Mission
Common Cause is a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.
Now with more than 350,000 members and supporters and 36 state organizations, Common Cause remains committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in democracy.
Programs
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History
We must bring about a renaissance in politics...Does that seem inordinately ambitous? It is. This is no time for small plans. - John Gardner
John Gardner, a Republican, came to Washington, DC to serve as the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat. Gardner later became chair of the National Urban Coalition, a group advocating for poor, minority, and working-class residents in urban areas.
During his time in the nation's capital, a city teeming with special interest groups, he observed "everybody's organized but the people." That thought formed the seed of Common Cause, which Gardner established in August 1970 to represent citizens' interests in Washington. Within six months, the organization had more than 100,000 members, many of them joining to oppose the Vietnam War.
Since that time, Common Cause has been involved in many of the most pressing issues of the day. The organization led fights for campaign finance reforms, ethics and accountability in government, and open government at the national, state and local levels. We joined with coalitions fighting for civil rights legislation, ending wasteful weapons programs and working for reforms to our nation's system of voting.
Click here for a history of Common Cause issues. This is an informal listing of nearly every issue Common Cause has worked for since its founding in 1970.
Please visit PBS for video clips about John Gardner and the founding of Common Cause.
About
- Website
- www.commoncause.org
- Location
- 1133 19th Street
Washington, DC 20036 - Basic Info
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Founded: 1970
EIN: 52-6078441
Tax Status: 501(c)(4)
Annual Budget: $6,599,530 
