Progressive Investor: A New Type of Leader

At New Progressive Coalition, we are continually asked, "what do you mean by 'progressive investor'?"

Progressive "investors" are proactive about their contributions and give to make an impact. “Investors” are strategic with their resources because they perform due diligence, make calculated risks, and demand accountability and transparency. “Investors” look beyond the next election and strive to build long-term relationships with progressive organizations because they are committed to making a difference. Most importantly, “investors" are forward thinking and seek out innovation because they know it is critical to solving our political challenges.

Here in the Bay Area, we get to witness a lot of groundbreaking innovation that wouldn’t happen without investors taking risks on bold new ideas by little known entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen enough in politics. Instead, progressive contributions rise and fall with election cycles and when the polls close, so do people's pocketbooks. Political change is stifled because of the scarcity and cyclical nature of funding patterns.

We need innovation to move forward, to progress, and this can't happen until there is a generation of investors willing to take risks. At NPC, we are seeking people who want to be progressive investors, leaders looking to use innovation to advance the status quo and create political change.

Why 77 Federal?

Working in Washington, DC I experienced politics at its best and at its worst. The best part of politics is the amazing and talented people that sacrifice daily to make this country a better place. We give up the stock options and financial security because we believe that we can make a difference. The worst part of politics is the absolute resistance to innovation. And I don’t just mean adoption of the latest technology; I mean an entire culture that penalizes you for taking risks and being willing to fail. I found DC to be a place that is threatened by new ideas and resistant to doing things differently.

I left DC disillusioned and frustrated with the political status quo and headed back to California.

Upon my return, I had the incredible opportunity to work with Deborah and Andy Rappaport on an idea called the New Progressive Coalition, LLC. We were incubated in Redwood City at Skyline Public Works, and the first version of NPC was launched in October 2005. Like many start-ups in their first year, we tried to do too many things and learned hard but valuable lessons. In May 2007, we restructured the company to exclusively work with donors (instead of both donors and organizations.) Those were trying times, but we survived, and it was those early experiences that have given us the knowledge and wisdom to succeed moving forward. But ideas are easy; it is executing them without running out of money that is the tough part. And that is still a challenge for NPC.

So why name NPC’s blog 77 Federal? NPC is located at 77 Federal, in Licorice Square, right in the heart of SOMA in downtown San Francisco. In this start-up culture, we are surrounded by entrepreneurs, artists, students, and professionals of all backgrounds. This place exudes a “can do,” entrepreneurial attitude. You walk into South Park Café and you feel that things are happening. No one settles for the answer “it can’t be done.” Instead, the answer here is “how will we do it?”

At NPC we are trying to change politics as usual. As Newton said, “a body remains at rest unless it is disturbed by an outside force.” For us, that force is the thousands of talented and passionate individuals who are waiting for the opportunity to inject politics with their ideas and expertise. NPC is simply here to give them the information and tools they need to make an impact.

Remember, California is the same place that invented solar energy twenty years ago by that group of “crazy hippies” that just happened to be pretty right on. 77 Federal represents a bolder vision for politics. So stay tuned, we have a lot to change, West Coast style.