Founded in 2018, The Cooperative Impact Lab (CIL) was created in partnership with The Movement Cooperative to experiment with strategies to build progressive power.
As an incubator for new approaches to building power & capacity, CIL utilizes a 3-pronged approach to grow projects from an initial idea into a replicable solution for the movement as a whole.
Based on research we discover unmet needs within the movement, we experiment in collaboration with partners, designing and implementing new strategies, approaches, and tactics. Once new tactics are proven, we work with partners to scale innovative ideas across the progressive movement.
Methods
Over the last three years, CIL has run programs with more than 80 partners across the non-profit advocacy space including:
Coaching over 40 non-profit leaders to streamline and improve their financial and operational management
Leveraging incentive prizes and flexible funding to support 18 state-based organizations to run innovative digital advocacy programs ahead of the 2020 election
Partnering with People’s Action and the New Conversation Initiative to promote the adoption of Deep Canvassing
Conducting a robust ethnographic study of digital directors, their practices & pitfalls regarding ads, marketing, and online organizing
Combatting disinformation with a focus on Rural Communities with MoveOn, People’s Action, and Rural Organizing
Coaching 20 housing justice organizations across California on integrating data into organizing and advocacy practices
A 2020 program to experiment with influencer marketing on Instagram and TikTok to promote voting and registration that successfully spun out into Vocal Media