workers' rights, and other progressive policy areas. Data for Progress was the most accurate pollster in predicting the first-round result of the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary and is cited by hundreds of legacy and emerging news organizations including the New York Times, Politico, The New Republic, and Zeteo.

The organization serves four primary stakeholder groups: grassroots progressive organizations and activists seeking affordable polling; journalists and media organizations requiring credible polling data; Members of Congress and progressive candidates receiving strategic advisory on policy and messaging; and partner advocacy organizations that co-fund joint research on issues such as climate, environmental health, and youth mental health. Key partners include Climate and Community Institute, Climate Power, 314 Action (RFK Jr. Watch), Hopelab, Air Alliance Houston, and the Center for Climate Integrity. The organization is led by co-founder and executive director Sean McElwee, with Danielle Deiseroth as Executive Director and a team that includes a Survey Methodology Engineer and senior climate and policy fellows.

Data for Progress operates a direct-to-audience go-to-market motion with no commercial pricing model. All polling, analysis, and memos are published for free public access via the organization's website, email newsletter, and social channels. Revenue is derived entirely from donations solicited through ActBlue integration and from co-sponsored research partnerships with progressive advocacy organizations. The organization employs 11-50 staff, has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no commercial revenue streams. Its October 2025 'Lead, Not Follow' repositioning signals a strategic shift toward agenda-setting opinion research for the progressive movement.

Name

Data for Progress

Legal name

Data for Progress, Inc.

Website

https://dataforprogress.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Data for Progress is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that conducts affordable, high-quality polling and policy research for the progressive movement, serving grassroots organizations, journalists, Members of Congress, and progressive advocacy partners with freely published national, state, and district-level survey data.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and charitable contributions: Data for Progress is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that collects donations from supporters. The website prominently features a 'Donate' button linking to ActBlue for recurring contributions. This is the primary funding mechanism for the organization's polling and research activities.
2. Co-sponsored research partnerships: Data for Progress conducts joint polling with partner organizations such as Climate and Community Institute, Climate Power, 314 Action, Air Alliance Houston, and the Center for Climate Integrity. These partnerships likely involve co-funding or grant arrangements for collaborative research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Data for Progress is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that conducts high-quality, affordable, and timely public opinion polling and produces policy research, insights, reports, and memos for the progressive movement. It fields nationally representative web-panel surveys of likely voters, weights samples to representative profiles, and translates findings into strategic guidance for grassroots organizers, journalists, members of Congress, and progressive candidates.

Product overview

Data for Progress is a progressive polling and research organization that provides a suite of offerings including national and state-level polling services, in-depth insights and analysis, research reports and memos, a newsletter subscription, and issue-specific briefs covering topics such as climate, economy, healthcare, democracy, and social justice. The core product is its polling capability, which is used to inform progressive organizations, members of Congress, and movement leaders on strategy, policy, and messaging. The organization publishes data that is relied upon by hundreds of legacy and emerging news organizations including the New York Times, Politico, The New Republic, and Zeteo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polling Services
• Insights & Analysis
• Reports & Memos
• Issue Briefs
• Email Newsletter

Quantifiable outcome

• Data for Progress was the most accurate pollster in predicting the first-round result of the 2021 New York City Democratic primary for mayor.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HopelabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Hopelab and Data for Progress released findings from a national poll of 1,304 young people ages 13-24 examining LGBTQ+ youth mental health, sources of hope, and well-being. This partnership highlights mental health disparities between LGBTQ+ youth and their straight, cisgender peers.
• Climate and Community InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData for Progress and the Climate and Community Institute conducted joint polling to examine how voters respond to climate policy framed alongside cost-of-living relief. This partnership produced the 'Green Economic Populism' agenda, linking climate action to kitchen-table affordability issues.
• Climate PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Power and Data for Progress conducted multiple joint national surveys in 2024 examining Harris vs. Trump on climate and energy issues, producing findings on voter preferences for clean energy manufacturing, pollution accountability, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
• 314 Action (RFK Jr. Watch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData for Progress and RFK Jr. Watch, a project of 314 Action, conducted a national survey of 2,350 likely voters examining the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, RFK Jr.'s favorability, and voter attitudes toward public health policies under his administration.
• Air Alliance HoustonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerData for Progress and Air Alliance Houston conducted joint polling on voter attitudes toward environmental protections, examining concerns about repeals of environmental regulations and pollution accountability under the Trump administration.
• Center for Climate IntegritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerData for Progress and the Center for Climate Integrity surveyed 648 likely New York voters on home insurance costs, extreme weather, and attitudes toward holding the fossil fuel industry financially accountable for climate-driven insurance increases.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hart Research Associates: One of the leading Democratic polling firms in the U.S., serving progressive candidates, party committees, and advocacy organizations. Directly comparable in target clients, methodological rigor, and advisory role for progressive campaigns and causes.
• Public Policy Polling: A Democratic-affiliated public polling firm that conducts automated and online surveys for campaigns, progressive organizations, and media outlets. Closely comparable to Data for Progress in target client base (progressive campaigns and advocacy groups), methodology (public opinion polling), and distribution model (frequent media citation).
• Anzalone Liszt Grove Research: A major Democratic polling firm serving presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial campaigns as well as progressive organizations. Comparable in client mix, election-focused survey work, and media-facing research output.
• Lake Research Partners: A women-owned progressive research and polling firm that advises Democratic campaigns, foundations, and advocacy groups. Comparable in ideological alignment, polling methodology, and focus on movement-aligned issue research.
• GBAO Strategies: A Democratic-aligned research and consulting firm conducting polling and strategic research for progressive causes, campaigns, and foundations. Comparable in target clients, methodology, and integration of research with campaign strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Pew Research Center: A large, nonpartisan public opinion research organization producing widely cited polling on politics, media, and social trends. Overlaps with Data for Progress in survey methodology and media citation, but operates at much greater scale and across the full political spectrum.
• Gallup: The largest and most established U.S. polling firm, conducting national opinion research across politics, business, and well-being. Comparable in survey methodology and media influence, but offers a much broader portfolio and is not aligned to any ideological movement.

Emerging players

• Civiqs: An online polling and research firm that tracks public opinion across progressive-leaning issue areas, frequently cited by progressive media. Comparable in online panel methodology and progressive-leaning positioning, but smaller in distribution and issue breadth.
• SurveyUSA: A polling firm conducting rapid-turn state and national opinion research for media, campaigns, and commercial clients. Comparable in producing state-level polling on political issues, but operates with a different (largely non-partisan) client base and methodology.
• Marist College Institute for Public Opinion: An academic poll with strong media citation that conducts national and state-level public opinion research. Comparable in survey methodology and high media visibility, though more balanced in political orientation and not advocacy-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DataProgress
• Facebookfacebook.com/dataforprogress
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/data-for-progress

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Data for Progress