What Movement Alliance Project does

Movement Alliance Project (MAP) is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2005 as Media Mobilizing Project and renamed in 2020, that operates as movement infrastructure for social, racial, and economic justice organizations. Its core offering is a Fiscal Sponsorship Program that provides 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and comprehensive back-office services (payroll, benefits, bookkeeping, legal support, D&O/general liability/workers comp insurance, fund receipt and donor acknowledgement) to sponsored projects under two fee structures: Model A at 10% of incoming project revenues (full integration, MAP becomes legal entity and employer-of-record, minimum $250K annual plan) and Model C at 7% of contributed project revenues (grant/donor pass-through, minimum $150K annual plan). From 1 sponsored organization in 2017 to approximately 30 by 2025, MAP processed an average of $7.6 million per year in sponsored-project expenses from 2020-2025, with capacity to serve projects across all 50 U.S. states.

MAP's secondary offerings include People's HQ (PHQ), a 4,500 sq ft shared office and co-working facility at 924 Cherry Street, Philadelphia offering closed-door offices and meeting rooms to movement organizations on monthly rental terms (pricing not publicly disclosed). The organization also convenes or anchors multiple coalitions: the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia (electoral power-building, MAP is a founding member), Philly Tech Justice (digital inclusion), and Shift The Narrative Project (police and violence narrative change, with partners Free Press, MIC Center, Reclaim PHL, and YASP). Legacy projects include the CAP Comcast corporate accountability campaign (2014-2016), NJ Platform (2015-2017, funded by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation), the Groundwork documentary series (2015), and The Spark docuseries aired on PhillyCAM.

The business model blends (1) recurring percentage-of-revenue fees from fiscal sponsorship, (2) recurring office rental from PHQ, and (3) tax-deductible donations processed through an Allyra fundraising platform and Action Network, supplemented by institutional grants. The go-to-market is community-led and consultative, with a multi-step application (Quick Intake Form, virtual meetings, committee decision) and an explicit exceptions process for Philadelphia-based or base-building organizations below minimum revenue thresholds. Governance is by a board of directors and co-executive directors (Bryan Mercer is identified as executive director in the leadership data); no venture, private equity, or public ownership is involved.

Name

Movement Alliance Project

Legal name

Movement Alliance Project

Website

https://movementalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Movement Alliance Project is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2005 providing fiscal sponsorship (Model A and Model C), shared office space (People's HQ), and coalition support to approximately 30 social justice organizations annually across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fiscal Sponsorship Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

Keywords

• Fiscal sponsorship services
• Nonprofit infrastructure support
• Shared office space
• Back-office administration
• Movement coalition building

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fiscal Sponsorship Fees - Model A: Model A fiscal sponsorship charges 10% of all incoming project revenues to cover staff labor, tax-exempt status maintenance, and insurance policies (General Liability, Directors and Officers, Workers Compensation). This is the most comprehensive service level where MAP becomes the legal entity, employer, and liability holder.
2. Fiscal Sponsorship Fees - Model C: Model C fiscal sponsorship charges 7% of contributed project revenues. This is a lighter-touch service where MAP only handles fund receipt, distribution, and compliance oversight while the project maintains independence.
3. Office Space Rental (People's HQ): PHQ offers closed door office space and co-working memberships for rent to social justice organizations. Includes staffing, 24hr access, utilities, printing/scanning, shared supplies, and access to shared spaces (Community Room, Conference Rooms, Quiet Room).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Movement Alliance Project provides fiscal sponsorship services to social justice organizations, granting them 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and full back-office administrative support including payroll, benefits, bookkeeping, HR, legal support, insurance, and contract management under two models (Model A at 10% and Model C at 7% of incoming revenues). The organization also operates People's HQ, a 4,500 square foot shared office and co-working space at 924 Cherry Street in Philadelphia, and convenes movement coalitions such as Alliance for a Just Philadelphia.

