Many Blue Dots is a non-profit 501c(4) organization. That means that its existence and income serve its mission, and its income is not accrued for the benefit of its Board members, volunteers, or (eventual) staff (though staff will of course be paid a fair and equitable salary for their work in service of the mission). Unlike a c(3) designation, donations and membership fees to a c(4) are not tax-deductible for the donors or Members, but we are allowed to take politically partisan public stances on issues and candidates. It is for the latter reason that we created MBD as a c(4) instead of c(3), and it is because of our desire to be able to fundraise for the mission that we created it as a non-profit organization instead of as a for-profit entity.

MBD is different from similar orgs in that we are focused exclusively on local, truly grassroots action (neighborhood, school board, city, county, sometimes up to state level). So, instead of organizing folks locally to bring their voices to DC, we’re keeping our voices, actions, and priorities local. We connect local Chapters with each other to share lessons learned, successes, challenges, and ideas that Chapters can use back home – rather than to create national-scale advocacy campaigns or organized DC lobbying. We also are not connected to or funded by any political party nor any PAC or political party funding platform. Rather, we aim to work past the false divides of political party rhetoric and social media echo chambers to reconnect with our neighbors, friends, and families as empathetic, real people working together, face-to-face, to strengthen and heal their communities.

We do believe that it will take a whole constellation of engaged organizations and individuals to continue to break down the walls dividing us and strengthen our democracy. There is a place for many different types of approaches to the work.

Couldn’t we just do our own thing locally and not pay for MBD membership?

Absolutely! We don’t want to discourage anyone from taking action to make the world a better place. We created MBD because people were feeling alone, isolated, and scared. We’ve learned that fighting it out with our neighbors on social media is unproductive and almost always reductionist and sarcastic, sometimes cruel, and never leads to true connection or understanding. We saw a need for left-leaning and centrist folks to find kinship, support, and a joint call-to-action from like-minded people in their largely very conservative towns. If you already know other left-leaning and centrist folks in your area, and are already a member of a local movement or organization that is making things happen, then stick with that! We’re not aiming to compete – we’re aiming to augment and to fill a need where there is one. But do let us know if your group needs help – we can alert the local MBD chapter to consider helping.

What about all the other progressive organizations that already exist?

We are so glad that they do exist! We’re not here to compete with, take the place of, or usurp in any way all of the immensely hard work that has been and will keep being done by numerous national, state, and local nonprofits, social-good for-profits, and affinity groups. Quite the opposite, we rally our Membership to support those groups. We encourage MBD Chapters to reach out to these organizations and find out what help they need – maybe it’s local advocacy, maybe it’s recruiting volunteers, or maybe it’s spreading the word. Yes, local Chapters do some MBD branded events where and when it makes sense but, otherwise, we’re there to support. There’s so much work to do, and it’s going to take all of us.

Join us! MBD is not connected to, advised by, or funded by any political party, PAC, shadowy billionaire, religion of any kind, etc. We’re just real, regular people who want to reconnect with the humanity in each other and take action to protect our local ecosystems and the human and civil rights of our neighbors, friends, and families. We know that we don’t all agree on everything. Some of us might feel more passionately about some issues than others. Some of us might not be sure how we feel about some issues. Sometimes we want the same end goal but disagree on how to get there. We all take different approaches as individuals as well. Some are more outspoken, some take quiet and small actions. We also have different backgrounds and life experiences that mold who we are. It’s all needed.

MBD will never excuse or tolerate racism, anti-queer words and actions, ageism, ableism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, antisemitism, etc. At the same time, we are all still learning how to treat each other and our planet better, we are all in different stages of that learning process, and we all stumble. We believe that we can all learn from each other and will make the most progress if we connect as human beings, with all the shades of grey and messiness that entails.

MBD Funding

MBD is just getting started. As noted above, we are not funded by or connected in any way to any political parties, PACs, or their funding platforms, nor are there shadow millionaires or billionaires providing donations. 

