Background

As the progressive movement continues to grow and shift, many grassroots organizations are expanding their skills in digital organizing, data, and analytics. These organizations are beginning to access technical tools to help advance and scale their organizing - especially during COVID-19. However, access to these tools is only a starting point. Most organizations need strategic support to help their people powerfully use and implement these tools. That’s where the Movement Tech Help Desk (MTHD) comes in. We know that digital tools don’t replace on-the-ground organizing, but these tools allow us to win bigger and move faster so we can build power and improve lives.

What We Do - Our Approach and Commitment

We provide support to grassroots movement organizations as they reach and follow up with every single supporter to build power. Organizers, digital staff, communications folks, and fundraisers are eager to receive technical support for common data tasks like VAN bulk uploads or list creation that support their work. The makers of these tools aren’t often equipped with the capacity or organizing knowledge to support organizations in a meaningful way. MTHD fills that gap.

Our coaches focus on facilitating strategic conversations, providing personalized training, and creating easy-to-follow tutorials in order to increase movement builders’ technical skills and confidence. We specialize in accessible, inclusive, and interactive digital coaching methodology and are grounded in our communities’ wisdom. Additionally, all coaches practice digital safety.

Currently, MTHD is the only company that provides on-call tech support for a variety of tools. We are able to provide this support to grassroots organizations, thanks to funding from several foundations and capacity-building organizations.

Tools

We provide support on VAN, EveryAction, OutVote, ThruTalk, ThruText, Strive, Mobilize, Hustle, ActionBuilder, ActionNetwork, Empower, Rock the Vote, BallotReady, Hubdialer, CallServer, PDI, and Excel. Plus, we’re always adding more tools and skills to our knowledge base and can quickly and easily pick up any tool you might be working with.

Who We Are

Rose Espinola (they/them) leads this project. Rose designed Planned Parenthood’s data-driven organizing model, developed Public Citizen’s 700-person volunteer program for trade justice, and directed field and tech for the strongest Bernie 2016 Super Tuesday state. They are joined by some of the best and brightest organizers in the country who serve as MTHD coaches. These coaches have both electoral and issue-based organizing experience. We believe in getting more BIPOC folks into data and technology roles and see MTHD as a way to support our people and this goal.

What Clients Are Saying

• “A million thanks!” You ALL ROCK, the best tech support team ever! We made history together!!!! As the reverse migration granddaughter who came back to my families home state of GA twelve years ago, I’m so grateful. Thank you for helping me, my colleagues, friends and family during such a time as this. We made our ancestors proud!!!!” - Valerie Rawls, EcoWomanist Institute (EWI)

• "Tyfani was so helpful and so kind to me! Thank you so much for your knowledge + expertise, Tyfani!” - Maddie Beecher, Freedom Virginia

• “Laura is amazing! She not only listens to the struggles I have as an organizer but while she is actively listening she is thinking of different ways that she can assist me from the position she is in. Whenever I get help from Laura it's like I am collaborating with a long-lost friend. :)” - Lawrence Stallworth, Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition