Organizing for America

The formation of Organizing for America was announced by then-President-Elect Obama on January 17, 2009.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2009/01/obama_announces_organizing_for.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721093913/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2009/01/obama_announces_organizing_for.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2012|date=January 17, 2009|access-date=October 29, 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post|author=Cillizza, Christopher|title=Obama Announces "Organizing for America"}}

The group officially began operations on the third day of the Obama administration, January 23, 2009. On the same day, it was announced that Mitch Stewart would serve as the first director. Jeremy Bird, a former Obama for America field operative, was named Deputy Director.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS11722+24-Jan-2009+PRN20090124 |date=January 23, 2009|access-date=October 29, 2009|author=Finney, Karen|title=DNC Announces Key Staff for Organizing for America|publisher=Reuters |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201010651/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS11722+24-Jan-2009+PRN20090124 |archive-date = February 1, 2009}}

In mid January 2013, the organization was transformed into a nonprofit group Organizing for Action. The president's 2012 campaign manager, Jim Messina, was announced as the group's national chairman.

The organization will accept donations from individuals and corporations but not from lobbyists and political action committees. Offices will be in Washington and Chicago.{{cite news|last=Thomas|first=Ken|title=Organizing for Action; Obama campaign relaunching as non-profit|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/organizing-for-action_n_2501051.html|publisher=Huff Post|access-date=2013-01-21|date=January 17, 2013}}

The organization's activities originally centered around political activism in favor of Obama's early legislative goals, including the 2009 stimulus package and Democratic Party plans to reform the healthcare system. Another stated goal of OFA was alleviating perceived political apathy and increasing support for the Democratic Party. In preparation for President Obama's second term, Organization for America was turned into a nonprofit group — funded in part by corporate money — to mobilize support behind the president's agenda. As a tax exempt organization it will seek to harness the energy of the president's re-election campaign for future legislative fights. The group will be separate from the Democratic National Committee and advocate on key policy issues such as gun control and immigration, train future leaders, and devote attention to local issues throughout the United States.

Organizing for America is composed of 50 different state organizations, united by a single national umbrella. The states have a high level of autonomy when it comes to deciding how to execute tasks given by the national office, but most major programs are ultimately delegated by the national directors.

Under the federal tax code 501(c)(4) the group will have tax-exempt status as long as it is not primarily involved in activity that could influence an election. As a nonprofit, it can run support ads for an issue as long as it is not involved in activity aimed at electing candidates for office.

Organizing for America has provided logistical support to local community groups, including holding conference calls with volunteers, sponsoring events and house parties, using social networking and New Media, and providing talking points.

On October 20, 2009, OFA hosted a national phone bank event intended to encourage elected federal officials to support Obama's healthcare proposals. A stated goal of achieving 100,000 phone calls was exceeded, with 300,000 calls ultimately made. The event was considered highly successful.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-teo/ofa-healthcare-phonebank_b_327418.html|title=Congress "Getting Completely Crushed" With Over 100,000 Calls For Obama's Healthcare Reform|date=October 20, 2009|author=Teo, Dawn|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=October 29, 2009}}

On February 11, 2010, OFA launched a national campaign called "You Fight, We Fight".{{cite web|url=http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaforamerica/gGGxz7|title=You Fight We Fight|date=February 2, 2010|author=Christopher Hass|publisher=Organizing for America|access-date=March 25, 2010}} This program enabled people to pledge a number of hours in support of healthcare reform and President Barack Obama's domestic goals. Nevertheless, OFA members were never called upon to do volunteer work in support of including a public option in the bill, despite Obama's stated preference for such a provision.{{Citation| last =Graham-Felsen| first = Sam| author-link = Sam Graham-Felsen| title = Why is Obama leaving the grass roots on the sidelines?| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = December 17, 2010 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/16/AR2010121606083.html| access-date = 2010-12-22}}

After the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which completed one piece of Obama's domestic agenda, Organizing for America enabled Americans to "co-sign with the president,"{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/03/want-to-cosign-the-presidents-health-care-bill-yes-you-can-sort-of.html|title=Want to cosign the president's health care bill? Yes you can - sort of.|date=March 23, 2010|author=Boris Korby|publisher=ABC News|access-date=March 28, 2010}} creating a permanent record of the bills supporters. Those who co-signed could opt to have a certificate noting their participation sent to them for free. Over one million signatures of health care bill supporters were delivered to the president in April 2010.{{Cite web |url=http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/deliverypledge?source=feature |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-04-08 |archive-date=2010-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412023816/http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/deliverypledge?source=feature |url-status=dead }}

Except for some work on health care reform, the Obama administration did not made extensive use of OFA. This choice was criticized by some veterans of the 2008 campaign, who believed that Obama has erred by being too ready to compromise with conservatives instead of mobilizing the OFA volunteer base.

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080704201149/http://my.barackobama.com/ Organizing for America] — Official website
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRl8Hd2lyOA David Plouffe and Mitch Stewart announce the launch of Organizing for America]

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Category:Democratic Party (United States) organizations

Category:Barack Obama

Category:Organizations established in 2009

Category:2009 establishments in Washington, D.C.