Disagree Better

What Disagree Better does

Disagree Better, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2023 and headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. Its stated mission is to reduce inflammatory rhetoric and foster a culture of healthy debate by equipping citizens, political and civic leaders, and organizational executives with tools to navigate difficult conversations without sacrificing principles or opponents' dignity. The initiative was launched under Utah Governor Spencer Cox's chairmanship of the National Governors Association and is anchored by a bipartisan coalition of 23 governors from both major parties who publicly model respectful disagreement.

The organization's product surface is entirely non-technological and distributed free of charge. Core offerings consist of five differentiated content assets: a How-To Guide on constructive disagreement, a Practice Library (toolkit) curating books, courses, podcasts, and partner resources, a Candidate Playbook for political campaigns, a Leadership Playbook for organizational executives built on five frameworks (Humility, Pluralism, Governing vs. Performing, Standing for Something, Moral Foundations), and a downloadable Candidate Blueprint Toolkit. Complementing these guides, the organization runs bipartisan PSA video campaigns featuring governors and other public figures, and convenes a national event circuit at venues including the Pew Charitable Trusts America at 250 Forum, Harvard Kennedy School, Notre Dame Rooney Center for Democracy, the Ronald Reagan Foundation, the Washington National Cathedral, and the Aspen Ideas Festival.

The business model is a 501(c)(3) donations-and-grants model with no paid products, subscriptions, or pricing tiers. Revenue consists of individual donations (tax-deductible under EIN 99-3641251) and institutional foundation grants from Carnegie Corporation of New York, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Knight Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, Stand Together / Charles Koch Foundation, Labor & Honor, Semnani Family Foundation, Skyline Foundation, and Leadership Now Project. Distribution is community-led and event-driven: the 23-governor coalition, 40+ partner organizations (Braver Angels, Listen First Project, Bridge USA, More in Common, Constructive Dialogue Institute, AEI, Brookings, NICD, and others), and earned media coverage in TED, PBS, NPR, Washington Post, Politico, and Deseret News amplify reach. The methodology has been validated by Stanford University research led by Professor Robb Willer across 6,500+ and 32,000+ participant studies, with the Cox/Peterson model identified as one of only three of 25 tested interventions to simultaneously reduce partisan animosity, support for political violence, and anti-democratic attitudes. Headcount is small at 3 named core staff, with broader reach delivered through a distributed model of governors, advisors, and partner organizations.

Name

Disagree Better

Legal name

Disagree Better, Inc.

Website

https://disagreebetter.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Disagree Better is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces free, research-backed guides, toolkits, and events teaching Americans, political leaders, and organizations constructive disagreement. It convenes a bipartisan coalition of 23 governors and Stanford-validated programming to reduce political polarization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Engagement and Discourse Education

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

akta.pro primary industry

Restorative Practices, Conflict Resolution & Discipline Alternatives (EDAKAMAG)

Keywords

• Nonpartisan civic engagement
• Civil discourse education
• Political depolarization resources
• Constructive dialogue training
• Democracy and polarization research

Headquarters

HQ city

Midvale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual Americans can donate to support the nonprofit's campaigns, free resources, and events. Disagree Better is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 99-3641251) and all donations are tax-deductible in the US.
2. Foundation and Institutional Grants/Support: The organization receives financial and strategic support from foundations and institutional partners including Carnegie Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Knight Foundation, and Pew Charitable Trusts. These partnerships fund specific campaigns, research initiatives, and event programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Disagree Better is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes free educational guides, toolkits, and events designed to help citizens, political leaders, and organizations engage in healthier political disagreement. Core offerings include the How-To Guide for respectful disagreement skills, a Practice Library aggregating books, courses, and partner resources, a Candidate Playbook for civil campaigning, and a Leadership Playbook for managing conflict in organizations. The organization also produces bipartisan PSA campaigns featuring governors and hosts cross-partisan forums and summits.

