Catalyst Campaigns
Catalyst Campaigns is a Washington, DC-based progressive digital political and advocacy consultancy that provides digital strategy, impact marketing, and strategic communications services to campaigns, labor unions, and social-impact nonprofits, founded by Scott Goodstein.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Catalyst Campaigns does
Catalyst Campaigns (legal name Catalyst Campaigns; previously known as Revolution Messaging) is a privately held, founder-owned digital political and advocacy consultancy founded by Scott Goodstein in 2006 and headquartered in Washington, DC. The firm operates with a reported 1-10 employee base and serves progressive political campaigns, labor unions, advocacy nonprofits, and social-impact causes, as well as select international pro-democracy organizations.
The company delivers three core services: Digital Strategies (social media strategy, online fundraising, web development, text messaging, interactive voice response, and in-house digital advertising), Impact Marketing (authentic storytelling, cultural marketing, coalition building, values-based branding), and Strategic Communications (public affairs, crisis communications, earned media, and media training). Its underlying technology stack combines SMS shortcode infrastructure, peer-to-peer texting, IVR, mobile applications, web platforms, and digital ad execution; the firm pioneered several industry-firsts including SMS political campaigns (Obama 2008 shortcode 62262/O-B-A-M-A), the first political mobile app, ZIP code-based regional SMS, IVR early-vote lookup, and FEC-approved text-to-give political contributions.
The business is a project-based professional services consultancy priced per engagement on a custom basis, with multi-year contracts and no public pricing tiers. Revenue derives from digital campaign consulting and execution, impact marketing, and strategic communications engagements. Go-to-market is sales-led, supplemented by event-driven credibility (Reed/Pollie/Shorty/Polaris awards) and community-led relationship building; approximately 25% of services are donated pro bono to seed progressive causes, which converts into paying engagements over time. The company has no disclosed outside investors, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.
Catalyst Campaigns firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Catalyst Campaigns
- Legal name
- Catalyst Campaigns
- Website
- https://catalystcampaigns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Catalyst Campaigns is a Washington, DC-based progressive digital political and advocacy consultancy that provides digital strategy, impact marketing, and strategic communications services to campaigns, labor unions, and social-impact nonprofits, founded by Scott Goodstein.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Catalyst Campaigns industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Political Campaign Consulting
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (54181), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Media Representatives (54184)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Influencer Campaign Strategy & Planning (BPAFAHAC), Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK), Marketing Automation & Lifecycle/Drip Campaign Management (MPAAAIAC)
Keywords
Catalyst Campaigns business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Digital Campaign Consulting & Strategy Services: Catalyst Campaigns provides strategic consulting for political campaigns, advocacy organizations, labor unions, and social impact causes. Services include digital strategy development, campaign planning, message development, and public affairs advisory.
- Digital Campaign Execution Services: Full-service digital campaign execution including social media strategy, online fundraising, web development, digital advertising, text messaging campaigns, interactive voice technology, and digital media training.
- Impact Marketing Services: Impact marketing services including authentic storytelling, cultural marketing, coalition building, issue education, strategic partnerships, values-based branding, and community engagement.
- Strategic Communications Services: Public affairs and issue advocacy campaigns, crisis communications, media budgeting, public relations, and earned media strategies.
- Pro Bono Services (Community Building): Company donates 25% of services annually to assist causes in need, building goodwill and long-term relationships with movement organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Catalyst Campaigns product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Catalyst Campaigns is a digital political marketing and consulting agency that provides strategy, full-service digital execution, and strategic communications for progressive political campaigns, advocacy nonprofits, labor unions, and social impact causes. Its core service lines — Digital Strategies, Impact Marketing, and Strategic Communications — combine social media strategy, online fundraising, web development, SMS/text messaging campaigns, interactive voice response (IVR), digital advertising, message development, public affairs, and crisis communications into integrated campaign engagements sold on a project basis.
Product overview
Catalyst Campaigns offers a three-service portfolio centered on digital strategies, impact marketing, and strategic communications. Their Digital Strategies service provides full-service digital campaigning including social media strategy, online fundraising, web development, text messaging strategy, interactive voice technology, and in-house digital advertising. Impact Marketing delivers authentic storytelling, cultural marketing, coalition building, issue education, and values-based branding. Strategic Communications encompasses public affairs campaign planning, crisis communications, earned media strategies, and media training. The three services are designed to work together, combining online and offline tactics with artistic and cultural elements to power progressive change.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SupportThePlayers.NET: Emergency fund created for National Women's Soccer League Players Association to help players facing financial hardships
- #NoMoreSideHustles
- RememberWhatTheyDid
- DontGetPurged.org
- Workers Essential
- Artists for Obama
- Artists for Bernie
- Invisible Hands
- Save Our Stages
Products and services
- Digital Strategies End-to-end digital campaign services for political campaigns, advocacy organizations, labor unions, and social causes — covering social media strategy, online fundraising, web development, text messaging (SMS/P2P) strategy, interactive voice response (IVR) programs, and in-house digital advertising. Built with proven best-in-class technology and intended for clients needing full-service digital mobilization capabilities.
