Braver Angels
Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reduces US political polarization through cross-partisan workshops, debates, 1:1 conversations, and an AI coaching platform, serving individual Americans, students, faith communities, and elected officials across all 50 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Braver Angels does
Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 (originally as Better Angels, rebranded April 2020) and headquartered in New York City. Its mission is to reduce political polarization in the United States by bringing together self-identified liberals ("Blues") and conservatives ("Reds") in structured, balanced small-group settings. It operates through 129 local alliances across all 50 states, hosting 7,124+ events annually and engaging 71,134 cumulative participants, with 14,739 active members as of the most recent disclosures.
The organization's product portfolio is dominated by facilitator-led workshops (Red/Blue Workshop, Depolarizing Within, Disagreeing Better, Common Ground, Families and Politics), parliamentary-style Braver Angels Debates, and structured 1:1 Conversations, supported by free online eCourses (~40 minutes each). Its most differentiated technology product is the Depolarization Dōjō, an AI-powered text-based training platform featuring realistic AI personas representing voices across the political spectrum, providing real-time coaching on listening skills. Vertical-specific programs include Braver Politics (elected officials), Braver Education (K-12 and university), Braver Faith, Braver Arts, and Braver Media (podcasts, documentary, Substack). The co-founder Bill Doherty developed the proprietary workshop methodology that underpins the curriculum.
Braver Angels generates operating revenue through three streams: individual memberships starting at $12/year (~38% of the FY2022 budget), foundation grants split ~60% left-of-center and ~40% right-of-center to preserve cross-partisan credibility, and one-time donations of $12 or more that convert into annual memberships. It distributes through volunteer-led in-person alliances, a national online events platform, the Braver Network of 300+ partner organizations, and educational institution partnerships. The 2022 operating budget was $4.4M, with member dues/gifts up 20% year-over-year and 73% of funding directed to grassroots programming.
Braver Angels firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Braver Angels
- Legal name
- Braver Angels
- Website
- https://braverangels.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reduces US political polarization through cross-partisan workshops, debates, 1:1 conversations, and an AI coaching platform, serving individual Americans, students, faith communities, and elected officials across all 50 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Braver Angels is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Braver Angels business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership subscriptions starting at $12/year. In 2022, member dues and gifts represented 38% of the $4.4M budget, a 20% increase from 2021. Members receive newsletters, convention access, skills training, and leadership development.
- Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and potentially foundations. One-time donations of $12+ receive a one-year membership voucher. Donors giving $1000+ receive lifetime membership and President's Circle invitation.
- Foundation Funding: Foundation funding split approximately 60% left-of-center and 40% right-of-center foundations, maintaining political balance. In 2022, 73% of funding directly supported grassroots programming.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Entry-level annual membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription tiers |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription tiers |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | One-time donation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Braver Angels product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit citizens movement that reduces political polarization in the United States through structured workshops, parliamentary-style debates, 1:1 conversations, eCourses, and an AI-powered training platform called the Depolarization Dōjō. The organization operates through 129 local alliances across all 50 states, plus vertical-specific programs for education, faith communities, politics, arts, and media.
Product overview
Braver Angels is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for bridging political divides, not a unified software product. The core offerings include workshops (Red/Blue Workshop, Depolarizing Within, Disagreeing Better, Common Ground, Families and Politics), 1:1 Conversations, and Braver Angels Debates. Supporting these are digital learning products: eCourses (free online courses) and the Depolarization Dōjō (AI-powered training platform with realistic AI personas). Vertical-specific programs include Braver Politics (for public officials), Braver Education (for schools/universities), Braver Faith (for religious communities), and Braver Arts (music, theater, film). Braver Media produces podcasts, newsletters, and documentaries. Additional offerings include Clubs and Caucuses (special interest groups), Citizens Commission on Immigration, Trustworthy Elections Initiative, and the Civic Scholars Council. The organization operates through local Alliances and a national network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Red/Blue Workshop
- Depolarizing Within Workshop
- Disagreeing Better Workshop
- Common Ground Workshop
- Families and Politics Workshop
- 1:1 Conversations
- Braver Angels Debates
- eCourses
- Depolarization Dōjō
- Braver Politics
- Braver Education
- Braver Faith
- Braver Arts
- Citizens Commission on Immigration
- Trustworthy Elections Initiative
- Civic Scholars Council
- Braver Angels National Convention
Quantifiable outcome
- After a 1:1 Conversation, 97% say they found common ground
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Braver Angels
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Braver Angels technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature1 record
Braver Angels partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.
- Dignity Index Summit ParticipantsminorSummit participants at Salt Lake Hilton including Tim Shriver focused on free speech, censorship, and contempt issues.
- One Small StepcoreParticipated together in inaugural Bridging Movement Summit at George Washington Presidential Library. Both organizations in the Bridging Space working on depolarization.