Product overview

Disagree Better is a nonpartisan nonprofit initiative focused on reducing polarization by teaching Americans constructive conflict skills. The core offering consists of free educational resources including a How-To Guide with practical techniques for respectful disagreement, a Practice Library (Toolkit) with books, courses, videos, and partner resources, a Candidate Playbook for political campaigns, a Leadership Playbook for organizational leaders, and a downloadable Candidate Blueprint Toolkit. The organization also organizes events and summits featuring cross-partisan leaders modeling civil discourse. All offerings are free resources distributed through the website, with no paid products or technical platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disagree Better Guide (How-To Guide) A free comprehensive guide providing real-world techniques for citizens, candidates, and leaders to stay curious instead of defensive and navigate conflict productively. Covers skills for speaking, thinking, listening, and acting during disagreements, and is downloadable from the website as a PDF.
• Practice Library (Toolkit) A curated free collection of books, courses, videos, podcasts, and tools for mastering constructive disagreement, featuring content from TED Talks, partner organizations such as Braver Angels, Listen First Project, Bridge USA, and academic sources including Utah State University and Harvard Kennedy School.
• Candidate Playbook A free strategic guide for political candidates demonstrating how to model civil discourse as a competitive edge. Includes tone tips, communication strategies, and sample campaign scripts for respectful disagreement and bipartisan advertising.
• Leadership Playbook A free specialized guide for organizational and corporate leaders covering five approaches to constructive disagreement: Lead with Humility, Practice Pluralism, Govern not Perform, Stand for Something, and Build on Moral Frameworks. Designed to help leaders build cultures of constructive disagreement.
• Candidate Blueprint Toolkit A free downloadable toolkit with tone tips, communication templates, and sample scripts for political campaigns, including the Cox/Peterson 'One Nation' 60-second campaign spot as a working model for bipartisan respectful campaigning.
• Events and Summits Regular free gatherings featuring cross-partisan conversations between governors, leaders, and public figures modeling civil discourse. Includes forums at Harvard, Notre Dame, Reagan Foundation, America at 250 Forum with Pew Charitable Trusts, Aspen Ideas Festival, and the 2024 Disagree Better Summit co-hosted by Wheatley Institute and Washington National Cathedral.
• Bipartisan PSA Campaigns Public service announcements and video campaigns featuring governors and political leaders demonstrating respectful disagreement. Developed in partnership with Stanford University research validating reduced hostility, increased openness, and lower support for political violence among viewers. Distributed via YouTube, social media, and broadcast platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• People who saw Disagree Better campaigns became more willing to listen to the other side, showed greater openness to different perspectives, and felt less hostile toward people from the opposing party (Stanford study, 6,500+ participants)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

