Stories of Local Activism #13
Civic Alliance
A Business-Led Coalition for a Stronger Democracy
Los Angeles, California
Founded in 2020 by Democracy Works and the CAA Foundation, Civic Alliance is America’s premier nonpartisan coalition of businesses committed to building a future where everyone can vote, volunteer, and take action to shape the country. The coalition was created in response to growing polarization, threats to voting access, and the need for trusted, scalable civic infrastructure that could reach millions of Americans through their workplaces and favorite brands.
Member companies join by making a nonpartisan pledge to support civic participation among their employees and customers, rather than through financial contributions. In return, Civic Alliance provides research-backed toolkits, playbooks, programming, and concierge support that help businesses design and implement effective civic engagement strategies tailored to their values, culture, and workforce.
Mission
Civic Alliance works to unite businesses in a nonpartisan coalition that encourages employees and customers to vote, volunteer, and participate in civic life, helping to ensure safe, accessible, and trusted elections for all.
Executive Director Natalie Tran
Source: Civic Alliance
What They Do
1. Equip Businesses to Drive Civic Participation
Civic Alliance provides nonpartisan toolkits, playbooks, and messaging resources that help companies inform, motivate, and support voters in their workplaces and communities.
2. Strengthen Election Access and Trust
Civic Alliance supports initiatives that expand access to the ballot, promote accurate election information, and encourage practices such as paid time off to vote and volunteer as poll workers.
3. Convene and Coach Leaders
Civic Alliance brings together civic experts, nonprofit partners, and business leaders for coaching, peer learning, and tailored guidance on corporate civic engagement.
4. Champion Corporate Leadership on Democracy
Civic Alliance highlights and amplifies companies that model strong civic practices, inspiring peers to raise their own commitments and innovate in support of democracy.
How They Do It
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Corporate Civic Playbook and Toolkits: Civic Alliance offers a comprehensive Corporate Civic Playbook and research-backed storylines that help companies design nonpartisan voter engagement programs, connect civic work to company values, and communicate effectively with diverse generations.
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Campaigns and Pledges: Initiatives like “100% in for Democracy” and “Time to Vote” encourage member companies to ensure all U.S.-based employees have time, information, and support to vote, often including dedicated time off or flexible scheduling on Election Day.
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Workplace-Based Voter Engagement: Civic Alliance supports companies to offer voter registration tools, election information hubs, and reminders through internal communications, benefits platforms, and consumer channels.
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Poll Worker and Volunteer Recruitment: During high-stakes election cycles, Civic Alliance helps businesses recruit and support employees to serve as poll workers and volunteers, bolstering local election administration.
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Concierge Support and Peer Network: Member companies access coaching, curated resources, and a nationwide network of peers and nonprofit partners to refine their strategies and scale successful approaches.
Theory of Change
Business leadership + nonpartisan resources + workplace-based engagement → higher participation, stronger trust in elections, and a more resilient democracy
Civic Alliance operates on the belief that when influential companies act together in a visible, nonpartisan way, they can normalize civic participation as part of workplace culture and consumer experience. By equipping employers with practical tools and a shared framework, the coalition helps turn millions of everyday interactions in offices, stores, and online into touchpoints for accurate information, encouragement to vote, and opportunities to engage beyond Election Day.
Source: Civic Alliance
IMPACT
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More than 1,300 member companies across sectors have joined Civic Alliance, collectively representing over 9.8 million employees nationwide.
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Members have helped recruit hundreds of thousands of Americans to serve as poll workers, addressing critical shortages and supporting smooth, accessible elections.
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Through pledges such as “100% in for Democracy” and “Time to Vote,” over 2000 participating companies have expanded paid time off, flexible scheduling, and other supports to give workers dedicated time and information to cast their ballots.
Take Action
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Share this story with your network.
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Join as a member company: Sign the nonpartisan Civic Alliance pledge to encourage employees and/or customers to vote and be civically active.
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Use the Corporate Civic Playbook: Integrate research-backed civic engagement strategies into HR, internal communications, CSR, and brand initiatives.
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Elevate employee civic participation: Offer paid time off, volunteer hours, and resources for voting and nonpartisan election information.
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Partner and share learning: Engage with Civic Alliance’s network of civic organizations and peer companies to co-create campaigns, share best practices, and scale what works. Link
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Connect with Civic Alliance.
Website: https://civicalliance.com
X (Twitter): @civicalliance
LinkedIn: @civicalliance
Learn More or Join: join@civicalliance.com
