About Donuts + Democracy
Donuts + Democracy's mission is to register, educate, and mobilize one of the most powerful and underinvested voting blocs in America: young people. By partnering with a nationwide network of over 100 established youth organizations and meeting young people where they are, Donuts + Democracy breaks down barriers to voting, one donut and one conversation at a time. Check out our latest reel!
The Best Investment in Democracy: Young Voters
Young voters are key to winning elections. The right knows this and has significantly increased its investment in targeting young voters in the last six years. Here’s why:
Massive Pool of Eligible Voters: There are 50 million eligible 18-to-29-year-olds in the United States. They are the most persuadable, most diverse, and most progressive voting bloc.
Registration Gap = Participation Gap: When young people are registered to vote, they vote at nearly the same rates as people over 30. Yet, nearly half of eligible young voters - 24 million - are not registered or engaged because they face significant obstacles to voting.
Electoral Impact: Young voters swing elections. In 2020, young voters turned out and delivered a Democratic trifecta. In 2024, young voter turnout dropped and swung to the right, delivering a Republican trifecta. In 2025, young voters were the only age group to swing to the left and delivered decisive Democratic wins.
The Gap: Structural Barriers & The Right Outspending the Left
Obstacles, Not Apathy: In 2024, 76% of eligible young voters said they did not vote because they lacked information, faced logistical or structural obstacles, or believed their vote did not matter. Only 24% said they did not vote because of the candidates.
Funding Asymmetry: In the past six years, donors have invested over $1 billion in right-wing nonprofits that register and mobilize young voters on college and high school campuses. The left has spent a fraction of that amount, and campaigns are not equipped to help young people overcome the significant barriers to registration and voting. Donuts + Democracy is.
Donuts + Democracy: Closing the Investment & Engagement Gap
Founded in October 2024 by a lawyer mom and her Gen Z daughter, Donuts + Democracy uses a high-impact model that leverages relational organizing, trusted peer-to-peer engagement, and fun to overcome structural obstacles to voting, as well as the right’s massive voter suppression tactics. Donuts + Democracy works to eliminate barriers to voting with donuts as the first step to opening the door to important conversations about voting.
Proven Reach: Despite a tiny team and shoestring budget, Donuts + Democracy has engaged over 180,000 eligible young voters at 1,000 events on 300 college campuses in 38 states in less than two years.
Nationwide Network: D+D partners with 100+ youth GOTV organizations, including the NAACP, College Democrats, Planned Parenthood, Vote Riders, Voters of Tomorrow, Students Demand Action, Swing Left, Rock the Vote, HeadCount, Red, Wine & Blue and many more.
Donuts Increase Voter Engagement by 10X: Where a typical campus voter engagement event draws 20 students, a donut-fueled Donuts + Democracy event draws 200.
Most Cost-Effective GOTV Strategy: Registering, educating, and making a vote plan with a student costs just $2 per young voter.
Relational Organizing Advantage: Trusted peer-to-peer conversations are 2.5 times more effective than traditional outreach from strangers.
Gen Z-Guided Strategy: Instead of hiring expensive consultants, Donuts + Democracy works closely with youth organizers and meets monthly with its Student Advisory Board to build and execute programs that mobilize young voters at scale.
Flexible Operational Structure: Donuts + Democracy has the ability to work with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and PACs under its fiscal sponsorship.
Midterm Plan: Mobilize Young Voters
In 2026, Donuts + Democracy will scale up significantly and leverage its nationwide network of organizers in critical states to deliver wins across key House, Senate, and state races.
Target Reach: Mobilize 250,000+ young voters in 60+ key competitive House districts and Senate and state races.
Campus and Community Footprint: Host 750+ events across college campuses and high schools, and deploy mobile voter registration Donut Wagons in competitive districts and states.