National and Washington-Based
Youth-Led Voter Engagement Organizations
Source: Olympia Indivisible GOTV Field Team
American Constitution Society. The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is the nation’s foremost progressive legal organization, with a diverse nationwide network that includes nearly 200 student and lawyer chapters, and progressive lawyers, students, judges, scholars, elected officials, and advocates. Its mission is to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities.
Chapter-based, with chapters at the law schools of U. of Washington, Seattle University, and Gonzaga University.
Blue Future. Blue Future is a national organizing program run out of the Youth Progressive Action Catalyst, “the largest progressive youth-led political action committee (PAC) in America.” Mission: to continuously engage, mobilize, and connect young people to progressive electoral campaigns, equipping them with the resources, tools, skills, and network to be effective volunteers, organizers, and public servants. Blue Future serves youth leaders across the country through various educational & political training programs. They also provide direct funding to unleash youth civic engagement.
Not chapter-based, all Washington activities listed on their map are being hosted by other organizations such as Seattle Supports Democracy, Democratic National Committee and Swing Left.
Civic Influencers. Mission: To inspire the next generation of voters who will shape the future of our nation through data-driven engagement in political and civic life.
Vision: Through the uses of innovative and evidence-based voter engagement, provide young voters with knowledge and tools to inspire voting power that secures an inclusive democracy.
Vision: Through the uses of innovative and evidence-based voter engagement, provide young voters with knowledge and tools to inspire voting power that secures an inclusive democracy.
No campus presence in Washington.
College Democrats of America. The CDA is the official collegiate arm of the Democratic National Committee. CDA represents over 100,000 college students across the United States and territories. Mission: to organize on college campuses across the nation in order to get Democrats elected in local, state, and federal elections.
The College Democrats of Washington, an affiliate of the CDA, has chapters at University of Washington, Western Washington University, Seattle University, Washington State University - Pullman, Washington State University - Vancouver, and Eastern Washington University.
Democratic Youth Coalition (previously known as Youth for Joe Biden). This organization is advancing the youth voice in political conversations. They represent an inclusive national grassroots movement of young activists engaging in and supporting progressive campaigns and causes. Their mission is “to empower young voters to get involved, make their voices heard, and to ultimately shape the future of our nation.”
No presence in Washington.
Dream for America. Dream for America is a Gen Z-led 501(c)4 non-profit founded on July 4th, 2023 by William He focused on identifying, educating, and mobilizing America’s students to promote the principles of freedom, democracy, & progressive government. We’re building the most organized, active, and powerful pro-democracy grassroots network both online and on campuses across the country to engage young Americans of all backgrounds at all times — not just on the eve of an election. DfA believes that every young American can be illuminated towards real democratic values and inspired to usher in a new wave of pro-democracy progressivism echoing the visions of Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, & President Joe Biden.
Unable to determine if there is any on-campus presence in Washington.
Gen Z for Change. “We work to make the world a better place for our generation Since launching in 2020, we’ve supported a variety of progressive campaigns, from union solidarity and fighting abortion bans to holding social media companies accountable for their role in spreading disinformation. Our leaders have been on the forefront of digital organizing, raising over $2m+ for abortion funds around the country and discussing the future of democracy with President Obama. Through our 2022 electoral work, we launched effective creator activations that generated a total of over 26 million+ views and supported many crucial campaigns with various celebrities and lawmakers.”
Not chapter-based.
Grassroots Dems HQ. Home based in LA, with extensive affiliate organizations and a mission to elect Democrats everywhere: White House, Congress and key state legislatures. This year’s focus is to take back the House, defend and expand our Senate majority and re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris for a second term.
Affiliate Group: Eastside Gladiators, Eastern Washington (group has a private FB page and is located in the Spokane Valley, led by Petra Hoy)
High School Democrats of America. HSDA is a national political organization serving as an entry point to Democratic politics for youth activists from across the country. They hold two seats on the DNC and work at local, state and national levels to advance the ideals of the Democratic Party. By creating a platform for youth involvement in politics, HSDA is shaping the future leaders of the Democratic party.
