Moderate Power Venture Fund: 2026 Request for Proposals

About Third Way

Third Way is the driving force on the center left for high-impact ideas and advocacy. We champion moderate policy and political solutions on behalf of the vast American middle, acting as a critical bulwark against political extremism. Our approach brings together rigorous policy research, deep knowledge of the people and places that decide majorities, and sophisticated public opinion and messaging data to create strategic advocacy campaigns designed to persuade elected officials and influencers on the defining issues of our time.  

As passionate moderates—or “radical centrists” per the New York Times—our work is not about splitting the difference but about standing for a values-driven, reform-oriented politics that can both deliver electoral power and drive meaningful policy change. We believe in building an opportunity economy that rewards hard work, making progress on social issues to uphold our fundamental freedoms, winning the global clean energy technology race, and securing our safety against evolving 21st century threats. 

MPVF Request for Proposals

The Moderate Power Venture Fund (MPVF) is one of several strategic programs within the Moderate Power Project, Third Way’s bold initiative to champion moderate voices, empower the next generation of center-left leaders, and reclaim control of our politics from the extremes. Launched in 2024, the Venture Fund invests in and supports entrepreneurial projects working to build center-left social capital and political power. 

MPVF is excited to launch our third funding cycle by inviting proposals for ambitious projects led by exceptional leaders that strengthen critical elements of a moderate power infrastructure. Ideal applicants will address gaps in the center-left landscape, focusing on new opportunities rather than duplicating or reshaping existing efforts. Our goal is to maximize the impact of our investment, whether by seeding an entrepreneurial new project, providing an influx of capital to bring an established organization to scale, or anything in between.

Our team will select a handful of groups to receive grants of approximately $50,000 to $250,000 by late May or early June of this year. We will also offer grantees access to a variety of strategic and operational support services, including fiscal sponsorship, HR and/or payroll systems management, strategic advising, technical expertise, physical office space, and more. Projects selected for second-round review will be encouraged to explore these options with the Third Way team.

Selection Criteria

As mentioned above, we seek strategic, innovative work that fills in gaps and strengthens the moderate movement. Eligible projects may take a wide variety of formats: from a pragmatic social media influencer group, to a grassroots organizing project, leadership recruitment effort, rural media platform, tech innovator, and more. We hope to have our horizons expanded by the breadth of innovative applications—particularly in the areas of communication and organizing, where political moderates have struggled to keep pace with the extremes. We are also open to investment in exceptional people; if a dynamic leader with a groundbreaking idea and cohesive plan of action submits an application, it will receive due consideration.

Our team will review each application with the following criteria in mind:

1. Does the project have a compelling vision that will contribute to strategic growth on the center left?
2. Does the project have a unique value-add, or will its work duplicate existing efforts?
3. Will our investment be put to good use and have a significant impact on project development?
   1. Will it be spent by strong leaders with a sound strategic plan?
   2. How will our funds help bring project efforts to scale?
4. What are the short- and long-term project goals?
   1. If project work is successful, what results should we expect to see, and when?
   2. Will there be measurable progress by the end of the funding term, even if only as proof of concept?
5. How does the project mission and team fit into our broader grantee cohort?

Application Process & Timeline

When you are ready, click HERE or follow the link below to access the application form. Priority consideration will go to applications submitted on or before April 1, 2026. 

You can download the full text of our application form here. This is only for reference purposes–you must submit an online application to be considered for funding.

We plan to contact promising applicants for second-round review by mid- to late-April, and to select our final investment portfolio and disperse funds by late May or early June of this year.