Progressive Synergy Network:

A model program designed to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of Progressive groups working to win electoral power.

Program Vision:

The Progressive Synergy Network model is built upon the successes of the 2004 America Votes coalition, the environmental movement’s Partnership Project, and the Forest Stewardship Council’s timber certification program. Though each of these programs sought to achieve a different goal, each used an innovative governance strategy to build an effective coalition made up of previously uncoordinated entities. The Progressive Synergy Network seeks to accomplish the same thing; it aims to help unite the politically oriented organizations within the progressive movement into a powerful collective.

Built around a set of core principles, common to progressive groups across a broad issue spectrum, the Network model aims to enhance the effectiveness of the growing Progressive political movement. It sets a strict standard for assessing the capacity of its member organizations, while encouraging the kind of collaboration that is necessary for long-term political relevance and victory. It integrates the emergence of new funding models, intelligent branding strategies, and democratic decision-making into a model that has been constructed to incorporate methodologies that have already been proven successful in other sectors.

To become members of the Progressive Synergy Network, organizations must commit to:

• Working on behalf of a set of core Progressive principles;

• Strategically collaborating with other Network members; and

• Demonstrating capacity in strategic planning, communication, leadership, and working with diversity.

Core Progressive Principles:

In order to coordinate Progressive groups across a broad issue spectrum, it will be essential to identify a set of common core principles for which they stand. Progressive Synergy Network member groups must commit to advancing a broader progressive agenda, not only their own particular issue(s), with the aim of becoming more effective in winning Progressive electoral victories. In selecting these principles, care must be taken to ensure that they both adequately reflect the diversity of interests in the progressive movement, and that they are acceptable to a broad range of Progressive interest groups.

Progressive Synergy staff are now undertaking a survey/ research project aimed at identifying those principles that guide Progressive groups. This project will attempt to gather and integrate the work of various ongoing Progressive visioning endeavors, the conclusions of progressive academics and strategists, and the input of Progressive organizers on the ground.

Strategic Coordination:

The strength and innovation of the Progressive Synergy Network model lies in its specifics. The foundation of the model is its unique governance structure, integrating the most successful qualities of America Votes, The Partnership Project Coalition, and the Forest Stewardship Council. These three organizations have recognized the benefits of working collaboratively, and each has developed a method of encouraging effective and meaningful coordination between diverse stakeholders.

The governance structure of the Progressive Synergy Network will help ensure that all groups get an equal voice in the decision-making process, that members have the opportunity to solicit the advice of academics, pollsters, bloggers, and other experts in their strategy sessions, and that resources are shared appropriately and effectively. For a more detailed description of exactly what makes this governance work, please contact us at info@progressivesynergy.org.

Demonstrating Capacity:

Members of the Progressive Synergy Network must demonstrate a certain level of competency and responsibility. By ensuring that Network members possess skills in messaging, leadership, strategic planning, and organizational discipline, this membership requirement will protect shared resources, build trust for effective strategic collaboration, and inspire confidence among donors and the outside community.

Branding the Movement:

The powerful effects of branding have been recognized and appreciated by the business community for decades, and yet we have been slow to incorporate them into new realms. Luckily, members of the progressive community have recently begun to dedicate a new degree of attention to crafting a public identity. It will benefit all progressive groups if Americans know what the term progressive means and are able to identify the principles for which progressives stand.

Much as the "Got Milk?" campaign benefited all milk producers by advertising the general concept of milk, an awareness campaign to promote Progressive values could be designed to benefit a broad array of Progressive groups. The Progressive Synergy Network will thus launch a branding campaign, on behalf of Network members, to garner public support for the common values that unite them. As the American public begins to develop a more sophisticated understanding of what "Progressive" means, Network members will be better positioned to communicate their coordinated messages.

Membership Incentives:

Membership in the Progressive Synergy Network will offer groups the opportunity to influence the development of a national progressive identity campaign; alllow them to participate in a broad, cross-issue coalition with the guarantee that fellow coalition members will be held accountable for their membership commitments; and help them do more with fewer resources by making campaign activities more efficient. Ultimately, membership in the Network will help organizations win progressive electoral victories and strengthen electoral campaigns.