Washington has a state chapter: Washington High School Democrats of America. Contact phone number: (610) 233-8461.Chairwoman is Jonnika Kwon (Kenmore, WA). Olympia HS student Gavin Cruz is the Southern Regional Director.
March for Our Lives. “Born out of a tragic school shooting, March For Our Lives is a courageous youth-led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and direct action by youth to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence. We aim to create safe and healthy communities and livelihoods where gun violence is obsolete.”
No Washington chapters or campus hubs.
NextGen America. NextGen America is the nation’s largest youth voter organization, mobilizing millions of young people each year to support progressive candidates and causes. “We are a multi-issue and multi-racial organization that works year-round to turn out millions of young people to vote and win on the issues that matter to them.
Washington is not one of NextGen America’s eight in-person states.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, a nonprofit, non-partisan group, works to advance access to sexual health care and defend reproductive rights. They educate and organize the public; register, inform, and mobilize voters; promote policies that help people access health care; work with reproductive health champions in federal, state, and local legislatures; during elections, promote political candidates who advocate for Americans’ reproductive rights; and stand in solidarity with social justice partners to fight back against hate and discrimination.
Washington is one of six states in a consortium called Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. They have a teen leadership group in Olympia.
Voters of Tomorrow. Voters of Tomorrow is a Gen Z-led 501(c)(4) organization that engages and represents young Americans in politics and government. “With chapters in 20 states and a volunteer presence in all 50, we take a locally based, multifaceted approach to engaging young voters. Our team is led by a national staff of young political strategists, organizers, and policy experts.”
No Washington campus chapters appear on their national map.
Leaders We Deserve. Leaders We Deserve is a grassroots organization dedicated to electing young progressives to Congress and State Legislatures across the country to help defeat the far-right agenda and advance a progressive vision for the future. Our mission is to identify and elect more trailblazers – youthful, audacious, and charismatic leaders who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. We pledge to stand with them, equipping their campaigns with the tools to succeed: from fundraising and messaging to scheduling and budgeting. We’ll raise the banner of their cause, rallying funds online and in person.
Newtown Action Alliance. Newtown Action Alliance is a national all-volunteer grassroots organization founded by the residents of Newtown after the tragic December 14, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The group is working to transform this tragedy into action to reduce gun violence through legislation and cultural changes. They endorse candidates across the country to help in this effort. In fact, they endorse candidates in our own Washington Congressional Districts 1, 2, 7, 9 and 10. They have a youth chapter: Junior Newtown Action Alliance (Jr. NAA). This youth group associated with Newton Action Alliance which “strives to transform the Sandy Hook shooting tragedy into positive cultural change”. The Jr. NAA students lead a movement among their peers in Newtown and beyond. The students work to raise awareness about gun-violence prevention through various educational activities and actions. The Jr. NAA students have organized the #HonorWithAction Youth Conference, participated in PeaceJam and Generation Progress Youth Leadership Conferences, organized local vigils, school walkouts, die-ins and participated in various gun violence prevention events in Newtown, the State of Connecticut, Washington, D.C., California, Texas, Virginia and beyond.
Appears to be essentially a local group in Connecticut.
Path to Progress. Path to Progress is a “no-holds-barred, youth-led multimedia organization working to advance progressive policy goals with simple and digestible digital content and groundbreaking policy proposals.” They reject the false dichotomy of partisan politics; instead, they fight for policies that prioritize people and the planet. Path to Progress recognizes that the two major parties are not the same. The modern Republican Party has openly embraced fascism, racism and xenophobia. They also believe that some members of the Democratic Party do not act in Americans’ best interest. They put policy before party and will work with anyone who shares their core values. This is a 501 (C) (4) non-profit organization.
This is not a chapter-based organization.
Students Demand Action. SDA is committed to ending gun violence. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, high school and college students across the country came together to make their voices heard. The organization now has more than 600 groups across the country and active volunteers in every state and DC.
