We are friends, neighbors, and colleagues who work to defend our democracy. We believe democracy is a means toward a more just society. We say “nope” to those who seek to disrupt democracy through lies, violence, discrimination and exclusion.
Each and every one of us is a volunteer. We have no bank account or staff. When you donate, every dollar goes directly to the candidates and groups you’ve chosen to support.
We began in the DC Metro area, but COVID-19 launched us nationwide. We aspire to provide a space for everyone.
Our Strategy
We offer an on-ramp to political activism that maximizes the impact of your time and money, providing multiple opportunities for engagement to elect Democrats, fight voter suppression and advance voter participation.
We focus your resources on battleground states critical to preserving the Democratic majority in the US Senate, flipping the US House, and holding the White House in 2024. We also focus on state offices crucial to protecting the vote, such as governors, secretaries of state, and state Supreme Court justices.
We support grassroots organizations working to challenge voter suppression and advance voter participation in underrepresented communities of color. Supporting these groups promotes racial justice and fights voter suppression, not just for a single election, but for years to come.
We advise on strategic giving, identifying the races and grassroots organizations in our battleground states where your dollars will have the greatest impact.
We direct you to meaningful volunteer opportunities whether you want to canvass, rally write, phone, or engage on social media. We welcome volunteers of all levels of experience.
We strive to build an inclusive, diverse community of educated political activists. We keep you informed with weekly bulletins and virtual meetings with inspiring speakers such as US Senate candidates and grassroots activists. Read more: Meetings and Weekly Updates.
Leadership
Teams of dedicated “core” volunteers manage our activities, with a lead volunteer coordinating the activities of each team. We focus on NOPE’s three pillars of volunteering, donating to vetted candidates, and supporting vetted grassroots organizations in battleground states. Many of us are retired professionals with skills in fields such as law, finance, communications, and organizing.
Steering Committee - Oversees all aspects of NOPE’s activities and engages in strategic planning. Includes the lead volunteer for each of the teams below. nopeneighbors@gmail.com
Political Team - Researches and recommends political candidates and battleground states. Includes individuals who serve as liaisons for each state. nopeneighbors@gmail.com
Grassroots Organizing Team - Researches and makes recommendations for the organizing groups we support in battleground states. Also reviews their performance. nopeneighbors@gmail.com
Voter Contact Team - Plans and implements volunteer opportunities including canvassing, phone banking, protecting the vote, and writing letters (Democracy Writers). Also provides information on rallies and other action opportunities for resisting the current Administration.
Donor Advising Team - Researches and plans campaigns for meaningful donation opportunities in our battleground states. Reviews, selects and maintains donation platforms. Nopegivingcircle18@gmail.co
Communications Team - Produces our weekly bulletins and maintains our website. Coordinates all NOPE communications. Includes our Democracy Online team, which posts pro-democracy messages on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube.
Operations Team - Maintains our databases and extensive records. Manages all of the platforms and programs we use to carry out our work. Supports all of the teams listed above. nopeneighbors@gmail.com
Our Story
Several Chevy Chase, DC residents started NOPE in November 2016 shortly after Donald J. Trump won the U.S. presidential election. Our goal was to bring together our neighbors, friends, and colleagues in the DC area to take tangible and decisive actions against the new administration's unacceptable policies and programs. We called ourselves NOPE, which stood for Neighbors Organizing for Power and Equality.
Pence Moves In
Two local events occurred soon after the election that motivated NOPE to expand our mission. First, Vice President-elect Mike Pence moved into our neighborhood. Neighbors who lived across the street from his temporary home, organized a Pride rainbow flag “welcome” by ordering boxes of rainbow flags to stand against Pence’s homophobia. By Inauguration Day, more than 300 flags were flying in the neighborhood.
And then…Comet
On December 4, a man from North Carolina entered Comet Ping Pong, our local pizza restaurant, with his assault weapon to "self-investigate" the fake news that Comet was involved in child sex-trafficking. Thus, with the Trump election, Pence in the neighborhood, and local business under fire, we united to regain the White House and to defend our democracy through electoral politics.