Our initial direct costs have all been shouldered by the founding Board of Directors. We anticipate our next stage of funding to come from Member dues. As described below, we also plan to put together a comprehensive fundraising plan for HQ (the proceeds of which will be distributed as described below) and will provide training and resources for Chapters to fundraise for themselves as well.

In the spirit of transparency, we will always post our annual financials and tax returns on the website and will make public any major donations. Indeed, even if it means forgoing a large donation, we will require that donors above $500 not be anonymous in order for us to accept the donation. At the same time, we do want to protect the privacy and safety of our grassroots base, so Members and donors with gifts smaller than $500 will be able to remain anonymous if they wish.

Who runs MBD, and are they profiting off of it?

Per regulations in most states (and considered best practice by the IRS), any non-profit must have a Governing Board of at least 3 Directors who set the strategic direction for the organization, hire and manage the paid executive (once we have one), ensure the budget is realistic and well-managed, and drive fundraising. Meet our current Board here. 

Per IRS regulations, board members may not financially benefit from being on the board of any non-profit. Thus, our Board Members are not paid for any of their time in service of the organization. As soon as enough funds are raised, they will, as allowed under the law, be reimbursed for direct upfront costs in setting up MBD (monthly fees for website and email, registration fees from the IRS and Montana Secretary of State, database monthly subscription, etc.).

Once we are ready to start recruiting more Board Members, we will put out a public announcement on our social media channels and website, and via email to all Chapter Leads. Again in the spirit of transparency, as the Board grows, all of its members will always be listed on our website.

Once we have raised enough funds to pay equitable, competitive wages, we will start hiring paid staff, and all staff will also be listed on the website.

Where does my membership fee go?

When there is a Chapter within 50 miles of where you live, 75% of your membership dues go to the Chapter closest to you to support their local activities. The other 25% goes to pay for all of the work done by HQ (see “What does HQ do?”). When there is no Chapter where you live, 100% of your membership fee goes to HQ’s work. Remember, it only takes 2 Members within 50 miles of each other (in rural areas and smaller cities), or within the same zip code (in larger cities) to create a Chapter. The more people you recruit to your Chapter, the more funds your Chapter has to do its work. As far as how that 75% is spent, that’s up to Chapters themselves to decide, within the guidelines required of 501c(4)s set by the IRS.

What if a local donor or sponsor offers to donate to my Chapter?

In that case, they would need to donate to MBD HQ so that we can properly track their donation, report it to the IRS for you, and prepare (with data from you) any reports the donor may require. Your Chapter would then receive 85-90% of the donation, depending on the donor’s reporting requirements and how much HQ time needs to go into that administrative work.

What if a donor or sponsor offers to donate to HQ?

In that case, HQ keeps 25% of the donation for its work, and the remaining 75% will be distributed in grants to under-resourced Chapters (more on this coming soon). Should we receive such a donation before the grant process is set-up, it will be put aside and saved for the grant.

MBD HQ exists to be of service to the Chapters. Hyper-local action, driven by Chapters of volunteers, is the beating heart of MBD. But to support those Chapters, there is a great deal of work that needs to be done by HQ. In the spirit of transparency, here are some examples of what HQ either does, or plans to do, and why each piece costs $$$:

• Sets up all the legal underpinnings for MBD, files necessary paperwork with the IRS, etc. ($$$ = various filing fees, paying for legal council to review documents when necessary, etc.). Time spent working on the paperwork has all been on a voluntary basis by the Board Members.

• Maintains the legally-required Board of Directors and ensures that the Board is meeting its responsibilities in board governance, fundraising, strategic planning, and inclusive recruitment ($$$ = eventual staff time spent organizing the Board’s work, paying for administrative software, etc.).

• Runs the website, database of Members, and email lists ($$$ = eventual staff time spent in maintaining, and updating the website; eventual staff time spent on data entry into the CRM; subscription fees for website, CRM (the subscription price for which grows as the membership grows), newsletter distribution, etc. Setting up all the initial soft infrastructure is being done, for now, on a volunteer basis by the Board.

