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| Ohio Organizing Collaborative | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ohio Organizing Collaborative |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Area served | Ohio |
| Focus | Community organizing, civic engagement, social justice |
Ohio Organizing Collaborative
The Ohio Organizing Collaborative is a Cleveland-based nonprofit grassroots coalition focused on civic engagement, voter registration, and community organizing across Ohio. Founded in 2010, the group has worked with labor unions, civil rights groups, faith-based networks, and progressive advocacy organizations to influence policy debates in Columbus, Ohio and beyond. It has collaborated with statewide and national actors including Service Employees International Union, American Civil Liberties Union, NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and election-focused groups during major contests such as the 2016 United States presidential election and the 2020 United States presidential election.
The organization emerged after grassroots mobilizations seen in events like the 2008 United States presidential election and the Occupy movement as part of a wave of local groups responding to shifts in labor and civil rights advocacy. Early partnerships included coalitions with SEIU Local 1, AFL–CIO affiliates, and community leaders who had participated in campaigns surrounding the Affordable Care Act and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 enforcement debates. The group expanded operations during the 2016 United States Senate election in Ohio and the 2018 United States midterm elections, engaging with networks tied to figures such as Sherrod Brown and collaborating with organizations like Color of Change and Mothers Against Police Brutality on criminal justice and voting access efforts.
The stated mission emphasizes increasing civic participation among communities of color, low-income residents, and young voters, aligning tactics historically associated with movements like the Civil Rights Movement, the Labor Movement in the United States, and the Black Lives Matter protests. Goals include voter registration drives similar to campaigns run by Rock the Vote, policy advocacy reminiscent of efforts by ACLU of Ohio, and leadership development akin to programs supported by the Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The organization is governed by an executive team and a board composed of community leaders, clergy, labor organizers, and nonprofit executives with connections to institutions such as Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, and regional chapters of national organizations like Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Staff roles mirror models used by groups like Project Vote, America Votes, and Indivisible (organization), including field directors, legal counsel, communications specialists, and youth organizers. Volunteer networks often coordinate with local chapters of NAACP, League of Women Voters, and faith networks linked to the United Church of Christ and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Programs have included voter registration and turnout initiatives during presidential and midterm cycles, community leadership training modeled after Training for Change, and campaigns on criminal justice reform, housing justice, and healthcare access. Notable efforts allied with national campaigns have targeted issues reflected in legislation such as the Help America Vote Act and state-level measures like Ohio Issue 1 (2018). Fieldwork has paralleled tactics used by Organizing for Action and MoveOn.org with canvassing, phone banking, and know-your-rights workshops informed by resources from ACLU affiliates and criminal justice reform groups including The Sentencing Project and ACLU Campaign for Smart Justice.
Advocacy work has sought to influence statewide debates on redistricting, voting access, and criminal justice, intersecting with high-profile cases and reforms debated by entities such as the Ohio Supreme Court, the United States Department of Justice, and legislative bodies in Columbus, Ohio. Campaigns have supported measures comparable to the reforms championed by figures like John Lewis and organizations such as Brennan Center for Justice, often working alongside coalitions that include Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and labor coalitions advocating for living wage initiatives promoted by leaders such as Cesar Chavez-aligned groups.
Funding sources have included philanthropic grants, community donations, and collaborative funding coordinated through intermediary organizations like Tides Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and regional community foundations. Partnerships span local and national nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and labor unions including SEIU, AFL–CIO, and advocacy groups like Color of Change and Faith in Public Life. Campaign grants and in-kind support have sometimes come from national networks such as Center for American Progress-affiliated initiatives and civic engagement funds modeled after those administered by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization.
Critics, including conservative political groups and commentators associated with outlets like Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, and political action committees tied to Ohio Republican Party, have alleged partisan activity and questioned nonprofit status compliance, echoing disputes seen in controversies involving groups such as Crossroads GPS and Priorities USA Action. Supporters counter that activities align with civic engagement precedents set by organizations like League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote. Debates have involved state-level enforcement actions and media coverage from outlets including The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com as well as commentary from national pundits and think tanks like Heritage Foundation and Center for American Progress.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Ohio