Welcome to the INNOVATION LAB

Send us your ideas for new projects now!

We believe that you, our members, have the knowledge, skills, and creative ideas that we so urgently need to respond to the threats to democracy we now face, to protect free and fair elections, and to win elections in 2025 and beyond.

The Innovation Lab is a new CGB initiative, an incubator that helps transform your ideas and vision into member-led action.

Do you have an idea?  Let’s start building the future together!

Once you share your idea, a member of the Innovation Lab leadership team will be in touch with you to discuss it.

What does the Innovation Lab do? 

The Innovation Lab solicits and reviews proposals from CGB members, then supports projects by providing guidance, access to CGB’s membership, and connections that help with building teams, project planning, and implementation.

Together, we’ll create…

  • More effective ways to help Democrats win elections

  • Better approaches to protect free and fair elections

  • Innovations to help CGB pursue “a more just American democracy”

Things to think about

We’re looking for creativity, so we don’t want to place a lot of hurdles in front of you or to limit your thinking about how best to make a difference. Here are some questions intended to help you develop your thinking:

  • Why is your idea intriguing? Can you explain it simply? Does it energize you?  What about it is exciting?  What’s the answer to “Why do it?” that motivates you?

  • What impact might it have? What results do you expect, and who will benefit?  Does that impact seem on target with CGB’s goals?

  • Is CGB a good home for it? Does it fit our strengths, or would another organization be better suited? Are others already doing it or natural partners for us?

  • What leadership and/or special skills are needed? Do you have the time and skills needed to lead the project?  Are there special skills that the project needs in order to be successful?  Do you have ideas about where, or in who, we’ll find them?

  • What’s next? What do you envision as the next steps in developing and/or testing this idea?  Do you see fundamental questions whose answers would substantially alter your approach to the project?

FAQs

  • To give you a sense of the projects we’re exploring, take a look at the Innovation Lab’s prospective and current projects. Don’t let this list limit your thinking, though. We’re hoping it will help open up your thinking. Then perhaps you’ll have a new idea to suggest via this form.

  • It would be GREAT if every idea came to us fully formed and ready to go.  It would be great if you are ready to lead it and have all the people, know-how, energy and time that’s required.  We know that’s unlikely, and it’s where CGB can help – by getting other members involved and by sharing our knowledge, contacts, and enthusiasm.

    We’ve received ideas with interesting and important goals but without solid plans. In some cases, like around messaging and media, we’ve received multiple ideas that are different but related.  These situations are great opportunities to form a working group to create a focused project by refining, combining, and sometimes reimagining ideas.

  • No!  There will certainly be established strategies used by others that are new to us, or new partnerships that could enhance, maybe even transform, our impact.  That said, we should be careful about replicating work that others already do well without compelling reasons for doing so.

  • Click here for a list of Innovation Lab projects to see if it helps trigger new ideas or motivate you to get involved in a project already underway. Then use this form to get involved.

  • We’ll take a look, follow up with you, and likely end up thinking about your idea in one of five categories:

    🌟  Core to CGB — So essential that it should be implemented within CGB’s core operation rather than as a separate and somewhat independent project.

    ✔  Go for It — It’s a strong fit with CGB’s mission so let’s move it forward with IL support.

    🔄  Develop Further — Needs refinement, additional team members, or alignment with other project ideas before advancing.

    ＝ Already Exists — Aligned with our mission, but replicates work already done well by others.

    🚫  Not for CGB — Not aligned closely enough with our mission or priorities, or beyond our capacity.

    We’ll work with you to figure out next steps based on the project’s needs.


  • No. Think of these as member-led projects supported by the Innovation Lab. CGB leadership and the IL team play a coaching, rather than management, role. We won’t be the captains of our teams. As coaches, we’ll aim for our very-capable “players” to help develop – and captain – the projects that add to CGB’s future playbook.

  • The Innovation Lab has a growing team which, along with CGB’s leadership, will support projects and their leaders by helping:

    • Refine ideas and define next steps

    • Recruit CGB members with the skills and passion to help

    • Connect project teams with experts, resources, and partners

    • Provide strategic guidance, from research to evaluation

  • Although we do share brief descriptions of the projects on our website, which is public, your privacy matters, and we will not share people’s names publicly.

  • Not yet. We’re just getting started. But depending on the promise of key initiatives we may establish and Innovation fund to provide financial assistance for their success.

  • Over time, the list of Innovation Lab projects will include information about what help each project needs and how others can get involved. We'll keep CGB members informed about opportunities to work on Lab projects as they become available.

Still have unanswered questions?
Please email innovationlab@crimsongoesblue.org.