• Runs the accounting for all Chapters ($$$ = paying for accounting work; setting up contracts with Chapter Leads; answering Qs for Chapter Leads and members; paying fees for credit card processing, accounting software, fees for merchant and other bank accounts, etc.).

• Provides services to the Chapters and Membership ($$$ = eventual staff time spent creating and organizing these services, paying for guest speakers, etc.; for now, it’s all being done on a volunteer basis by the Board):

  • Monthly newsletter with helpful information and resources, ideas for Chapter activities, and news from various Chapters (coming soon).

  • Webinars w/ guest presenters from around the country providing helpful training and information (coming soon).

  • Identifying Chapter Leads and connecting them with members in their area.

  • Providing funding to Chapters and filing the necessary paperwork with the IRS.

  • Fundraising to deepen the work of HQ in support of Chapters and the broader Membership and to support under-resourced Chapters (coming soon).

  • Producing marketing materials, social media content and toolkits, etc. to help grow the MBD membership, to the benefit of Chapters.

  • Coming up with policy and processes for all of MBD.

Who’s running HQ, and when will you hire staff?

Right now, we are a group of 4 Board Members working on an entirely volunteer basis. We are using our own private funds while also working day jobs, raising kids, etc. Our next step will be to fill-out a larger Board (which, by law, will always be entirely volunteer, never paid). After that, we’ll put together a Strategic Plan, review our founding documents and policies, create a Fundraising Plan, and start fundraising enough to sustainably pay at least a part-time Executive Director. We will then add more staff as income increases. As explained elsewhere, eventually, staff will be doing the HQ work, which is solely focused on supporting all of the Chapters. The more staff we have, the more support we can provide and the more fundraising we can do for Chapters. Our goal would be to have staff representing geographic regions who are dedicated to supporting the Chapters in those regions. The plan will never be to take local strategic control away from Chapters and will always be to prioritize Chapters in funding while also paying staff fair, equitable, competitive wages.

Why isn’t Many Blue Dots doing big advocacy in DC?

There are already other organizations doing big advocacy in DC. MBD was founded with the intention to create change on a hyper-local level through face-to-face, human connection with folks we know, work with, are in the PTA with, are neighbors of, etc. By focusing on local issues, elections, referendums, and more, all across the country, we believe we can make a massive difference. We believe we can create a tidal wave of hope that aids in furthering human rights, civil rights, and environmental protections. This work is complementary to the work being done at the DC level, and why recreate the wheel?

Why is so much of the work “coming soon”?

Currently, we are running entirely off volunteers. All of the HQ work is being done by the 4 current Board Members, who also have other work, volunteer, and family obligations. We’re trying to get this much-needed movement going as fast as possible, which means we’ve adopted a “don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good” philosophy. It also means there’s only so much we can roll-out before membership dues and donations start rolling-in. Beyond that, we’ll need to expand work in phases as we get to the point where we can slowly start hiring staff. 

Put another way, you’re joining us right at the beginning! You’re helping us build a national movement, from the ground up. You’re trusting us, and we’re trusting you to make this amazing. There is no magical money tree – the money we have to give to Chapters for their activities and other general support is coming from your membership dues. As membership grows, the amount of activity grows, as well as the return on investment of your dues. 

We’ll probably try some experiments that don’t work, and some will take off in ways we didn’t expect. The answers to some of these FAQs will likely change over time, and other questions will come up. But if we waited until everything was “perfect”, it would be too late to make the difference that is needed RIGHT NOW.

The entire purpose of Many Blue Dots is to create a connected network of hyper-local action. That means the bulk of the work is done on a volunteer basis by Many Blue Dots Chapters. When people sign up for MBD Membership, we ask them their zip code, whether they are interested in being considered for a Chapter Lead role, and whether they’re willing to have their email address shared with other MBD Members in their area. For a Chapter to be considered an official Chapter, and receive funding for its activities, it must meet two criteria:

• Have at least 2 Members (who are in good standing on their monthly dues) in the same zip code for larger cities, or within 50 miles each other for smaller cities and rural areas.