- BridgeUSAflagshipHonorary Co-Chair partnership. BridgeUSA is a cross-partisan student organization working on college campuses. Joint College Debates & Discourse program with ACTA.
- Institute for Local GovernmentcorePartner organization in Braver Network focusing on local government civic engagement and collaboration.
- StoryCorpscorePartner in Bridging Movement Summit and bridging space initiatives. StoryCorps helps participants engage across ideological divides.
- BridgeUSA (with ACTA)flagshipCollege Debates & Discourse partnership between Braver Angels, BridgeUSA, and ACTA providing curricular toolkit and campus debate programming.
- MIT Center for Constructive Communication / CorticocoreTechnology partner in Braver Network focusing on constructive communication and local conversation ecosystem development.
- Dignity.Us / UNITEcoreCo-creator of the Dignity Index; joint government and corporate partnerships; co-sponsored events on patriotism in schools.
- New York Theatre WorkshopminorPartnership for Mind The Gap inter-political theater program where participants interview across the divide and turn stories into performances.
- More in CommoncoreBraver Network partner organization focused on understanding and bridging divides across communities.
- AllSidescoreBraver Network partner providing balanced news and information across political perspectives.
- Listen First ProjectcoreBraver Network partner focused on listening-based approaches to bridging political divides.
- Living Room ConversationsBraver Network partner enabling peer-to-peer conversations across divides.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Braver Angels competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AllSides: AllSides provides balanced news, media bias ratings, and perspectives from across the political spectrum to reduce polarization. It overlaps with Braver Angels' media and perspective-bridging activities, although its core product is information rather than facilitated dialogue.
Direct peers
- Constructive Dialogue Institute: Constructive Dialogue Institute develops evidence-based communication curricula, facilitator training, and online tools for navigating disagreement. Its educational focus and skills-based approach make it comparable to Braver Angels' depolarization workshops and AI coaching platform.
- More in Common: More in Common operates international research, campaigns, and grassroots programs designed to reduce polarization and build social cohesion. Its national and community-level bridge-building work closely overlaps Braver Angels' depolarization mission and programmatic model.
- Listen First Project: Listen First Project is a nonprofit focused on building understanding and trust through listening across political, social, and cultural divides. Its coalition and dialogue-driven model is comparable to Braver Angels' workshops, events, and volunteer-led bridge-building.
- Living Room Conversations: Living Room Conversations facilitates structured peer-to-peer conversations on potentially polarizing topics using trained moderators and conversation guides. Its focus on constructive dialogue and discovering common ground directly mirrors Braver Angels' core 1:1 and workshop experiences.
- One Small Step: One Small Step, an initiative of StoryCorps, pairs strangers with opposing views for recorded one-on-one conversations intended to humanize the other side. It is a close analogue to Braver Angels' structured cross-partisan 1:1 conversation format.
- Heterodox Academy: Heterodox Academy is a network of educators and scholars promoting viewpoint diversity, open inquiry, and constructive disagreement. Its campus-oriented civil-discourse mission substantially overlaps Braver Angels' educational depolarization work.
- BridgeUSA: BridgeUSA builds student-led, cross-partisan campus communities that encourage open dialogue and cooperation. It is directly comparable to Braver Angels' Braver Education programs, college debates, and student partnerships.
- Interfaith America: Interfaith America equips leaders and institutions to bridge religious and political differences through dialogue and relationship building. Its use of faith communities, structured programs, and facilitator development is comparable to Braver Angels' Braver Faith vertical.
Others
- Cortico: Cortico builds technology and measurement infrastructure for local conversation networks seeking to strengthen civic understanding. It is comparable to Braver Angels as an enabling platform and partner for scaling cross-difference community engagement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Braver Angels social profiles
Digital presenceBraver Angels financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Braver Angels leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Braver Angels funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Braver Angels 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 Braver Angels
What does Braver Angels do?
Braver Angels is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit citizens movement that reduces political polarization in the United States through structured workshops, parliamentary-style debates, 1:1 conversations, eCourses, and an AI-powered training platform called the Depolarization Dōjō. The organization operates through 129 local alliances across all 50 states, plus vertical-specific programs for education, faith communities, politics, arts, and media.
Is Braver Angels a public or private company?
Braver Angels is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Braver Angels founded?
Braver Angels was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Braver Angels based?
Braver Angels is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Braver Angels make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are donations and foundation Funding.
Who are Braver Angels's main competitors?
AllSides is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Constructive Dialogue Institute, More in Common, Listen First Project, Living Room Conversations, One Small Step, Heterodox Academy, BridgeUSA and Interfaith America. Cortico is listed as an others.
Does Braver Angels have an API?
No public API is recorded for Braver Angels.