#USA #Washington #NGP VAN #API Development #Progressive Campaigns

Major Investment in Technology for Progressive Campaigns

NGP VAN, a prominent technology provider for Democratic and progressive campaigns, has made headlines with the announcement of a significant new investment aimed at enhancing its capabilities in the API and data product space. This initiative marks a strategic move to create the company’s first-ever dedicated API and Data Products Team, driven by a seven-figure financial commitment. The primary goal of this new team is to fortify the infrastructure that supports various integrations within the progressive technology ecosystem, aligning with the demands and expectations of NGP VAN's users.

The New Engineering Team

The newly formed team will consist entirely of union positions, underscoring NGP VAN's commitment to labor rights and workplace equity. This specialized group will focus on enhancing API capabilities and introducing new data products based on direct feedback from clients and partners. Their efforts will help further establish the reliability of NGP VAN's APIs, which have become indispensable tools for building effective workflows and applications in the progressive sector.

Chelsea Peterson Thompson, General Manager of NGP VAN, emphasized the importance of these APIs, stating, “Our customers and partners have been clear NGP VAN's APIs are mission critical to modern organizing.” By making this investment, NGP VAN aims to demonstrate its accountability to the progressive ecosystem, ensuring timely deliveries and creating an API that is engineered to scale alongside future campaigning and advocacy efforts.

Supporting the Progressive Ecosystem

This strategic investment is not merely about enhancing internal capabilities; it reinforces NGP VAN's role in empowering campaigns, political parties, political action committees (PACs), and other progressive organizations. This move also acknowledges and supports the numerous third-party tools that depend on NGP VAN's APIs, ranging from mobile communication solutions to digital advertising platforms and analytics tools. By delivering robust API solutions, NGP VAN is positioning itself to better help democratic campaigners and advocacy initiatives navigate complex organizational landscapes.

The API and Data Products Team will also build upon previous accomplishments, including the expansion of API rate limits introduced in 2024. These enhancements have allowed for quicker data synchronization between various platforms, thereby maintaining the integrity of the operation while improving the overall user experience.

Enhancing Functionalities

Most recently, NGP VAN has rolled out a multitude of API enhancements, particularly focusing on the Membership endpoints. These upgrades include new features such as:

• - Bulk Import Method for Membership Type: This allows users to manage membership types in bulk, simplifying the data handling process.
• - Support for Member Type and Affiliates Custom Fields via Bulk Import: This feature provides greater customization options for integration with various campaigns.
• - Ability to Rename Custom Field Values via PUT Method: This allows more flexibility in how data is labeled and organized.
• - Expose Contributions Mapping Type: This feature enhances tracking and reporting capabilities for contributions.

These recent updates illustrate NGP VAN's unyielding commitment to adapting its APIs to be more flexible, powerful, and user-responsive. The organization is dedicated to ensuring its technology meets the evolving needs of its user base, thus fostering more effective campaign strategies and outcomes.

Future Plans

As part of this initiative, NGP VAN plans to hire three seasoned software engineers to kickstart the API and Data Products Team. Individuals with a background in building and scaling APIs are encouraged to apply, as the organization seeks to bolster its engineering expertise further. This newly formed team will work in conjunction with ongoing investments into modernization efforts for third-party platforms and will build on the broader engineering capabilities already present within NGP VAN.

NGP VAN has consistently stood out as a unionized employer, reinforcing its commitment not only to technological innovation but to its workforce as well. By harnessing the strength of its people and the latest technological advancements, NGP VAN strives to be at the forefront of empowering progressive campaigns across the nation.

About NGP VAN

With an impressive track record, NGP VAN has cemented its position as the leading technology platform for democratic and progressive causes. It tirelessly innovates to provide the tools needed by campaigners, advocates, and trailblazers working towards equality, justice, democracy, and various critical issues—including campaigns for climate reform, reproductive freedom, and racial equality. From national Democratic committees and progressive organizations to labor unions and advocacy groups, NGP VAN continues to support a diverse array of clients dedicated to progressive change.