Non-partisan groups active in New Hampshire. Click a group to find more about them. For groups across the country, see National Activities.
Grass Roots
Educate voters about Ranked Choice Voting and run a campaign to pass legislation that would allow Ranked Choice Voting in State and Local elections. RCV is as easy as ranking your favorite candidates, and it ensures better representation for NH voters. A 501(c)(4), this group's mission is to enable Ranked Choice Voting. There are statewide networking meetings once a month.
What is needed: Volunteers for the different sub-committees. Good national resources include Fairvote and the Ranked Choice Resource Center.
NH Grass Roots
Open Democracy works on NH campaign finance reform, redistricting, voting moderation, lobbying, and other top reform efforts. The Democracy in Action arm focuses on educating and equipping residents to be better organizers and leaders of grassroots efforts. The organization was founded by Granny D; walks are still supported to push reform.
What is needed: Join a Regional Democracy Team to help end the influence of money in politics and protect the freedom to vote at the State House and in local communities.
National, with a NH chapter
Braver Angels is a volunteer, non-profit organization committed to bridging the political divide in our country and promoting "Courageous Citizenship." Braver Angels brings liberals, conservatives, and others together at the grassroots level - not to find centrist compromise, but to find one another as citizens - through workshops, debates, campus engagement, and more. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The New Hampshire Alliance of Braver Angels is helping depolarize New Hampshire by encouraging open and respectful dialogue.
What is needed: More people who want to better understand one another's positions and work together. The NH Alliance hosts a discussion forum on Zoom the third Thursday of most months, and a planning meeting the first Thursday of each month.
We are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents who believe that all Granite Staters should have a say and a stake in New Hampshire's future. The New Hampshire Forum creates a constructive space for all of us to come together, find common ground, and turn our shared priorities into bipartisan legislative action.
What is needed: Share your voice to get what you think added to the table of discussion. You can also support the work by making a donation and helping spread the word.
DC based, with a NH chapter
Getting the US Congress to work together. US House Problem Solvers are an even number of Republican and Democratic Representatives who meet and work together as representatives of the people, not their party.
What is needed: Individuals who want to help educate NH voters and support problem-solving in Congress. The NH chapter also promotes national No Labels engagement and issue-specific policy items.
The League of Women Voters New Hampshire is a non-partisan organization, part of the national League of Women Voters, whose mission is empowering voters and defending democracy. The League helps local groups organize candidate forums, distributes information about voting, and advocates for their non-partisan positions in the legislature.
Helps people learn and practice civic character. Designs curricula, convenes workshops, and creates media to promote civic character education. Partners are welcome for creative collaborations on programming.
Helping NH residents be educated
Provides the people of New Hampshire with the tools and information they need to make a difference. Researches and profiles every candidate for state or federal office in the Granite State, and makes it easy to learn what's happening with key issues - from gun rights and drug policy to health care and renewable energy.
Helping NH residents understand how our government works
Civics 101 is the podcast refresher course on the basics of how the U.S. government works, hosted by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice. Offers graphic organizers and other educational resources for teachers looking to use Civics 101 in the classroom.
Helping NH residents be informed, engaged and civil
NH Civics is the only organization in the Granite State that teaches civics for free to people of all ages, political views and zip codes. Programs help people understand how democracy works, how to find the facts, and how to be good and active citizens.
Youth programs: Civics 603, The William W. Treat Lecture Series, NH's Kid Governor, and the Mikva Challenge.
Founded on the premise that an educated citizenry is vital for a healthy democracy. Since opening in 2001, the Institute has provided a nonpartisan forum for discussion and debate on all aspects of the American political process, aiming to educate, engage, and empower citizens to participate in civic and political life.
Independent non-profit NH news
An independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to keeping the people of the Granite State informed about the issues that matter most. Launched in April 2021, an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Retains full editorial independence.
Educates and informs residents
The original Rye Civic League started in 1968 and ran for 24 years. In 2009 Alex Herlihy restarted the Rye Civic League and it has been growing ever since. The RCL would like to see more NH communities provide the same services in their communities.
The Monthly Rye Civic News has over 1400 people on distribution. Between 70% and 80% of people open the Civic News, and between 30% and 45% of those click on at least one link - really good numbers for an email.
It is more what Todd Selig does. This Rock Star Town Administrator started off with an informative e-mail newsletter, but evolved it into a must-read Friday web page for residents.
Brings people together for engaged conversations
Working statewide and based at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire, NH Listens helps communities move forward on divisive and difficult decisions. In the same way that we need the physical infrastructure of roads, bridges, and buildings, we need to build, strengthen, and sustain infrastructure in our communities to support and sustain democracy. Their mission is to help New Hampshire residents talk and work together to create communities that work for everyone. They design for virtual and in-person gatherings.
Local Lunch Box: a 45-minute informative and interactive session sharing bite-sized tips and resources for community engagement and facilitation.
Visioning for Sustainable Communities
Design of the built environment has a significant impact on the fabric of a community. Plan NH raises awareness of ideas and trends in community planning and design of buildings, town centers and more that could contribute to a healthy and vibrant town or neighborhood.
Communities need to apply and be accepted. A Charette brings in planning, architect, design and other experts to engage with the community, and over two days delivers a set of recommendations. A full report is provided several weeks later. There is a $6,000 fee.
Focused on Economic Development
Helps communities in four areas make changes: 1) Economic Development Planning (Growing Communities); 2) Building Community Leaders and Planning; 3) How to engage with local businesses; 4) Integrating and supporting tourism and recreation activity.
Having more younger people live and work in NH
Works to get more college students to stay in NH and to attract additional younger workers to settle in NH. Current goal is to raise retention from 50% to 55%.