• Have an identified Chapter Lead or 2 Chapter Co-Leads (so that we can coordinate funding for the Chapter).

Chapter Leads work on a volunteer basis, leading their Chapter members in organizing and participating in local MBD activities (the Chapter Lead can designate other Members to lead certain projects – the Chapter Lead does not have to be the main organizer for everything). How each different Chapter operates, what activities it pursues, and how it makes decisions are unique to that Chapter and its Members.
MBD HQ checks once per month to see whether criteria have been met to form a new Chapter, and we follow the process below to select a Chapter Lead. We then provide the Lead with the email addresses of their local Members so that the Chapter can get going on its work. We also announce new Chapters in our Monthly Newsletter and list them on our website.

What are some example activities that Chapters could do?

There are so many things Chapters could do, and because we want to keep this as hyper-local as possible, MBD HQ doesn’t want to micromanage Chapters. But we’re more than happy to seed ideas! For example, you could help someone put together their campaign for a local office, provide volunteers for a local Pride event, create and market a petition, write op-eds, organize a protest, etc.

How do Chapter Leads get chosen?

Chapter Leads can be chosen in several different ways:

• If 2 or more people who live near each other have signed up to be MBD Members, and only 1 or 2 of them have indicated a willingness to be considered for Chapter Lead – HQ will reach out and confirm their desire to be Chapter Lead (or Co-Leads if 2 have indicated interest in being Lead).

• If 2 or more people who live near each other have signed up to be MBD Members, but no one has yet indicated a willingness to be a Chapter Lead – HQ will inform those Members that there is not yet a Chapter Lead and ask for volunteers so that the Chapter can be funded and get started.

• If more than 2 people from the same area have indicated a willingness to be considered for Chapter Lead – HQ will inform the Members that a vote amongst the Members will be necessary for choosing a Chapter Lead (or 2 Co-Leads) and ask them to report back on the vote so that we can keep track of who the Leads are.

Once an initial Chapter Lead (or 2 Co-Leads) are chosen, it will be up to the Chapter to decide if and when it’s time for a Lead to step aside and hand that role over to a new Lead. We ask only that we be kept informed of these changes, as all Chapter Leads must sign a contract with MBD HQ concerning stewardship of Chapter funds.

How do I find a local Chapter to join?

First, you sign up to be an MBD Member. Then, you can either contact the relevant Chapter Lead via our website (where applicable), wait until we let the relevant Chapter Lead know that you’ve joined (we check for new Members once per month), or, if there is no Chapter near you yet (check the website), recruit others to sign up.

Do I need to participate in all or most of my Chapter’s activities to be considered a “member in good standing”?

No, you definitely don’t. Being a “member in good standing” just means that you’re up-to-date on your membership dues (because those are used to fund your Chapter’s activities). We understand there may be activities in which you do not feel safe or comfortable participating, you might be limited in your volunteer hours and want to use them for very specific activities, or you may simply want to financially contribute via your membership dues (or a donation) because participation in activities isn’t possible or preferable for you. We welcome all levels of participation and support! 

What if I don’t agree with the direction and activities of my Chapter?

We encourage you to work out your concerns with the other Members and Chapter Lead(s). If you are concerned that your Chapter is not aligning with the MBD Values, please let us know. If you continue to be dissatisfied with the work of your local Chapter, you can contact us to cancel your membership without reaching out to your Chapter Lead.

How are Chapter activities funded, and what are the limitations?

Chapters receive funding for their activities from the membership dues of their Members, donations that they solicit from local donors and sponsors, and, where relevant, grants from MBD HQ. Any expenses beyond the Chapter’s budget are covered personally by the Members of the Chapter as coordinated by the Chapter Lead. We encourage Chapter Leads to secure “in-kind” donations when possible (e.g., donated use of event space, donated food, etc.). 

In their contract with MBD, all Chapter Leads agree to align their activities with the MBD Values so that representation of MBD across the country stays as consistent as possible. Additionally, the IRS requires that 501c(4) organizations not spend more than 20% of their budgets on supporting political campaigns. For MBD, that means that Chapters can spend up to 20% of their budget supporting a relevant, local political campaign. For the safety of MBD event participants, MBD does not reimburse for alcohol, nor any products containing kratom, kava, or THC.