43 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Pew Charitable TrustscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor institutional partner co-hosting major forums and events with Disagree Better. The February 2026 'America at 250 Forum' and governor events featuring cross-partisan dialogue are co-hosted with Pew, leveraging Pew's research capabilities and civic engagement infrastructure.
• Stanford University / Professor Robb WillercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStanford University conducted rigorous research with 6,500+ Americans demonstrating the effectiveness of Disagree Better campaigns. Professor Robb Willer (Director, Politics and Social Change Lab) led the research and serves on the Advisory Board, providing scientific credibility and ongoing research partnership.
• BoncomcoreTechnology or IntegrationBoncom is a communications firm that produced the Cox/Peterson 'One Nation' 60-second campaign spot and likely other Disagree Better campaign materials. Steve Wright, Boncom Senior Vice President and Managing Director, serves on the Advisory Board.
• Constructive Dialogue InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaroline Mehl, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Constructive Dialogue Institute, serves on the Disagree Better Advisory Board, providing expertise in dialogue methodology and program development.
• Wheatley Institute at BYUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheatley Institute at BYU is a major institutional partner, co-hosting the 2024 Disagree Better Summit with the Washington National Cathedral, Wesley Theological Seminary, and the National Institute for Civil Discourse. Judge Thomas B. Griffith, former D.C. Circuit Judge, serves on the Advisory Board through Wheatley.
• Washington National CathedralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington National Cathedral is a key partner co-hosting events including the 'A Better Way: Sacred Values for Civic Life' series and the 2024 Disagree Better Summit, providing a prominent national venue and civic gravitas.
• Harvard Kennedy School / Professor Julia MinsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics hosted a Disagree Better event featuring Governor Cox and Congressman Jake Auchincloss. Professor Julia Minson from Harvard Kennedy School serves on the Advisory Board.
• American Enterprise Institute (AEI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYuval Levin, Senior Fellow and Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at AEI and Editor-in-Chief of National Affairs, serves on the Advisory Board. AEI is listed as a partner organization providing intellectual and ideological credibility across the political spectrum.
• National Governors AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe initiative originated under NGA chairmanship in 2023. Brandon Tatum, CEO of NGA, serves on the Advisory Board. NGA provides institutional reach into all state governors, enabling broad adoption of the Disagree Better model.
• Notre Dame Rooney Center for DemocracymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rooney Center for Democracy at the University of Notre Dame hosted the 'Pragmatism Over Polarization: A Conversation with US Governors' event in September 2025, providing academic venue and research partnership.
• Ronald Reagan Foundation & InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRonald Reagan Foundation & Institute hosted a Common Ground Forum with Governors Cox and Lujan Grisham in May 2025, providing a prestigious venue and bipartisan historical framing.
• Braver AngelsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBraver Angels is a key partner organization specializing in depolarization and cross-partisan dialogue. The Disagree Better Practice Library features Braver Angels eCourses and conversation facilitation services.
• Listen First ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListen First Project is a coalition of 500+ organizations dedicated to fostering civil discourse. Disagree Better partners with Listen First and features their resources in the Practice Library. They host Listen First Fridays, America Talks, and the National Week of Conversation.
• Utah State University / Wheatley Institute PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUtah State University and Wheatley Institute at BYU partnered with Disagree Better to create a three-part parenting toolkit helping parents and children learn to disagree better. This represents a formal content development partnership.
• Heravi Peace Institute / Utah Dispute ResolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeravi Peace Institute, Utah Dispute Resolution, and Disagree Better launched a mediation partnership in October 2025 to expand conflict resolution resources within the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Bridge USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBridge USA is a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem, focused on cross-partisan dialogue among college students and young adults.
• More in CommonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMore in Common is a partner organization providing research and insights on polarization, cited in Disagree Better materials as a resource for understanding and addressing social division.
• Brookings InstitutionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrookings Institution is listed as a partner organization, with their article on civil disagreement featured as a resource in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• One America MovementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne America Movement works with faith communities to bridge divides through service projects, dialogue events, and leadership training. Featured in the Practice Library as a partner resource.
• Interfaith AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith Alliance works to bring people of different faiths together to counter religious extremism. Featured in the Practice Library as a partner resource for bridge-building across religious divides.
• Living Room ConversationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiving Room Conversations provides structured conversation guides for small-group discussions on difficult topics, helping people engage across differences. Featured in the Practice Library and as a partner resource.
• Interfaith AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith America works to bring people of different faiths together for civic engagement. Mónica Guzmán (Advisory Board member) appeared on the Interfaith America podcast discussing bridge-building.
• Builders MovementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilders Movement joins 3M+ people across the nation to build up rather than burn down. The Polarization Detox Challenge (four-week daily prompts) is featured in the Practice Library as a Disagree Better resource.
• Bipartisan Leadership ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bipartisan Leadership Project co-hosted the 'State of Bipartisanship in America' live conversation with Governors Moore and Cox alongside The Economic Club of Washington and PBS Books.
• American Exchange ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Common Ground CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• CommonSense AmericanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization enabling citizens to engage in constructive political discussions and share opinions with elected leaders.
• Heterodox AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem, focused on viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement in higher education.
• Freedom HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Future CaucusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Citizen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Civic Health ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• StoryCorpsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Unify AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnify Challenge enables guided video calls with Americans different from oneself. Featured in the Practice Library.
• National Constitution CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2024 Disagree Better Summit alongside Wheatley Institute, Washington National Cathedral, and Wesley Theological Seminary. NICD is a University of Arizona-affiliated institute focused on civil discourse.
• Wesley Theological SeminarymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 2024 Disagree Better Summit alongside Wheatley Institute, Washington National Cathedral, and NICD. Provides theological and ethical framing for civic discourse.
• Dignity IndexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem, providing tools for evaluating discourse quality.
• Sutherland InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• American Council of Trustees and AlumniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Boston Debate LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Start with UsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.
• Meeting of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in the Disagree Better ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Living Room Conversations: Structured small-group conversation model across political and other differences. Direct peer providing practice resources featured in Disagree Better's Practice Library.
• More in Common: International nonprofit (US, UK, France, Germany) producing research on the 'exhausted majority' and designing interventions to reduce affective polarization. Shares Disagree Better's research-led approach and segmenting of audiences into persuadable middle.
• Listen First Project: Coalition of 500+ organizations running America Talks, Listen First Fridays, and the National Week of Conversation. Direct peer in fostering civil discourse at scale; explicitly named Disagree Better partner.
• Constructive Dialogue Institute: Provider of evidence-based dialogue and perspective-taking curricula for higher education and workplaces. Direct peer whose co-founder serves on Disagree Better's advisory board.
• Bridge USA: Cross-partisan student organization facilitating dialogue among politically diverse college students. Direct peer in the depolarization space with shared methodology and partner status.
• One America Movement: Faith-based depolarization nonprofit running dialogue, service projects, and leadership training across religious and political divides. Direct peer in the faith-community bridge-building space.
• Common Ground Committee: Nonpartisan nonprofit producing televised forums and a 'Trusted Leader' index for cross-partisan elected officials. Direct peer in elevating bipartisan political leadership.
• National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD): University of Arizona-affiliated institute producing research and programming on civil political discourse; co-hosted the 2024 Disagree Better Summit. Direct peer focused on elected officials and institutional reform.
• Braver Angels: Largest U.S. depolarization nonprofit running structured cross-partisan workshops, debates, and red/blue America projects. Most direct functional peer to Disagree Better, with overlapping partner ecosystem and toolkit offerings.

Emerging players

• Heterodox Academy: Network of 5,000+ academics and partners advancing viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement in higher education. Adjacent peer in the methodology-of-disagreement space with narrower audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLBEPqvkzYe3DT9xL6UQ_oonFvFZyQZs53
• Instagraminstagram.com/disagreebetter
• Facebookfacebook.com/61580626063556
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disagreebetter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Disagree Better