Progressive Multiplier Fund
Progressive Multiplier Fund is a 501(c)(3) funding intermediary that pools foundation and donor capital to provide subgrants, technical assistance, and cohort-based peer learning that help progressive nonprofits build independent revenue generation capacity.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersS Central Washington Co, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Progressive Multiplier Fund does
Progressive Multiplier Fund (PMF) is a private 501(c)(3) funding intermediary founded in 2017 by Phil Radford, the former CEO of Greenpeace USA, at the request of Rob Stein, founder of the Democracy Alliance. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., PMF pools resources from progressive foundations and donors — including Ford Foundation, JPB Foundation, Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Scherman Foundation, Wallace Global Fund, and others — and deploys them as subgrants, hands-on technical assistance, and training to progressive nonprofit organizations. Its core thesis is that movement groups are over-reliant on unstable foundation funding and that targeted investment in independent revenue generation (IRG) infrastructure can yield 3:1 to 6:1 returns while reducing boom-and-bust election-cycle volatility.
PMF's product surface consists of three interconnected cohort programs — The Catalyst (hands-on technical assistance and subgrants for revenue acceleration), The Lab (investment in experimental IRG tactics), and The Convergence (a collaborative portal pooling IRG knowledge across the movement). Adjacent offerings include the Transformative Growth Fund for recoverable grants and program-related investments, a unique 501(c)(4) & PAC Revenue Generation Funding Program piloted in 2021, and a for-profit subsidiary housed in its (c)(4) entity to generate earned revenue. No proprietary technology platform is operated; distribution and delivery are human-mediated via a team of approximately 11 staff, including dedicated senior directors for each program track and a Director of Growth.
The business model is grantmaking rather than commercial: PMF charges no fees to movement groups and is funded almost entirely by foundation grants and philanthropic capital. Go-to-market operates on two sides — funders are courted via Program Partnerships, Movement Capacity Partnerships, and Movement Scale Partnerships, while movement groups enter via cohort-based selection. Documented outcomes include VOICE converting an $18K grant into $108K (6:1), PushBlack scaling recurring donors from 2,000 to 8,000 generating $50K/month, and the National Immigration Law Center growing its individual donor base from 280 to 15,500 in 18 months.
Progressive Multiplier Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Progressive Multiplier Fund
- Legal name
- Progressive Multiplier
- Website
- https://progressivemultiplier.fund
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Progressive Multiplier Fund is a 501(c)(3) funding intermediary that pools foundation and donor capital to provide subgrants, technical assistance, and cohort-based peer learning that help progressive nonprofits build independent revenue generation capacity.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Progressive Multiplier Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Grantmaking Intermediary Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Trust Funds & Multi-Donor Pooled Funds (BPADAOAE)
Keywords
Where Progressive Multiplier Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- S Central Washington Co
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Progressive Multiplier Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding: PMF is primarily funded through grants from progressive foundations and donors. Funders include Ford Foundation, Evelyn & Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Scherman Foundation, David Rockefeller Fund, JPB Foundation, Northlight Foundation, Amalgamated Bank, and others who invest in PMF's intermediary model to support independent revenue generation for progressive nonprofits.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Progressive Multiplier Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Progressive Multiplier Fund is a grantmaking intermediary that pools resources from progressive foundations and donors to provide subgrants, hands-on technical assistance, and training to progressive nonprofit organizations through three cohort-based programs—The Catalyst (capacity building), The Lab (testing fundraising tactics), and The Convergence (collaborative IRG knowledge sharing)—helping movement groups build sustainable independent revenue generation capacity.
Product overview
Progressive Multiplier Fund operates as a funding intermediary offering a suite of programs designed to help progressive nonprofit organizations build financial resilience through independent revenue generation. The core offerings consist of three interconnected programs: The Catalyst (hands-on technical assistance and funding for revenue acceleration), The Lab (investment in testing innovative fundraising tactics), and The Convergence (a collaborative knowledge-sharing portal). Additional initiatives include the Transformative Growth Fund for large recoverable grants, the Center of Excellence/Innovation Exchange Center for peer learning, a unique 501(c)(4) & PAC Revenue Generation Funding Program, and a for-profit subsidiary structure. The organization does not offer a technology platform product, but rather provides grantmaking, strategic assistance, and knowledge-sharing services to build the revenue generation capacity of movement groups.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Catalyst
Quantifiable outcome
- $3.80 to $6 raised per $1 granted
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Progressive Multiplier Fund
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Progressive Multiplier Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Progressive Multiplier Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Ford Foundation BUILD ProgramcoreFord Foundation invited PMF to run pilot program broadening financial resiliency offerings for BUILD Cohort through training, strategic assistance, and communities of practice.
