What Alabama Forward does

Alabama Forward is a nonpartisan, statewide 501(c)(3) civic engagement network and coordinating table based in Centre, Alabama, founded in 2020. The organization unites 59+ member and partner organizations across the state — including the ACLU Alabama, NAACP Alabama, Southern Poverty Law Center, Planned Parenthood Southeast, Black Voters Matter, and the Hispanic Interest Coalition of America — to coordinate pro-democracy advocacy, voter engagement, and coalition organizing on issues ranging from voting rights and criminal justice reform to environmental justice and economic equity. Members receive voting privileges in coalition decisions, eligibility for subgrants (with $5 million awarded cumulatively since launch), access to shared Voter Activation Network (VAN) voter data infrastructure, technical support, and policy alignment coordination across eight issue verticals. A sister organization, Alabama Forward Action, operates as the related 501(c)(4) entity for electoral work.

The organization's product surface is a portfolio of civic engagement programs rather than commercial products. Shake the Field is a cultural engagement platform reaching Black Alabamians ages 18-45 through music, art, and community content, with over 1 million social media reach and 458% organic follower growth in 2025. Power on the Line is an annual civic engagement festival drawing 1,500+ attendees. Power Pathways is a multi-track leadership development pipeline (Manage, Organize, Lead) built in partnership with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice and Center for Third World Organizing. Additional programs include Municipal Election Guides (13 produced in 2025), Issue Alignment Groups preparing for the 2026 legislative session, the Empowered Alabama Project newsletter, and a virtual book club.

The revenue model is donations and grants. Individual supporters participate through one-time donations or the Shakers Collective monthly giving program, while institutional foundation grants fund the subgrant pool and operational overhead. The organization passes significant funding through to member organizations as subgrants (a flow-out, not revenue-in) and runs on a lean 1-10 employee footprint with extensive reliance on volunteer street teams, canvassers, and text bankers for direct voter outreach (86,593 VAN phone bank calls, 13,752 Alabamians contacted via direct phone calls and door-to-door canvassing in 2025). No fee-based products or services are offered.

Name

Alabama Forward

Legal name

Alabama Forward

Website

https://alforward.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alabama Forward is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) civic engagement network that coordinates a 59-member coalition of Alabama nonprofits across voting rights, economic justice, and equity issues. It delivers voter outreach, leadership development, and shared data infrastructure through programs like Shake the Field and Power on the Line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL), Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Civic engagement
• Coalition organizing
• Voter mobilization
• Nonprofit advocacy
• Community organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Centre

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Alabama Forward operates as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Revenue is generated primarily through donations from individuals (including the Shakers Collective monthly giving program) and presumably grants from foundations and institutional funders supporting civic engagement and democracy work.
2. Member Subgrants: The organization provides subgrants to member organizations as a benefit of membership, demonstrating a flow of funds to partner organizations rather than收取 revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Alabama Forward is a nonpartisan, statewide 501(c)(3) civic engagement coordinating table that unites 59+ member and partner organizations across Alabama to advance pro-democracy policies and drive systemic change. It delivers coalition coordination, member subgrants (over $5 million awarded), shared voter data infrastructure (VAN), leadership development programming (Power Pathways), cultural engagement initiatives (Shake the Field, Power on the Line Festival), nonpartisan voter education resources (Municipal Election Guides), and direct voter contact through canvassing, text banking, and volunteer street teams.

Product overview

Alabama Forward is a non-partisan, statewide civic engagement network (501c3) that operates as a coordinating table rather than a traditional technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of civic engagement programs including Shake the Field (a digital platform and cultural initiative), Power on the Line (an annual cultural festival), Municipal Election Guides (nonpartisan voter education resources), Issue Alignment Groups (collaborative advocacy coordination), Power Pathways (leadership development with Manage/Organize/Lead tracks), the Alabama Forward Table membership network, the Empowered Alabama Project newsletter, and a Book Club. These programs work together to advance pro-democracy policies, boost civic participation, and build community power across Alabama through coalition-based organizing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shake the Field: A digital space curated to educate and inspire everyday Alabamians to embrace civic engagement and become active in Alabama's artistic and cultural communities.
• Power on the Line
• Empowered Alabama Project