- Impact Marketing Message development and lifestyle marketing services for progressive campaigns and causes, focused on authentic storytelling, cultural marketing, coalition building, issue education, strategic partnerships, values-based branding, issue mapping, and community engagement. Aimed at advocacy and social impact clients seeking to connect cultural capital to mission-driven campaigns.
- Strategic Communications Public affairs and strategic communications services including message development, campaign planning, social media training, media budgeting, public relations, earned media strategies, and crisis communications. Targets political campaigns, advocacy organizations, labor unions, and social impact clients needing senior strategic counsel combined with media and crisis expertise.
Quantifiable outcome
- $218 million raised online for Bernie 2016 campaign with $61 million from digital ads
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Catalyst Campaigns
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Catalyst Campaigns technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature15 records
Catalyst Campaigns partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Whistleblower AidcoreCatalyst Campaigns redesigned Whistleblower Aid's website to create a user-friendly, visually compelling, and highly secure platform. The new site features custom animated murals, case study databases, SEO-friendly blogging, and secure communication tools. The partnership elevated Whistleblower Aid's brand and enhanced fundraising capabilities.
- National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)coreCatalyst Campaigns advised NIVA founders on evolving online organizing tactics, reviewed grassroots organizing toolsets, and helped secure a fiscal sponsor. This partnership led to the Save Our Stages Act securing $16 billion in federal relief for independent music venues.
- Kyiv PrideminorCatalyst Campaigns worked with pro-democracy parties and human rights organizations worldwide including Kyiv Pride in Ukraine.
- National Democratic Institute for International AffairsminorCatalyst Campaigns has worked with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs on international democracy support initiatives.
- Commanders for Israel's SecurityminorCatalyst Campaigns worked with pro-democracy and security organizations including Commanders for Israel's Security on strategic communications.
- Shepard FaireycoreCreator of iconic Obama 'Hope' poster, Shepard Fairey was commissioned to create fact-checked artwork for RememberWhatTheyDid billboard campaign. Fairey is a key artistic collaborator on anti-Trump messaging.
- Artists United for ChangecoreCatalyst Campaigns co-founded and incubated RememberWhatTheyDid campaign with Artists United for Change PAC, developing messaging strategy and distributing artwork in battleground states.
- Robin BellcoreVisual artist Robin Bell partnered with Catalyst Campaigns to co-found RememberWhatTheyDid campaign, creating jarring anti-Trump billboard artwork.
- Invisible HandscoreCatalyst Campaigns donated pro-bono assistance to Invisible Hands COVID-19 relief, helping secure funding and partnerships, providing PR/marketing assistance, creating brand partnerships, and developing digital roadmap for scaling to 25,000+ volunteers.
- Teamsters Local 238coreCatalyst Campaigns worked with Teamsters Local 238 to reframe discussion around Amazon logistics workers and develop Workers Essential campaign brand for organizing Amazon delivery drivers.
- Lady Parts Justice (Abortion Access Force)coreCatalyst Campaigns provided seed funding and organizational support to Lady Parts Justice (which evolved into Abortion Access Force), a nonprofit focused on abortion rights.
- Daily ActionminorCatalyst Campaigns co-founded DailyAction, an innovative SMS alert system with daily voice messages to help activists take focused actions during Trump administration.
- DontGetPurgedminorCatalyst Campaigns provided seed funding and organizational support to DontGetPurged voter registration protection initiative.
- Ferguson Action / Movement for Black LivesminorCatalyst Campaigns assisted Ferguson Action as it scaled its technology and transformed into the Movement for Black Lives.
- International Union of Painters & Allied TradescoreCatalyst Campaigns developed mobile hiring hall for IUPAT, allowing members to pursue employment through text messaging. This innovation won Smartie Awards and modernized labor union organizing.
- Collective Super PacminorPartnered with Collective Super Pac for RememberWhatTheyDid campaign distribution and collateral material distribution.
- Democracy for AmericaminorPartnered with Democracy for America for RememberWhatTheyDid campaign voter registration drives.
- Third Man RecordsminorThird Man Records partnered with RememberWhatTheyDid to distribute collateral materials as voter registration drive incentives.
- FairFightcoreDontGetPurged partnered with FairFight (Stacey Abrams' voting rights organization) in 2020 election cycle.
- Brennan CenterminorDontGetPurged partnered with Brennan Center for 2020 election cycle voter protection efforts.
- The Lawyers Committee on Civil RightsminorDontGetPurged partnered with The Lawyers Committee on Civil Rights for 2020 voter protection.
- National Women's Soccer League Players AssociationcoreCatalyst Campaigns developed initial concept, branding, and launch strategy for SupportThePlayers.NET emergency fund, and led logo design and web development. Also created #NoMoreSideHustles campaign brand for player pay equity.
- Jay-Z's Team ROCminorRememberWhatTheyDid and Jay-Z's Team ROC faced similar challenges with billboard companies refusing to post anti-white supremacy messages, leading to collaboration on shared messaging strategies.