- Metro Industrial Areas FoundationmajorMetro IAF is replicating VOICE's 6:1 rev gen success with affiliates. Secured $10M donation with $100,000 matching grants to each of five affiliates for organizer recruitment and revenue generation support working with PMF.
- Queeri Data and AnalyticsmajorTechnical assistance partner for LGBTQ+ cohort working at intersection of fundraising strategy and technology enabling independent revenue generation programs.
- Chase's Force for Good programminorTech-for-social-good program where Chase volunteers helped Equality Ohio convert supporters into monthly sustainers.
- Democracy AlliancecoreFounder Rob Stein of Democracy Alliance asked Phil Radford to start Progressive Multiplier. Research collaboration with progressive thought leaders and funders including representatives from Democracy Alliance, Ford Foundation, Solidago, Wellspring Advisors, Open Society Foundation, Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, and Amalgamated Bank.
- New Left AcceleratorminorCo-hosted Content Club event exploring independent revenue generation as lever of power in fight for collective bargaining and democracy.
- The Workers LabminorCo-hosted Content Club event with PMF and New Left Accelerator on organizing for better democracy.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Progressive Multiplier Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Democracy Alliance: Funder collaborative whose founder (Rob Stein) recruited Phil Radford to start PMF. Operates as a donor coordination and intermediary body for progressive causes, comparable as a strategic peer enabling PMF's pipeline of large funders.
- Tides Foundation: One of the largest progressive fiscal sponsorship and grantmaking intermediaries. Significantly larger and broader in scope than PMF but operates the same intermediary function of pooling donor dollars and regranting to movement-aligned nonprofits.
- Open Society Foundation: One of the largest global progressive foundations and a participant in PMF's founding research. Far larger and broader, but a comparable institutional donor/intermediary with overlapping progressive movement focus.
- Wellspring Advisors: Participated in the original 2017 research collaboration that led to PMF's founding. Operates as a strategic intermediary for philanthropic and movement infrastructure, with overlapping funder relationships.
Direct peers
- The Workers Lab: Co-hosts events with PMF and is represented on PMF's board (Adrian Haro, CEO). Operates as a movement intermediary funding worker-centered innovation, directly comparable to PMF's grantmaking-plus-technical-assistance model.
- Nonprofit Finance Fund: Provides financing and consulting to nonprofits, with VP of Sustainability Strategies (Rakiba Kibria) on PMF's board. Directly comparable as a capacity-building intermediary focused on nonprofit financial sustainability — overlapping with PMF's mission.
- New Left Accelerator: Co-hosts Content Club events with PMF and operates as a progressive movement capacity-building intermediary. Directly comparable as a peer nonprofit intermediary supporting progressive organizing infrastructure.
- North Star Fund: Community-organized movement grantmaker serving progressive organizations, particularly in the Northeast. Comparable as a peer grantmaking intermediary focused on funding and capacity-building for grassroots progressive nonprofits.
- Movement Politics Accelerator: Co-founded by Prentiss Haney, who serves as Secretary of PMF's board. Operates as a movement-electoral accelerator serving progressive organizations, directly comparable to PMF's intermediary role.
- Accelerate Change: Led by Lea Madry, Chair of PMF's board. Functions as a progressive capacity-building intermediary — directly comparable as a peer intermediary serving movement-building organizations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Progressive Multiplier Fund social profiles
Digital presenceProgressive Multiplier Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Progressive Multiplier Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Progressive Multiplier Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Progressive Multiplier Fund 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 Progressive Multiplier Fund
What does Progressive Multiplier Fund do?
Progressive Multiplier Fund is a grantmaking intermediary that pools resources from progressive foundations and donors to provide subgrants, hands-on technical assistance, and training to progressive nonprofit organizations through three cohort-based programs—The Catalyst (capacity building), The Lab (testing fundraising tactics), and The Convergence (collaborative IRG knowledge sharing)—helping movement groups build sustainable independent revenue generation capacity.
Is Progressive Multiplier Fund a public or private company?
Progressive Multiplier Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Progressive Multiplier Fund founded?
Progressive Multiplier Fund was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Progressive Multiplier Fund based?
Progressive Multiplier Fund is headquartered in S Central Washington Co, United States, in the North America region.
How does Progressive Multiplier Fund make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding.
Who are Progressive Multiplier Fund's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Democracy Alliance, Tides Foundation, Open Society Foundation and Wellspring Advisors. Direct peers are The Workers Lab, Nonprofit Finance Fund, New Left Accelerator, North Star Fund, Movement Politics Accelerator and Accelerate Change.
Does Progressive Multiplier Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Progressive Multiplier Fund.
What industry is Progressive Multiplier Fund in?
Progressive Multiplier Fund's product category is Nonprofit Grantmaking Intermediary Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAE, Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.