Progressive organizations have long relied on NGP VAN as their primary software tool for organizing and facilitating engagement and fundraising activities, and in many cases, as a substitute for a purpose-built data management tool. Over the years, NGP VAN has grown from a niche startup to a comprehensive platform, becoming the backbone of data management for countless campaigns and nonprofit organizations. However, its acquisition by a private equity firm has raised anxiety levels about the future stability and support of this critical tool within the membership, communications, organizing, and political departments of progressive organizations around the country.
Writer and campaign organizer Micah L. Sifry brought this important issue to the forefront in his article, “Living with VANxiety: The Present and Future of Progressive Movement Tech.” In the article, Sifry highlights the potential dangers of depending on a single consolidated tool that is now under the control of an entity primarily focused on profit rather than mission-driven outcomes.
In response to these growing concerns, all of us at TCW Strategies feel it’s important to examine the issues raised in the VANxiety article and provide a clear path forward for unions and progressive organizations. We recognize the urgency of this matter and the need for a thoughtful response that helps campaign managers, data directors, and decision-makers understand the risks and explore viable alternatives.
A Recap of NGP VAN’s Growth and Influence
In his article, Sifry provides a thorough history of the growth and consolidation of NGP VAN. To ensure a foundational understanding of the issues, here’s a quick overview:
- Early Roots: NGP VAN started as a bespoke software solution and quickly became indispensable due to its ability to transform manual processes into efficient digital workflows.
- Growth and Consolidation: Over time, NGP VAN expanded its capabilities and acquired other organizing software, creating a comprehensive suite of tools that could provide everything from voter file management to event organization.
- Current Significance: Today, NGP VAN stands as the pinnacle platform for data management within the progressive ecosystem. Its tools are used by a vast array of campaigns and advocacy groups to coordinate efforts, manage data, and optimize outreach.
Why Consolidation Presents Risks
Relying heavily on a single tool for various engagement and campaign functions introduces the potential for several risks:
- Single Point of Failure: Should NGP VAN face operational lags, financial instability, or strategic shifts under its new ownership, the entire progressive movement space could be disrupted at once.
- Diminished Impact: A decline in the platform’s quality or support could lead to data management inefficiencies, degraded outreach capabilities, and overall reduced campaign effectiveness.
- Stifled Innovation: Continuing with NGP VAN could perpetuate a cycle of reliance on tools that may not keep pace with technological advancements or key objectives within the progressive movement. This dependency can lead to stagnation and integration issues with modern systems, ultimately affecting data quality and operational efficiency.
TCW Strategies’ Stance: Rather than clinging to the status quo, we advocate for progressive organizations to use NGP VAN and other industry-specific tools where their unique functionality is needed most, while shifting the bulk of data management and reporting responsibilities onto more powerful general-purpose software. By doing so, progressive organizations can mitigate the risks associated with exclusive use of specialized tools like NGP VAN. Leveraging more broadly supported technologies allows access to a larger talent pool of analysts and engineers, ensuring better support, more robust integrations, and enhanced overall functionality. This approach addresses immediate concerns and also positions organizations for sustained success by fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
We advocate for progressive organizations to use NGP VAN and other industry-specific tools where their unique functionality is needed most, while shifting the bulk of data management and reporting responsibilities onto more powerful general-purpose software.
Benefits of Transitioning to Modern Data Analytics Technologies
Currently, many organizations rely on NGP VAN not only for operational tasks like outreach and fundraising, but also as an improvised source of truth to manage and store data. This dual use can lead to inefficiencies and data quality issues, as NGP VAN is not designed to function as a comprehensive data warehouse.
Since the introduction of NGP VAN, however, the evolution of data warehousing technology has introduced more sophisticated and versatile options. Platforms like BigQuery, Redshift, and Snowflake have revolutionized how data can be stored, accessed, and analyzed, offering unprecedented levels of scalability and performance. Plus, their affordability makes them accessible to organizations of all sizes, democratizing access to advanced data management capabilities that were previously out of reach for many smaller entities.
Modernize Your Solutions By Separating Their Functions
A critical step in transitioning to more dynamic data solutions is decoupling data management from operational tools. Separating these functions and using focused solutions allows each tool to be used to its full potential, ensuring better performance and data integrity.
General-Purpose Tools
For many core functions, such as relationship management and complex data analysis, general-purpose tools like Hubspot, Salesforce, and modern data warehouses offer superior functionality and integration. These tools benefit from larger budgets, broader customer bases, and stronger incentives to continually enhance their power and user-friendliness. By leveraging these well-supported and widely adopted platforms, progressive organizations can take advantage of economies of scale to ensure enhanced functionality and reduced risk, ultimately benefiting their mission.
Movement-Specific Needs
While many functions can be managed with general-purpose tools, there are specific needs that require bespoke solutions. Field canvassing, tele-canvassing, event registration, and fundraising are areas where specialized tools like VAN can still play a vital role. However, limiting the scope of VAN’s usage to these specific needs addresses its core problems.
Firstly, by not using VAN as a primary tool for data management, it becomes easier to migrate away from VAN if a better tool comes along or if a catastrophe strikes. Secondly, adopting other better-suited tools for data management improves an organization’s data position today, regardless of what happens to VAN in the future.
Essentially, while VAN may have specific functionalities that are hard to replicate, relying less on it and more on superior general-purpose tools ensures organizations are better prepared and more adaptable to future changes. This hybrid approach mitigates risks and ensures that all organizational needs are met with the most appropriate and effective tools available.
A Call to Action for Progressive Organizations
As a steward of your organization’s data and campaign strategies, it’s imperative to be aware of the potential pitfalls of over-relying on a single tool like NGP VAN. More importantly, you should be informed about the modern solutions and strategies available to mitigate these risks and enhance your data management capabilities. It’s never been easier for organizations of all sizes to use modern data analytics technologies to own and manage their own data. By diversifying your tech portfolio and adopting more widely-used, robust solutions, you can ensure greater stability, functionality, and resilience in your campaign operations.
The Advantages of a Managed Implementations Partner
TCW Strategies helps unions and progressive organizations implement modern data infrastructure through customized managed implementations. By partnering with TCW Strategies, organizations can benefit from tailored solutions that address their unique needs while leveraging industry-standard technologies. Our approach involves working closely with clients to design and deploy a data infrastructure that integrates seamlessly with existing systems and supports efficient data management and analytics. This partnership ensures that organizations can focus on their core mission while we handle the technical complexities.
We urge campaign and data directors to act urgently. The consolidation of tools like NGP VAN under private equity ownership underscores the critical need for organizations to reassess their data strategies and embrace modern, scalable, and reliable solutions. If you’ve got “VANxiety,” let’s talk. Schedule a call with us to discuss your data needs and explore the best options for your organization. Together, we can ensure that your data infrastructure not only meets today’s challenges but is also prepared for tomorrow’s opportunities.