Products and services

• Shake the Field Digital civic engagement space that educates and inspires everyday Alabamians to embrace civic participation through music, art, and community cultural content, with focus on Black Alabamians ages 18-45.
• Power on the Line Festival Annual cultural festival that brings together organizers, advocates, community leaders, and everyday Alabamians for art, music, connection, and collective civic action.
• Alabama Forward Table (Member Network) Statewide civic engagement coordinating table that unites 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations focused on civic participation, providing subgrants, shared V.A.N. data tools, technical support, and a coalition governance structure.
• Power Pathways Leadership Development Pipeline Multi-track leadership development program offering nonprofit management training, organizing bootcamps, and campaign/candidate support for emerging Alabama leaders.
• Issue Alignment Groups Collaborative advocacy working groups that align member organizations around shared policy priorities for coordinated engagement in legislative and electoral cycles.
• Municipal Election Guides Nonpartisan election guide templates and accompanying trainings provided to member organizations to help voters navigate local municipal elections.
• Empowered Alabama Project Newsletter Recurring newsletter that delivers news, policy updates, and action alerts to subscribers to keep them informed on issues affecting Alabama communities.
• Alabama Forward Book Club Virtual book club providing a space for learning, conversation, and action around books that inform and inspire civic advocacy in Alabama.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,033,258 people reached via Shake the Field social media
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered member, program and core.

• ¡HICA!memberOthersHispanic interest organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table. Member organizations receive voting privileges, eligibility for subgrants, access to VAN and data tools, and technical support.
• Alabama Coalition for Immigrant JusticememberOthersImmigrant rights coalition listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• ACLU AlabamamemberOthersCivil liberties advocacy organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• Alabama Justice InitiativememberOthersCriminal justice reform organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• NAACP AlabamamemberOthersCivil rights organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• Black Voters MattermemberOthersVoting rights organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• Planned Parenthood SoutheastmemberOthersReproductive health organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• Southern Poverty Law CentermemberOthersCivil rights legal organization listed as a member organization of the Alabama Forward coalition table.
• Institute for Nonprofit PracticeprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Power Pathways Manage track leadership development program, training nonprofit leaders to improve management skills. 14 early career leaders participated, with a cohort for 28 managers/executives/directors planned for Fall 2026.
• Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO)programStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Power Pathways Organize track, offering Organizing 101 Bootcamp to 28 community members. Future plans include partnering with re:power for continued organizing training.
• Alabama Voting Rights CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlabama Forward joined the facilitation committee for the Alabama Voting Rights Coalition, and brought the Alabama Election Protection Coalition under the Table umbrella as a program facilitated by the Field Operations department.
• Bay Area Women CoalitionmemberOthersMember organization that participated in Shake the Field text banking initiative, incorporating it into their broader year-round field strategies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Popular Democracy: National network of state and local affiliate organizations advancing racial justice, economic justice, and democracy reform. Comparable coalition/network model with member organizations across multiple states, including alignment with Alabama Forward's organizing partners.
• Faith in Action: National 501(c)(3) network of faith-based community organizations running voter engagement and voter protection campaigns. Comparable mission, member-network structure, and voter mobilization approach — and Faith in Action Alabama is itself a member of Alabama Forward.
• State Voices: National network of state civic engagement tables that Alabama Forward is affiliated with as a state-level table. Direct model peer: State Voices explicitly builds and supports 501(c)(3) coordinating tables in over 20 states, pooling infrastructure, data, and shared services for member coalitions.
• Working America: Affiliate of the AFL-CIO that organizes working-class voters through door-to-door canvassing and community outreach. Comparable community organizing and direct voter contact model, though operating as a labor-sponsored organization rather than a 501(c)(3) coalition table.

Regional players

• Alabama Arise: Alabama-based nonprofit advocacy organization working on state-level policy and budget issues affecting low-income residents. Direct in-state peer and member organization of Alabama Forward, with overlapping policy focus on economic justice and legislative engagement.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Voice: Pennsylvania statewide civic engagement table coordinating 50+ member organizations on voter access and policy. Direct peer within the State Voices network — same coordinating table structure, member-driven governance, and shared data infrastructure.
• New Florida Majority: Statewide Florida-based civic engagement and community organizing coalition that builds power through member organizations, voter engagement, and leadership development. Closely comparable to Alabama Forward in mission, member-coalition model, and demographic focus on underrepresented voters.
• Texas Organizing Project: Texas-based civic engagement coalition organizing Black and Latino voters through member groups and grassroots campaigns. Comparable nonpartisan statewide coalition model with membership structure, voter mobilization focus, and race-conscious equity framing.
• Michigan Voice: Michigan statewide civic engagement coordinating table that unites 30+ member organizations for voter engagement and policy advocacy. Alabama Forward is modeled as a peer state-level Table in the State Voices network alongside Michigan Voice.
• Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda: Atlanta-based civic engagement coalition focused on voter participation, civic education, and policy advocacy in Georgia. Comparable Southeast regional focus on Black civic participation and coalition-based organizing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alabama-forward

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 Alabama Forward