History

State Voices was founded in 2005 by state and local organizations dedicated to winning shared policy and civic engagement victories and building long-term power.
 
Far too often in the past, the grassroots nonprofits dedicated to winning change weren't working together—or even communicating with one another. Groups worked inside narrow issue silos, coalitions were cobbled together around short-term campaigns, important issues like the census or redistricting often fell through the cracks, and the smaller groups couldn't afford the great new organizing technology that was available. There just wasn't any infrastructure to build the trust, communication and sharing that creates real collaboration and success. Great work was happening, but we were losing more than we were winning. The local and state organizations, who were the driving force behind founding State Voices, understood the need for a new way.

• 2005 to 2007: State and local nonprofits came together in networks or “tables” to strengthen their work through better communication and coordination. Rapid, organic growth led to the establishment of networks in eleven states by the end of 2007.

• 2008: State Voices launched as the networks agreed on the need to connect and establish long-term 501(c)3 civic voter and issue engagement infrastructure. Michigan Voice, the Michigan state network, agreed to host the national office, and State Voices opened its office in Detroit in 2008.

• 2009: State Voices now connects over 600 organizations in 16 states and continues to grow.