THE FIGHTERS
Frontline Progressive Advocacy & Watchdog Organizations
NATIONAL
PRO-DEMOCRACY Think Tanks | Policy Research
Protect Democracy: nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism group
Movement Advancement Project (MAP): think tank, research, LGBTQIA+ maps
Center for American Progress (CAP): independent, progressive policy institute
Common Cause: government accountability, campaign watch
Center for Progressive Reform: nonprofit research and advocacy, policy analysis on climate justice, responsive politics, public protections
The Lincoln Project: U.S. pro-democracy organization dedicated to the preservation, protection of democracy; includes former Republican supporters of Trump
PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
Indivisible: progressive grassroots movement-building network of local groups
Move On: progressive grassroots movement coalition for civic action
Center for Popular Democracy (CPD): coalition of grassroots advocacy groups that promotes progressive pro-immigrant, social, racial and economic justice agenda
Center for Progressive Reform: nonprofit research and advocacy organization that conducts independent scholarly research and policy analysis
ELECTION | VOTING
Fair Fight: national US organization promoting fair elections; founded by Stacey Abrams
Citizen Connect: non-partisan platform with 500 civic organizations
Rock The Vote: national organization championing political power of young people
League of Women Voters: nonpartisan voter rights organization; voter scorecard tools
Progressive Change Campaign Committee: a million-member grassroots organization engaged in electoral work and on democracy and economic populist issue priorities
Equality Federation: State-based LGBTQIA+ network focused on legistlation, advocacy, civic engagement
LGBTQ Victory Fund: supports pro-equality, pro-choice, out LGBTQ+ candidates
ACCOUNTABILITY WATCHDOG
Accountable US: Investigative research accountability organization tracking corporations, special interests, and policymakers.
OpenSecrets: Nonpartisan, independent, nonprofit, OpenSecrets is a premier US research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
True North Research: For-profit political and policy research watchdog firm established by journalist Lisa Graves that tracks influence of right-wing groups and corporations.
DeSmog (formerly DeSmogBlog): Canadian-based watchdog journalism site covering of climate change policy and misinformation; right-wing influence in climate arena.
American Oversight: Nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog supporting public access to government records
Tech Transparency Project: Information and research hub for journalists, academics, policymakers and members of the public interested in exploring the influence of the major technology platforms on politics, policy, and our lives.
RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM | HATE WATCHDOG
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and its Hatewatch project
Political Research Associates (PRA), a thinktank; also their affiliate
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Freedom From Religion Foundation: advocates for the separation of church and state
FIRST AMENDMENT & PRESS FREEDOM
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): defending press freedom
Reporters Without Borders: defending freedom of information
Media Matters for America: A progressive media watchdog organization monitoring the conservative U.S. media
PEN America: a 7500-member literary community defending freedom of expression; advocacy on 1st amendment, against book bans and disinformation
Freedom House: think tank; freedom of expression; tracks authoritarianism
Pew Research Center: nonpartisan think tank; does research on democracy, civic life, politics, policy, media and more
CIVIL RIGHTS and HUMAN RIGHTS
Human Rights Watch (HRC): major human rights organization; US & global focus
Amnesty International: major human rights organization; US & global focus
People for the American Way: a watchdog group on right-wing authoritarianism; produced media and campaigns to defend democracy
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: a coalition of 230 national organizations championing human and civil rights
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): supporting public understanding of Islam and the civil rights of American Muslims
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC): the largest and oldest US Hispanic organization advocating for the rights of Hispanics in the US
JUDICIAL WATCHDOG & LEGAL
American Bar Association (ABA): Leading US legal member-based advocacy organization; upholds rule of law and legal system, provides pro bono legal services
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): legal civil liberties; tracks hate crimes
Lambda Legal: LGBTQIA+ law, anti-discrimination, tracks hate crimes
Transgender Law Center: Largest US trans-led national legal advocacy organization, tracks LGBTQIA+ hate crimes; advocacy, self-determination for all people
National Immigration Law Center: defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income
Court Accountability: a progressive judicial watchdog group
Brennan Center for Justice: think tank for pressing legal and policy issues
RACIAL JUSTICE & ANTI-DISRIMINATION
NAACP: Leading Black-led national organization fighting to end racial inequality
Hispanic Federation: national Hispanic community advocacy organization
UNIDOS US: largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in US
IMMIGRATION
United We Dream: largest immigrant youth-led community in the US
Immigration Equality: Advocacy for immigrants and families facing discrimination based on sexual orientation
LGBTQIA+ & GENDER ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
Human Rights Campaign (HRC): national LGBTQIA+ rights advocacy organization
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR): legal advocacy for lesbian, transgender, nonbinary individuals and families
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (The Task Force): Progressive LGBTQIA+ movement building organization; voter campaigns
Equality Federation: state-based LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization
GLAAD: National LGBTQIA+ media and visibility organization, fights defamation; tracks state legislation impacting LGBTQIA+ communities
The Anti-Violence Project: watchdog LGBTQIA+ anti-violence
Trevor Project: LGBTQIA+ youth rights, advocacy, voices; fights LGBTQIA+ youth suicide
LGBTQIA+ SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES
It Gets Better: People of color-led LGBTQIA+ -centered youth advocacy, storytelling
Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Community (APIQWTC): advocacy by and for Asian & Pacific Islander queer women and transgender people
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC): HIV prevention advocacy for Native communities at the national, state, and Tribal levels
National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC): national advocacy for Black LGBTQIA+ people
National Minority AIDS Coalition: advocacy for people of color living with HIV
Black and Pink: a prison abolition organization that advocates for LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive prisoners
Our Family Coalition: advocacy for LGBTQIA+ families and their children
GLESN: State-based educator’s network supporting LGBTQIA+ students, education
PFLAG: national organization of parents, families, friends of LGBTQIOA+
Services & Advocacy for GLTB Elders (SAGE): LGBTQIA+ elder services, advocacy
ASTRAEA Lesbian Foundation for Justice: Philanthropic organization advancing LGBTQIA+ rights around the world
TRANSGENDER
National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE): Leading US social justice advocacy organization supporting the civil rights and voices of transgender people
El/La Para Translatinas: advocacy on behalf of TransLatinas
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition: Black trans-led organization with state chapters
PRIDE
InterPride: International coalition of Pride organizers and member organizations
USA Prides: 120-membe of Pride organization across 35 states, territories
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Center for Reproductive Rights: a global legal coalition using the power of law to advance reproductive justice
Planned Parenthood: leading national organization offering reproductive health services
Sister Song: largest national multi-ethnic reproductive justice collective
National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda: national organization focused on reproductive justice and policy change for Black women, girls, gender-expansive individuals
National Network of Abortion Funds: Post-Roe reproductive rights network providing funds for abortions to lower-income women
Reproductive Freedom for All: Four-million-member organization advocating for reproductive justice; has state chapters
Black Women’s Health Imperative: champions health equity for Black women, girls