Editing Democracy for America (section)

== History ==

=== Foundation and early history (2001–2004) ===
Dean created the PAC '''Fund for a Healthy America''' in 2001 in [[Montpelier, Vermont|Montpelier]] in advance of a planned campaign for president.<ref>The Buying of the President 2004: Center for Public Integrity http://projects.publicintegrity.org/bop2004/candidate.aspx?cid=8 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403074631/http://projects.publicintegrity.org/bop2004/candidate.aspx?cid=8 |date=2009-04-03 }}</ref><ref>{{ Citation
 | last=Clift
 | first=Eleanor
 | title=Howard Who?
 | publisher=Newsweek
 | date=January 4, 2002
 | url =http://www.newsweek.com/id/63256
 | access-date = 2009-07-12
 }}</ref> In March 2004, following the conclusion of Dean's presidential campaign, the organization was renamed "Democracy for America."<ref>FEC Amended Statement of Organization, Org. # C00370007, March 18, 2004 available at {{cite web |url=http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00370007 |title=Reports Image Index for Committee Id C00370007 |access-date=2009-08-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709141050/http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00370007 |archive-date=2012-07-09 }}</ref>

Following his unsuccessful run for the [[2004 Democratic primary|Democratic nomination]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]], Dean used the organization to build on the grassroots momentum for [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidates around the country and for his successful campaign to become chair of the [[Democratic National Committee]].<ref>{{ Citation
 | last=Keil
 | first=Richard
 | title=Dean becomes Chairman of Democratic Party
 | publisher=Bloomberg.com
 | date=February 12, 2005
 | url =https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aAIK1420ODjU&refer=us
 | access-date = 2009-07-12
 }}</ref> DFA used the Internet-based, grassroots organizing that Dean had created for his presidential campaign to help like-minded Democrats get elected.<ref>{{ Citation
 | last=Mercurio
 | first=John
 | title=Democracy (Dean) for America
 | publisher=CNN.com Morning Grind
 | date=May 6, 2004
 | url =http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/18/thu/index.html
 | access-date = 2009-07-12
 }}</ref> In 2004 the organization endorsed and supported Democrats (known as the [[Dean Dozen]]) on the federal, state, and county levels.

=== 2005–2022 ===
In 2005, Dean turned over control of the organization to his brother, [[Jim Dean (DFA)|Jim Dean]], when he became DNC Chair.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hagen |first=Lisa |date=2016-11-11 |title=Howard Dean leaves role with progressive group he founded |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/305627-howard-dean-leaves-role-with-progressive-group-he-founded/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref> Since then, Democracy for America has helped elect over 600 progressives into office, including President [[Barack Obama]], while building their membership to over a million like-minded progressives across all fifty states. In 2007, DFA became the first [[Carbon neutrality|carbon-neutral]] political action committee in the United States.<ref name="carbon">{{cite web|url=http://www.energyrefuge.com/blog/carbon-offsets-what-democracy-for/|title=Carbon Offsets: What Democracy for America is doing|website=www.energyrefuge.com|access-date=2019-06-17|archive-date=2019-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617223837/http://www.energyrefuge.com/blog/carbon-offsets-what-democracy-for/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Arshad Hasan]] served as executive director from 2007 to 2013, after which [[Charles R. Chamberlain]] became executive director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/charles-chamberlain-new-democracy-for-america_n_3436045|title=Top Progressive Staffer Joins Dean Group|first=John|last=Celock|date=13 June 2013|website=HuffPost}}</ref> Effective January 1, 2019, Chamberlain was named chair, while [[Yvette Simpson]] was named chief executive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Democracy for America's Jim Dean steps down, appoints Yvette Simpson new Chief Executive |url=https://www.democracyforamerica.com/site/page/democracy-for-americas-jim-dean-steps-down-appoints-yvette-simpson-new-chie |publisher=Democracy for America |date=November 14, 2018 |access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref> Fundraising efforts collapsed under Simpson. In December 2022, Simpson announced she would step down from the organization, which was no longer solvent and was dissolved. The associated 501(c)4, Democracy for America Advocacy Fund, also known as DFA Advocacy Fund, continued limited operations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Democracy for America on track to shut down |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/13/democracy-for-america-howard-dean-00073770 |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wine" />