Why do you collect my name, email, and other contact information?

We only collect the minimum information needed to connect you with local members, keep you informed about upcoming discussions, and notify you when a chapter forms in your area. Nothing beyond that core purpose is required.

What happens to my contact information once I submit it?

Your information is stored in a secure, access-controlled system. Only authorized Many Blue Dots administrators—people responsible for communications and local chapter coordination—can access it. We do not share your information with political parties, campaigns, consultants, advertisers, or external platforms.

Will you sell my email and phone number to other organizations like Act Blue and other groups do?

In short, no. Many Blue Dots does not sell, rent, lease, trade, or otherwise distribute your personal information to any third parties. Period. We believe trust is earned, and selling data is the quickest way to lose it.

And, since we like to be transparent, we’ll go further by explaining why other organizations do that and we won’t. Many nonprofits (of all types) run what are called “member or donor acquisitions" on a regular basis. The purpose of these "acquisitions" is to acquire new members or donors, partly to grow their membership/donor base and partly to replace the folks that have dropped off (on average, donors in the nonprofit sector drop off at a rate of around 65%). Since the acquisition needs to reach new people, they can’t send out a fundraising letter or email to people already in their database – thus, they trade email lists with similar organizations and buy and sell lists to/from a list broker. Only about 2% of the list actually becomes members/donors in any given acquisition campaign, so the list needs to be huge to counter the large drop-off rate of donors/members, and it has to grow every year, otherwise the membership/donor base will shrink in number each year. That gets expensive, especially when you consider that around 98% of the list is going to treat your outreach as spam, which also means that acquisition campaigns, by nature, aren’t very authentic.

So, while it’s understandable why some organizations sell, trade, and buy email lists in order to keep up their income, we’ve chosen not to do that. We plan to grow via earning trust and relying on word-of-mouth referrals.

Who can see my email address or phone number?

Only vetted administrators with a clear operational need. Members within your local chapter do not automatically receive access to your contact information unless you choose to share it. You remain in control.

How do you protect my data?

We use industry-standard cybersecurity practices, including:

• Encrypted data storage

• Secure communication channels

• Access controls and role-based permissions

• Routine monitoring for unusual activity

• Regular software and server updates

We do not keep any sensitive personal data beyond what you voluntarily provide.

Is my payment information safe?

If you donate or pay membership dues, your payment is processed by a reputable third-party payment processor (e.g., Stripe or another PCI-compliant platform). Many Blue Dots does not store or handle your credit card numbers or bank information directly.

Can I request that my information be deleted?

Yes. You may request full deletion of your data at any time. Once processed, your information is permanently removed from our systems unless required by law for financial recordkeeping.

Do you track my location?

We only use your ZIP code or general location to determine:

1. Whether a chapter exists near you

2. Whether enough local members live close enough to form a new chapter

We do not collect, store, or track GPS data or precise location signals.

Will I start receiving spam or political ads?

No. You will only receive communications directly related to Many Blue Dots—chapter updates, civic discussions, educational resources, and organizational news. You can opt out anytime.

Do you use cookies or analytics?

We use basic website analytics to understand general traffic patterns (e.g., page popularity, browser type, etc.). These analytics do not identify you as an individual. If the site uses cookies, they are only for functional purposes such as enabling forms or remembering user preferences.

Are my discussions or meeting attendance tracked?

No. Many Blue Dots does not track or record personal opinions, meeting contributions, or political positions. Our purpose is to encourage conversations—not to profile participants.

How does Many Blue Dots think about cybersecurity overall?

We treat cybersecurity the same way we treat civic engagement: with seriousness, responsibility, and respect. Your information belongs to you; our job is to safeguard it so you can participate in grassroots democracy without fear of misuse or exposure.

Who do I contact with privacy or security concerns?

If you have questions or want your information updated or removed, you can contact:
support@manybluedots.org