Analyst Institute

The Analyst Institute claims to be "a clearinghouse for evidence-based best practices in progressive voter contact. The Analyst Institute assists organizations in building testing into their voter contact efforts, especially with regard to high priority topics."

The Analyst Institute "helps Democratic and progressive groups figure out what really works in political and social justice campaigns. We share best practices and provide education and training for the progressive community. We keep a low-profile, but we work with all the big name groups in the progressive ecosystem—labor unions, environmental groups, racial justice organizers, LGBTQIA rights advocates, you name it—from local and state-based groups all the way up to Presidential campaigns."

Beginnings

Sasha Issenberg in his New York Times "Nudge the Vote" article gave this description in 2010:

* The Analyst Institute is a firm quietly founded in 2007 by AFL-CIO officials and liberal allies, which seeks to establish a set of empirically proven 'best practices' for interacting with voters.

* Nearly all of the Analyst Institute’s research is private, shared only among the participating groups. The institute’s Web site is almost comically empty, and the group’s name — two abstract nouns, cryptically conjoined — evokes a CIA front.

In a 2013 interview as part of a Fox News "Prying Eyes" series, Issenberg said: The Analyst Institute is a consortium of liberal groups, parties, campaigns and consultants. It was designed specifically to do science in secret to help Democrats win elections.

Incorporation

The Business Filings Search at the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs says the date of organization for Analyst Institute LLC was Jan. 25, 2008.

The address given for the Analyst Institute LLC is 815 16th Street NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20006, which is the address of the AFL-CIO and is a short distance to the north of the White House near the McPherson Square Metro stop.

The Analyst Institute has filed a report with DC government in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, but those reports are not online.

The agent for the business filing was Laurence E. Gold, who "works with labor unions, advocacy and charitable organizations, political organizations and activists, political services providers and others so they can succeed in the political, legislative and policy arenas." Gold is former Associate General Counsel at the AFL-CIO.

The corporation filing shows Aaron Strauss as the CEO of the Analyst Institute.

Internet

• Web site: https://analystinstitute.org/. Files and research articles are stored as PDFs in a library or a MediaVault.
• Twitter: @AnalystInst. Protected Tweets.
• Analyst Group email list at Groupspaces: http://groupspaces.com/AnalystInstitute/

Priorities

2008

• "Partnered with dozens of organizations to execute 44 large‐scale field experiments. Topics included which voters are "persuadable", how behavioral science insights can be translated into voter contact tactics, and how to prevent ballot rolloff. The Analyst Institute was also frequently consulted to provide assistance in experimental design and execution of testing."
• "support a community of 400 data analysts and related professionals in collaborating and sharing their findings through monthly Analyst Group meetings and retreats."
• "Dozens of scientific randomized studies involving millions of voters have looked at what works and what does not in GOTV contact. The Analyst Institute compiled a list of these best practices and held weekly conference calls as civic engagement groups were planning their efforts to highlight and discuss the latest findings."

2009-2010

The research agenda included answering questions such as:

• How Best to Reduce Ballot Rolloff and Increase Ballot Completion?
• What are the Predictors of Persuadability?
• Increase the Use of Impact-Based Communications.
• Which Advocacy Tactics are Most Effective?
• How Can we best Use Social Networking Technology?
• How Can we Effectively Engage Surge Voters?
• Can we Experimentally, and Quickly, Test the Impact of Television Ads?
• More Trainings, External Communications, and Outreach.
• Continue to Develop Written Communications.
• Enhance Skills of the Progressive Data Community.

2010-2015

• National Progressive and Party Infrastructure, Dec. 2009. Building Integrated, Intelligent Progressive Capacity, 2010-2015, including:
  • America Votes
  • Analyst Institute
  • Atlas
  • Catalist
  • Committee on States
  • Common Purpose Project
  • Democracy Alliance
  • ISSI

• Worked with PICO National Network to "design a test to study the effectiveness of voter registration campaigns within religious congregations."

2016

A Dec. 2015 online job posting for interns listed these "focus areas":

• Political Engagement: This team is our lifeline to the progressive community. We're looking for folks who have an interest in networking and communicating with partners, and who want to hone their writing skills and learn a ton about what really works in politics. Locations: Washington, DC, Denver, CO, or Portland OR.

• Analytics: This team gets down-and-dirty with the data. If you are more technical and want to really boost your skills, this could be a good fit. Location: Washington, DC.

• Research & Development: This team is responsible for pushing the field forward. We develop and test new techniques to enhance the performance of our experiments as well as look back on past experiments to find broad lessons to better inform future tests. We’re all about finding the most effective, efficient, and cheap ways to move the progressive movement forward. Locations: Washington, DC, Boston, MA.

In "Predictions for 2016" in Campaigns & Elections Kevin Collins, Analyst Institute director of research, gave this insight:

I expect that we will see a renaissance in methods for sample construction, recruitment, and statistical adjustment to deliver representative online survey responses.

2016 Internships paying $12/hour are available at three locations:

• Political engagement: Washington, DC; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA
• Analytics: Washington, DC
• R&D: Washington, DC; Boston, MA

Website Feature Additions. June 15, 2016.