Product overview

Movement Alliance Project (MAP) is a nonprofit infrastructure organization offering fiscal sponsorship services (Model A and Model C), shared physical workspace (People's HQ at 924 Cherry Street), and movement collaboration support. The core offering is the Fiscal Sponsorship Program providing 501(c)(3) status and comprehensive back-office services. MAP also supports several coalitions and media programs including the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia, Philly Tech Justice, Shift The Narrative Project, and legacy projects like Groundwork documentary series and The Spark TV series. MAP functions as a platform providing operational infrastructure to build power for social justice movements in Philadelphia and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fiscal Sponsorship Program Provides 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and comprehensive back-office administrative services including payroll, employee benefits administration, financial bookkeeping and accounting, legal support, general liability and D&O insurance, contract management, donor acknowledgement letters, fundraising support, cash flow assistance, and purchasing/bill payments to social justice organizations.
• People's HQ (PHQ) Office Space 4,500 square feet of shared office, co-working, and meeting space located at 924 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, offering closed door office rentals and co-working memberships. Includes staffing, 24-hour access, utilities, copying/printing/scanning, shared supplies and equipment, mailing address, and access to shared spaces including a Community Room, Conference Rooms, and Quiet Room for organizations and individuals fighting for social, racial, and economic justice.
• Movement Collaborations Support Administrative, facilitation, and fundraising support provided to learning cohorts and coalitions across the Philadelphia region, creating opportunities for leaders from organizations to build relationships, shared political analysis, skills, and collective resilience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Grew from 1 to nearly 30 organizations served annually from 2017-2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Free PresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree Press is a collaborating organization in the Shift The Narrative Project coalition, working alongside MAP to build community narrative power on issues of violence, policing, and mass incarceration in Philadelphia.
• MIC CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMIC Center is a collaborating organization in the Shift The Narrative Project coalition, contributing to efforts to challenge media coverage of violence, police, and mass incarceration.
• Reclaim PHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReclaim PHL is a collaborating organization in the Shift The Narrative Project coalition, working to center community needs in public safety narratives.
• Youth Arts and Self-Empowerment Project (YASP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYASP is a collaborating organization in the Shift The Narrative Project coalition, bringing youth arts and self-empowerment perspectives to narrative power building work.
• PhillyCAMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhillyCAM is the City's public access TV station through which The Spark documentary series aired. The Spark: Stories that Change Our Times was a 6-episode series bringing forth stories of everyday people leading movements for human rights.
• Alliance for a Just PhiladelphiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAP is a founding member of the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia, a broad coalition of grassroots organizations working together to win electoral power for communities and change Philadelphia's political landscape. The Alliance represents families, long-term residents, newcomers, students, workers, and the underemployed.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tides Foundation: One of the largest progressive fiscal sponsors in the United States, providing 501(c)(3) status, back-office administration, and grantmaking services to social justice projects. Closely comparable to MAP in core fiscal sponsorship model and progressive-mission alignment.
• New Venture Fund: Major fiscal sponsor that incubates and supports progressive nonprofit projects with administrative infrastructure, donor pass-through, and grantmaking services. Direct competitor for sponsored projects in the social justice space.
• Hill-Snowdon Foundation: Family foundation serving as fiscal sponsor and capacity builder for grassroots social justice organizations. Comparable in fiscal sponsorship and movement infrastructure role.
• Multiplier: National fiscal sponsor that provides 501(c)(3) status and administrative services to environmental, social justice, and public health projects. Direct competitor in the fiscal sponsorship market.
• Borealis Philanthropy: Progressive fiscal sponsor and intermediary that pools philanthropic resources and provides operational support to social justice movements. Similar fiscal sponsorship and movement-infrastructure role.
• Proteus Fund: Fiscal sponsor and intermediary supporting progressive movement infrastructure, including donor pass-through and regranting. Comparable in mission alignment and service to grassroots advocacy organizations.
• Common Counsel Foundation: Fiscal sponsor providing financial management, compliance, and administrative support to grassroots and progressive organizations. Directly comparable fiscal sponsorship model.
• Third Wave Fund: Movement-building fiscal sponsor focused on young people's organizing, particularly reproductive justice. Comparable in mission-driven fiscal sponsorship serving grassroots social justice projects.
• NEO Philanthropy: Fiscal sponsor and philanthropic intermediary that provides back-office support, fiscal sponsorship, and coalition support to progressive causes. Directly comparable in service model and target constituency.

Emerging players

• Movement Strategy Center: National movement support organization providing training, convening, and infrastructure to social justice formations. Adjacent rather than identical to MAP but overlaps on coalition building and movement infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Movement Alliance Project