There was a Spokane chapter in 2023 but unclear if it is still active. In Washington, Students Demand Action work in collaboration with Moms Demand Action (MDA). MDA is holding an annual gathering in Olympia on April 9, 2024.
Sunrise Movement. “When Sunrise started, we were terrified. California burned, floods covered the Midwest, scientists warned us that we needed transformative government action if we were going to survive. And our politicians had no plan to stop the climate crisis. It’s fine, they said. We refused to accept that answer. Instead, we set out to make climate a defining issue for our generation and a political priority for our politicians. We took to the streets in the millions, young people started Sunrise hubs across the country, we elected the next generation of politicians. Together, we inspired young people across America to fight for a Green New Deal.Fear turned to hope. And that hope changed the 2020 election. Democrats responded. Over 20 presidential candidates backed the Green New Deal. President-elect Biden borrowed our ideas to write his climate plan. And when it was time for President Biden to announce his signature piece of legislation, he put forth a climate and jobs plan. In just 2 years, we built a new consensus in the Democratic Party – finally, it was understood that the climate crisis demanded a full transformation of our economy and society that the government must lead.After years of organizing, climate strikes, sit-ins, blockading the White House, and even some of our members going on hunger strike, we pushed President Biden to pass a climate bill for the first time in the history of this country.”
Washington Student Hub: Sunrise Downtown School, Seattle, Washington
Hub Contact Email: [email protected]
Washington Community Hub: Sunrise Seattle, Seattle, Washington
Hub Contact Email: [email protected]
Instagram account: sunrisemvmt_seattle
Hub Contact Email: [email protected]
Washington Community Hub: Sunrise Seattle, Seattle, Washington
Hub Contact Email: [email protected]
Instagram account: sunrisemvmt_seattle
Team ENOUGH. Team ENOUGH is a youth-led organization whose mission is to educate young voters about gun violence and mobilize them to take action against it. They believe that diversity is a strength and that only when everyone has a seat at the table can an effective movement be built to prevent gun violence.
There was a Seattle chapter but the most recent FB posts date to 2020.
United We Dream Action. United We Dream Action (UWDA) is the lobbying, advocacy and electoral arm of United We Dream, which is powered by immigrant youth, youth of color with immigrant family members, and everyday voters.
Their mission is to build a society which celebrates diversity and to lead a multi-ethnic, intersectional path to get there that includes issues like: immigration, LGBTQIA rights, education, health, economy, climate change, and racial justice.
Their mission is to build a society which celebrates diversity and to lead a multi-ethnic, intersectional path to get there that includes issues like: immigration, LGBTQIA rights, education, health, economy, climate change, and racial justice.
Not chapter-based, but you can join the “Squad” to lead local events and actions.
Voices of Gen-Z. This is an organization that is dedicated to empowering, activating and educating their generation. They want to build the next generation of change-makers and voters. Their publication has more than 50,000 subscribers, and their social media platform reaches over 4 million young people.
Not a chapter-based organization.
Washington Youth Alliance. “In 2022 Chetan Soni helped found the Seattle Student Union (SSU), securing political and grassroots victories for his generation in Seattle and in Olympia.
Now, he’s taking the formula state-wide to grow and establish chapters from Grays Harbor to Grant County, amplifying the organizing capacity of students all across the state under the banner of the Washington Youth Alliance.”
Now, he’s taking the formula state-wide to grow and establish chapters from Grays Harbor to Grant County, amplifying the organizing capacity of students all across the state under the banner of the Washington Youth Alliance.”
No known chapter in Thurston County.
Young Democrats of America. The Young Democrats of America (YDA) is the youth wing of the Democratic Party of the United States. YDA operates as a separate organization from the Democratic National Committee; following the passage of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, it became an independent 527 organization. The group's membership consists of Democrats from ages 14 to 35, and its political activities include an emphasis on increasing the voter turnout of young people.
YDA has a Washington Young Democrats of America chapter with a website. There is a Thurston County chapter (Thurston County Young Democrats) with a FB page; Sara Kate Develle is the Chair.