People

Employees

Current Analyst Institute people page

• Josh Berezin, Political Director (former Director of Training and Outreach), @joshbzin, jberezin@analystinstitute.org. Portland, Oregon.
• Janay Cody, Senior Research Manager at Analyst Institute and State Voices.
• Kevin Collins, Director of Research, @kwcollins. Listed as one of The Influencers 50 by Campaigns and Elections in Oct. 2014.
• Zachery Crowell, Analyst
• Saul Cunow, Senior Research Manager, @scunow
• Galen Deiz, Analyst
• Katherine Duch, Senior Research Manager. Denver.
• Jeff Ferguson, Analyst. Former intern
• Alex Gold, Senior Analyst
• Daniel Gonzales, Director of Civic Strategy (former Training and Outreach)
• Tate Hausman, Managing Director (former Director of Training and Outreach), @tatehausman. Former Director of Management and Special Projects at MoveOn.org, where he ran experimental voter contact programs. What an Honor: Leading the Analyst Institute.
• Lauren Keane, Director of Civic Engagement. Former Senior Analyst. lkeane@analystinstitute.org. Los Angeles.
• Kathryn Poindexter, Director of Political Strategy, @klpoindexter. blog. (former Training and Outreach)
• Josh Rosmarin, Director of Special Projects (former Deputy Director of Analytics)
• Rachel Silbermann, Community Learning Manager, rsilbermann@analystinstitute.org
• Aaron Strauss, Executive Director, @aaron_strauss. Former targeting director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
• Maya Yair, Research and Development Analyst
• Annie J. Wang, Director of Analytics

Former Employees

• Pete Backof, Special Projects Analyst
• William Brannon, Director of Analytics (2015), @wwbrannon.
• Andrew Gall, a New Organizing Institute Fellow, agall@analystinstitute.org
• Jennifer Green, former Executive Director now with Civis Analytics.
• Josh Kalla, Analyst (2015), @j_kalla
• Debby Kermer, Analyst
• Terence Leong, Analyst, tleong@analystinstitute.org (2015)
• Joel Middleton, Senior Analyst, jmiddleton@analystinstitute.org (2015)
• Chris Piotrowski, Analyst
• Todd Rogers, Former Executive Director, @Todd_Rogers_, trogers@analystinstitute.org. Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School.
• Meredith Sadin, Senior Analyst
• Regina Schwartz, Former Deputy Director and founding member, rschwartz@analystinstitute.org, @ginaschwartz.
• Meg Schwenzfeier, Analyst (2015), @_Schwenzfeier
• Rory Slatko, Training and Outreach Intern (2015)
• John Ternovski, Former Director of Analytics
• Emily Thorson, Senior Analyst (2009), @emilythorson
• Chris Warshaw, Senior Analyst

Board of Directors

Current Analyst Institute people page

• Michael Podhorzer, Chair. AFL-CIO Political Director, @Mike_AFL. On Catalist's board of directors.
• Hal Malchow, MSHC. Author of Political Targeting: In 1995, Hal Malchow used the first microtargeting techniques to help Ron Wyden win his special election for the U.S. Senate. "Democratic mega-firm MSHC shutting its doors", The Hill, Oct 27, 2010.
• Laura Quinn, CEO of Catalist, which maintains a national database of all voting-age individuals in the US. Video: Laura Quinn: Data for Political Change, Tides Foundation Momentum 2009 conference. Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Vice President Al Gore, as Director of the Democratic Technology and Communications Committee for the Democratic Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate.
• Jeff Malachowsky, Program Director, Civil Society Program, Wellspring Advisors, which focuses on civic participation and voting rights, and judicial independence and selection. Former director of State of Change. Former director Center for Responsive Politics. Co-founder and co-director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics, and of the Western States Center.
• Todd Rogers, Behavioral scientist and Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Founding Executive Director of the Analyst Institute.
• Mark Steitz, Founder and Senior Principal at TSD Communications, @msteitz. Co-founded Copernicus Analyst (now part of Catalist). Serves on the Board of Catalist, which he helped found.

Former Board Members

• Jeff Robinson, ACORN; Citizens Services, Inc.

Senior Advisors (2009-2012)

• Chris Mann
• Judith Freeman, @judithfreeman, Co-Founder, Board Member, and former Executive Director of New Organizing Institute.
• David Nickerson

Affiliations are included for Board members for identification purposes only.

Contributing Consultant Roundtable

The Analyst Institute "created the consultant roundtable to build a broader and deeper relationship between consultants and evidence from field testing. Consultants are an integral part of the campaign world, and should have the resources they need from field testing to help run the best campaigns possible."

