Run for Something: Company Profile

Background

Mission and Vision

Run for Something (RFS) is a progressive American political organization dedicated to recruiting and supporting young, diverse, and progressive candidates for down-ballot offices. Founded on January 20, 2017, by Amanda Litman and Ross Morales Rocketto, RFS aims to build a sustainable pipeline of future political leaders who reflect the demographics and values of their communities.

Primary Focus and Industry Significance

Operating as a 501(c)(4) organization, RFS focuses on state and local elections, including positions such as state legislatures, mayorships, and city council seats. By emphasizing these often-overlooked races, RFS seeks to effect meaningful change at the grassroots level and cultivate a new generation of progressive leaders.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Candidate Recruitment and Support: Identifying and assisting young, first-time candidates from diverse backgrounds to run for local office.

Building Progressive Infrastructure: Establishing a long-term progressive bench by supporting candidates who can advance to higher offices in the future.

Areas of Specialization

Diversity and Inclusion: Prioritizing the recruitment of candidates who are women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and under 40, to ensure elected officials reflect the communities they serve.

Comprehensive Support: Providing resources such as mentorship, training, and strategic guidance to candidates throughout their campaigns.

Primary Markets Targeted

RFS operates across all 50 states, focusing on state and local elections to build a robust foundation of progressive leadership nationwide.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

As of July 2024, RFS's annual revenue reached approximately $15 million. The organization has received funding from various sources, including an angel investment from New Media Ventures in July 2018.

Utilization of Capital

Funds are allocated towards candidate recruitment, campaign support, mentorship programs, and operational expenses to sustain and expand RFS's initiatives.

Pipeline Development

Candidate Recruitment

Since its inception, RFS has recruited nearly 150,000 individuals interested in running for office. In 2023 alone, the organization endorsed 226 candidates, achieving a 54% win rate.

Election Outcomes

To date, RFS has helped elect over 1,000 candidates across 48 states, significantly impacting local and state governance.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

RFS utilizes a range of technological tools to support its operations, including:

Cloudflare CDN: Enhancing website performance and security.

PostgreSQL: Managing candidate and supporter databases.

Django: Developing and maintaining web applications.

Scientific Methodologies

The organization employs data-driven strategies to identify potential candidates, assess electoral opportunities, and optimize campaign support, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to maximize impact.

Leadership Team

Executive Profiles

Amanda Litman: Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director. Formerly the email director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, Litman brings extensive experience in political communications and campaign strategy.

Ross Morales Rocketto: Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director. A veteran of political campaigns, Rocketto has a background in campaign management and political consulting.

Cassandra Gaddo: Chief Operating Officer. Oversees organizational operations and strategic planning.

Jordan Haines: Chief Technology Officer. Leads the development and implementation of technological solutions to support RFS's mission.

Ciara Walton: Chief Diversity Officer. Focuses on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization and its candidate pipeline.

Leadership Changes

As of the latest available information, there have been no significant recent changes or appointments within RFS's leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The political recruitment and support sector has seen increased activity, with organizations focusing on diversifying political representation and empowering underrepresented groups to run for office.

Competitor Analysis

Vote Run Lead: Focuses on training women to run for political office, emphasizing leadership development and campaign strategy.

IGNITE National: Aims to build political ambition in young women, providing training and resources to prepare them for political leadership.

She Should Run: Encourages women to consider running for office and offers a suite of resources to support their candidacy.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Notable Collaborations

Onward Together: In May 2017, RFS was selected as one of the primary partner organizations by Onward Together, a political action organization founded by Hillary Clinton.

Bernie Sanders Partnership: In May 2025, Senator Bernie Sanders partnered with RFS on his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour to recruit and train new progressive political talent.

Vendor Partnerships

RFS collaborates with various vendors to provide discounted tools and resources to endorsed candidates, including:

Canva: Offers design tools for creating campaign materials.

Daisychain: Provides texting tools with integrated data and AI technology.

Scale to Win: Offers texting and predictive dialer tools for voter outreach.

Operational Insights

Strategic Considerations

RFS differentiates itself by focusing exclusively on young, diverse, and progressive candidates for down-ballot races, addressing a critical gap in political representation. The organization's comprehensive support system, including mentorship, training, and resource provision, enhances its candidates' competitiveness.

Competitive Advantages

Extensive Candidate Pipeline: With nearly 150,000 individuals recruited, RFS boasts one of the largest candidate pipelines in progressive politics.

High Success Rate: Achieving a 54% win rate in 2023 demonstrates the effectiveness of RFS's support and strategic focus.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Strategic Roadmap

Expansion of School Board Strategy: In late 2023, RFS launched a 50 State School Board Strategy, a multi-million dollar pilot program to recruit and support school board candidates in 2024.

Enhanced Candidate Support: Plans to increase the number of regional directors to provide more personalized support to candidates.

Opportunities for Expansion

Geographic Reach: Strengthening presence in underrepresented regions to build a more comprehensive progressive infrastructure.

Diversity Initiatives: Furthering efforts to recruit candidates from marginalized communities to ensure inclusive representation.

Positioning for Future Objectives

By leveraging its extensive network, strategic partnerships, and data-driven methodologies, RFS is well-positioned to continue its mission of transforming the political landscape through the empowerment of young, diverse, and progressive leaders.