State Voices
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
American democracy is being distorted and threatened by wealthy special interests that disproportionately impact public policy and negate the power of individual advocacy. Deliberate obstacles are being placed on voter access, along with gerrymandered districts to thwart fair representation that accurately reflects changing US demographics. These regressive tactics are making it increasingly difficult to engage a diverse citizenry necessary for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people to flourish. This systemic, relentless disenfranchisement mainly targets communities of color, along with young adults, LGBTQ people, and single women. As a result, these populations collectively register to vote and participate in the electoral process at lower rates when compared to the general population. Cloaked in the false rhetoric of election integrity, 24 states have passed laws making it harder for these populations to vote since 2011.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Data & Technology
Provides training, innovation, mentorship, and access to the best available data and tools. Training is provided in a variety of capacities, including in-person, webinar, and through our Data Certification Program. National staff are often recruited from the states so that they have field and state experience. Through this approach, SV is a leader in the progressive data space, bringing a focus on training and advancing women and people of color in the data field. For the first time in SV history, the majority of data staff are comprised of women and people of color. This team produces an annual tools and tech guide, highlighting 10 distinct civic engagement tools, and providing expert evaluation of dozens of apps with tech recommendations to meet the needs of the movement.
Policy
Leads our advancing structural reform work to strengthen civic access and representation through coordinated voter access and participation efforts with our Tables on voting rights and ballot access, voter protection, and efficient election administration. In our representation work we fight for accurate Census counts, equitable redistricting, clean elections, fair courts, and getting money out of politics. Our team provides strategic advice, talking points, and resources to support legislative and administrative advocacy, educates Tables and partner organizations through calls and webinars, and represents Table priorities in national coalition work.
State Capacity Building
The team provides expert analysis and support to Tables, assists in developing plans to improve organizational development, financial stability, program quality, and growth at the local level along with leadership development. This support comes in the form of targeted training calendars, 1:1 coaching, capacity building grants, and connections to expert consultants. This team supports and facilitates network peer-to-peer learning and relationship building through regular state leadership calls, convenings and coordination.
Strategic Partnerships
Our Tools For All (TFA) program promotes collaboration and activism through civic data. TFA includes access to the voter file information, mobile technology, data and program support, and quality control; along with enhanced data about the voting-age population to support canvassing and community outreach. TFA serves more than 600 partner organizations in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Until recently, these tools were available only to political campaigns and parties. Since 2012, TFA makes them accessible to all 501(c)(3) partners at a savings of more than $50 million dollars annually. Through the Emerging States Program, we support new coalitions in nine non-Table states, and provide a pathway to affiliate with our network.
Issue and Electoral Organizing
Leads our Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE) efforts through coordinated and strategic campaign planning to create a multi-racial democracy. IEOD houses the networks' voter registration work and supports State Tables with year-round power building strategies through voter education, issue advocacy organizing, and Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) mobilization programs. In close coordination with other national programmatic departments, the IEOD department supports multi-state issue organizing campaigns within and outside of core democracy issues.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The State Voices network is a multiracial, multiethnic and multicultural community of advocates, activists and organizers committed to building people power to transform the lives of our communities — especially those who experience oppression.
We believe that a healthy democracy is one in which everyone is engaged, represented, listened to and supported regardless of race, gender, immigration status, sexuality, ability, religion, or class.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our network of nonpartisan state coalitions, called “tables,” works with hundreds of grassroots organizations to break down barriers to civic participation and to bring underrepresented and marginalized populations―and their issues―to the center of public discourse. State Voices tables connect these groups to one another and to organizations from different sectors, creating multicultural, multi-issue coalitions that can leverage their collective power to transform our democracy. You can read more about this work here.
Additionally, through our Tools for All program, we provide participating organizations with access to data and technology to help them engage more effectively with their communities and with one another.
Many of our partners are grassroots organizations that represent marginalized communities. Our mission commits us in particular to building the strength of leaders and organizations from these communities and giving them an equal voice within our coalitions. In this way, we seek to model the equity we wish to see in our democracy.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
State Voices strengthens democracy through the grassroots organizations that sit at our tables. We guide and oversee collaborative programs, provide access to data and technology tools, and support our tables through our capacity building programs.
Democracy
State Voices fights for our democracy by bolstering its foundational elements. Our democracy work focuses on three key areas: civic access, civic engagement, and civic representation.
Tools For All
Through our Tools For All program, State Voices provides 501(c)(3) organizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with access to data and technology tools that help them more effectively engage with their communities and one another.
Capacity Building
State Voices strengthens grassroots organizations and their leaders through rigorous, data-driven planning and support.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Since our founding in 2008, we have grown to an affiliated network of 23 permanent state Tables, recorded banner years for 501c3 civic engagement involving over 900 nonprofit organizations, and collectively saved the movement over $200 million in technology access costs and fees.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
State Voices
Board of directorsas of 12/02/2022
Gladys Washington
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Not applicable -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable