Following Historic Midterm Organizing Effort, NGP VAN Launches "Organizing Academy" to Invest in Next Generation of Democratic Organizers

Applications are open now for the first two-day in-person training designed to equip grassroots organizers with the tools, skills, and connections to lead future campaigns

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NGP VAN, the leading technology provider for Democratic and progressive campaigns, today announced the launch of the NGP VAN Organizing Academy, a two-day, in-person training program designed to equip grassroots organizers with the technical skills, practical experience, and professional networks needed to power campaigns in the 2027 and 2028 election cycles.

The first of NGP VAN's Organizing Academy trainings will take place next month in New Jersey, bringing together approximately 50 organizers on December 1–2 at the Crowne Plaza in Plainsboro. Participants will receive in-depth training on NGP VAN tools, foundational organizing principles, and campaign best practices, along with opportunities to network with experienced campaign and data professionals and access hands-on career development resources.

The announcement comes days after NGP VAN released new data showing the scale of Democratic organizing in the 2026 midterms. Campaigns using NGP VAN tools knocked 217.3 million doors and held 42.8 million successful voter conversations. More than 376,000 unique canvassers worked through MiniVAN, and Mobilize recorded nearly 19.7 million event signups, including 3.6 million first-time users.

As campaigns look toward the next election cycles, sustaining that momentum requires investing in the people who make organizing possible. The Organizing Academy is designed to turn that energy into lasting capacity. It builds on NGP VAN's Organize Everywhere initiative, which expands affordable tool access for state parties and has added regional, in-person training support. Through the Organizing Academy, NGP VAN is extending that investment by helping organizers strengthen their technical expertise, develop professionally, and build the relationships that will support their careers and future campaigns.

"We have tremendous momentum coming out of the midterms. But we can't afford to lose the talent and experience that made it possible, only to start from scratch a year from now," said Chelsea Peterson Thompson, General Manager of NGP VAN. "Our organizers are the backbone of this work, yet too often they're left to navigate what comes next without a clear path or support system. This is personal – I started my career as an organizer, and I've hired and trained hundreds of organizers throughout my career. I know how much it matters to have someone invest in you and your potential. The Organizing Academy is about doing exactly that: giving the next generation the tools, connections, and opportunities to build lasting careers in organizing, because investing in our people is how we keep winning."

Day One: What it takes to win. Attendees will develop the skills and strategic foundation to organize, engage voters, and build effective campaigns.   Sessions cover how to read voter files, models, and contact records; how to build lists and universes; and how to calculate your win number. The day also includes reporting basics and a resume and headshot workshop to help organizers build the professional tools and confidence to advance their careers.

Day Two: What comes next. The second day opens with a panel of organizing and data staff from the campaign world. Attendees will build hands-on spreadsheet skills, join breakout sessions on data and organizing career paths, and learn strategies for building layered organizing universes. NGP VAN's product team will also give participants a first look at upcoming platform features and tools.

Participants will leave with practical skills they can apply to campaign work, deeper knowledge of NGP VAN tools, updated resumes and professional headshots, and an expanded network for future organizing opportunities.

Applications are open now and close on Friday, November 13, 2026. Organizers interested in participating can apply here.

The first Organizing Academy will take place December 1–2, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza, 900 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, NJ 08536. Limited financial assistance is available to help offset participation costs for applicants who would otherwise be unable to attend. NGP VAN plans to host more of these trainings around the country in 2027.

For more information about the NGP VAN Organizing Academy, visit ngpvan.com.

About NGP VAN

NGP VAN is the winningest technology platform in the history of democratic and progressive causes, working tirelessly to innovate and advance the technology our clients rely on to bolster our democracy. A proud unionized employer, we help power the trailblazers, campaigners, and advocates fighting up and down the ticket for equality, racial justice, reproductive freedom, democracy, climate reform, and more—including the national Democratic committees and progressive organizations, thousands of Democratic campaigns, hundreds of labor unions, advocacy organizations, progressive and non-partisan PACs, and other organizations.

Press Contact:
Simone Hassan-Bey
NGP VAN
[email protected]

SOURCE NGP VAN