Participating Firms

• American Directions Group, Phone/Survey Research, info@adgcampaigns.com
• AMM Political, Phones
• Bergmann Zwerdling Direct, Mail, bzd@bergmannzwerdling.com
• Catalist LLC, Data, @Catalist_US, info@catalist.us
• Chism Strategies, Direct Voter Contact, @ChismStrat, brad.chism@chismstrategies.com
• Dover Strategy Group
• Fieldworks
• Greenlight Media Strategies, Mail, Laura@GreenlightMediaStrategies.com. @Emily_Passini
• JVA Campaigns, Mail & Digital, info@jvacampaigns.com
• Lake Research Partners
• Mack Sumner, Mail & Digital, kmack@macksumner.com
• Mammen Group, Inc, Mail, amammen@mammengroupinc.com
• Moxie Media
• New Media Firm
• Petel and Company, Mail, karen@petelandcompany.com
• Resonance Campaigns
• Rising Tide Interactive, Digital, stephanie@risingtideinteractive.com
• Stones' Phones
• The Campaign Workshop, Mail/Digital, jfuld@thecampaignworkshop.com
• The Chadderdon Group, Mail, Target Communications, info@chadderdongroup.com
• The Pivot, Mail, info@thepivot.com
• The Strategy Group, Mail, Targeted Communications, mbrilliant@strategygroup.com
• Wildfire Contact
• Winding Creek Group
• Winning Mark, Mail and Digital, info@winningmark.com

Known Payments to Analyst Institute

• Atlantic Philanthropies, $200,000 in 2010.
• The 2010 IRS 990 for the AFL-CIO (EIN 53-0228172) showed $11,725 in "non-cash assistance" for rental space.

From IRS 8872 forms:

• Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) (EIN 52-1870839).
  • $10,000 on 4/29/2009.
  • $5,000 on 5/21/2010.
  • $5,000 on 12/21/2011 for "subscription fee"
  • $22,000 on 10/1/2014 for "consultant"
• NextGen Climate Action Committee-Nonfederal (EIN 46-3201383).
  • $2750 on 9/24/2014 for "Data Analytics Services"
  • $1197 on 11/26/2014 for "Data Analytics Services"
• $22,500 from Civic Innovation USA Inc in 2014 via ProPublica.

Known Contributions by Analyst Institute

• $5000 to EMILY's List Non-Federal (EIN 52-1391360). IRS 8872 form, dated 7/17/2009, p. 11.

Publications

• Weekly AG Digest to share new research with the Analyst Group community
• 2011 Expanded GOTV Checklist, including
  • Talk voters through a voting plan
  • Emphasize high expected turnout in a given election (not low expected turnout)
  • Remind voters of their previous commitments to vote
  • Find ways to remind targets that voting records are public
  • Hold targets accountable
• Voter Registration Literature Review. 2013?
• Latino Voter Research Literature Review (24 pages). In addition to Analyst Institute logo, the logo of the Latino Engagement Fund appeared on each page along with line "Investing in a permanent progressive America." 2013?

• GOTV Best Practices, 2012 Edition.
• Integrated Voter Engagement in Social Service Agencies, Service Providers and Civic Engagement (SPaCE) Project, 2012 Report. Page 21: Appendix C. Analyst Institute Experiment Results Memo.
• Power calculator Shiny app.

Presentations

• GOTV Best Practices: Experiments Make Us More Effective, presentation by Regina Schwartz to Democracy for Alliance Night School.
• Regina Schwartz on Best Practices: Testing the 2008 Pennsylvania Primary GOTV Calls, Netroots Nation 2009, Day 3
• BootCamp 2009: GOTV Best Practices, video of Gina Schwartz at BootCamp 2009 at George Washington University published by New Organizing Institute.
• Netroots Nation participation, Regina Schwartz, 2011-2013.
  • Video: Regina Schwartz of Analyst Institute at Netroots Nation 2011
  • Randomized Controlled Experiment Results to Win Your Campaign, 2012
  • Beyond the A/B test: Using Social Science Theory to Get More from Your List
  • Political Consultants Don’t Want Donors to Know: How to Win Elections with Data-driven Field Operations (video)
  • What the F*** Do We Know? Applying Scientific Research to Elections
• Netroots Nation 2014: Field-tested best practices for GOTV in 2014, Josh Berezin. 2014.

Articles about Analyst Institute

• Nudge the Vote, New York Times, Oct. 2010.
• The Death of the Hunch, Slate, Sasha Issenberg, May 22, 2012.
• Can Science Plant Brain Seeds That Make You Vote?, NPR, July 2012.
• Academic ‘Dream Team’ Helped Obama’s Effort. New York Times, Nov. 2012.
• Liberal Stealth Groups Paved Obama Win, Newsmax, Nov. 2012.
• Webinar Recap: Get Your Voters to Commit to Vote. 2013.
• Obama's Not-So-Big-Data. Pacific Standard, Jan. 2014.
• The Analyst Institute & Catalist. 2015.

Related

• Experiments in Online Advocacy, Nirmal Mankani and Ethan Roeder, New Organizing Institute.
• David W Nickerson and Todd Rogers. Do You Have a Voting Plan? Implementation Intentions, Voter Turnout, and Organic Plan Making, Association for Psychological Science, 21(2) 194-199, 2010.
• Todd Rogers and Adan Acevdeo. Voters vote, non-voters don’t. Why is this so hard for pollsters?, Washington Post, Jan. 22, 2016.