- FEMAminorCatalyst Campaigns created first text messaging system for emergency shelter notifications for FEMA in 2009.
- Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009minorInitiated first use of text to live-broadcast for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee.
- NAACPminorWorked with NAACP immediately after Trayvon Martin shooting to create largest mobile petition signing in 2012.
- Creative MajorityminorProvided seed funding to Creative Majority progressive organization.
- HeadCountminorScott Goodstein is friend and supporter of HeadCount voter registration nonprofit since 2004.
- Jail Guitar DoorsminorScott Goodstein co-founded Jail Guitar Doors USA, providing musical instruments and programs to inmates. Supported Wayne Kramer (MC5) initiatives.
- Groundwork CollaborativeminorScott Goodstein collaborated with Groundwork Collaborative on defining the 'Annoyance Economy' study examining hidden costs impacting Americans.
- Defiance.orgminorCatalyst Campaigns helped Defiance.org & Whistleblower Aid launch 'Obey Only Lawful Orders' billboard campaign near military installations.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Catalyst Campaigns competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Precision Strategies: Democratic political consulting firm founded by Hillary Clinton and Obama alumni offering polling, paid media, and digital strategy for campaigns and progressive causes; competes with Catalyst for the same premium Democratic political clients.
- BerlinRosen: Progressive public relations and strategic communications firm serving Democratic campaigns, advocacy nonprofits, labor unions, and arts/cultural clients; highly comparable client mix including movement organizations and unions similar to Catalyst's portfolio.
- Bully Pulpit Interactive: Progressive digital strategy agency founded by Obama 2008 alumni that delivers integrated digital, creative, and communications work for Democratic campaigns, advocacy organizations, and labor unions; competes head-to-head with Catalyst for the same marquee progressive clients.
- 270 Strategies: Founded by Obama campaign veterans, 270 Strategies focuses on organizing, digital, and data-driven campaigns for progressive causes, labor unions, and Democratic campaigns, overlapping directly with Catalyst's political and labor-union client base.
- Hilltop Public Solutions: Progressive political consulting and public affairs firm offering message development, media strategy, and digital communications for Democratic candidates and progressive causes; competes for the same campaign and advocacy engagements as Catalyst.
- Authentic Campaigns: Progressive digital agency providing online advertising, fundraising, and creative services for Democratic campaigns and progressive nonprofits; directly comparable to Catalyst on digital strategy for left-leaning political and advocacy work.
- Blue State Digital / Blue State: Long-standing digital-first agency that built Obama 2008's national online fundraising platform; serves progressive candidates, nonprofits, and advocacy causes with digital strategy, creative, and direct response work, directly competing with Catalyst on Democratic campaign and movement work.
Emerging players
- Do Big Things: Digital advocacy agency combining creative campaigns, technology, and behavioral insights for progressive nonprofits and advocacy organizations; overlaps with Catalyst on digital advocacy and impact marketing but is smaller and more tech-product focused.
Broad incumbents
- GMMB: One of the largest Democratic political media and consulting firms, providing TV, digital, and strategic communications for Democratic campaigns and progressive causes; overlaps with Catalyst on digital strategy and creative work but operates at a much larger scale.
- SKDKnickerbocker (SKDK): Major Democratic public affairs and political consulting firm offering strategic communications, advertising, and crisis management; competes with Catalyst for progressive political, advocacy, and labor clients but serves a broader corporate and crisis-comms portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Catalyst Campaigns social profiles
Digital presenceCatalyst Campaigns financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Catalyst Campaigns leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Catalyst Campaigns funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Catalyst Campaigns 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 Catalyst Campaigns
What does Catalyst Campaigns do?
Catalyst Campaigns is a digital political marketing and consulting agency that provides strategy, full-service digital execution, and strategic communications for progressive political campaigns, advocacy nonprofits, labor unions, and social impact causes. Its core service lines — Digital Strategies, Impact Marketing, and Strategic Communications — combine social media strategy, online fundraising, web development, SMS/text messaging campaigns, interactive voice response (IVR), digital advertising, message development, public affairs, and crisis communications into integrated campaign engagements sold on a project basis.
Is Catalyst Campaigns a public or private company?
Catalyst Campaigns is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Catalyst Campaigns founded?
Catalyst Campaigns was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Catalyst Campaigns make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Digital Campaign Consulting & Strategy Services are the primary driver. The others are digital Campaign Execution Services, impact Marketing Services, strategic Communications Services and pro Bono Services (Community Building).
Who are Catalyst Campaigns's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Precision Strategies, BerlinRosen, Bully Pulpit Interactive, 270 Strategies, Hilltop Public Solutions, Authentic Campaigns and Blue State Digital / Blue State. Do Big Things is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are GMMB and SKDKnickerbocker (SKDK).
Does Catalyst Campaigns have an API?
No public API is recorded for Catalyst Campaigns.
What industry is Catalyst Campaigns in?
Catalyst Campaigns's product category is Political Campaign Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFADAK, Nonprofit & Cause Communications, with a secondary code of BPAFAHAC, Influencer Campaign Strategy & Planning. Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7311.