History

In 2004, Howard Dean changed the political landscape by raising an unprecedented number of small-dollar donations and mobilizing tens of thousands of grassroots volunteers.

Frustrated by the strategic and technological shortcomings of the campaign, but determined to build on the legacy of Dean’s groundbreaking effort, four alumni of the campaign’s online team founded Blue State Digital to develop tools and strategic services that would empower campaigns and cause-related organizations to build meaningful action-oriented communities.

BSD is best known for its involvement in Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. In 2008, BSD co-founder Joe Rospars served as the new media director for Obama for America. Powered by the BSD Online Tools, Obama for America raised more than $500 million online, mobilized millions of volunteers, and built an unprecedented community of 13 million individual supporters that helped propel President Obama into office. Read the Obama for America case study »

Today, BSD’s global team supports nonprofits and NGOs, cultural institutions, and commercial ventures in industries including media, health care, sports and entertainment, and consumer products. Our staff of 130 brings decades of experience and expertise from a broad cross-section of industries and practice areas, including politics, publishing, design and production, health care, legal, PR/communications, film, and advertising. Our staff members have served as aides to senators and members of Congress; have advised major political figures, CEOs, and celebrities; and have managed direct-response fundraising, advocacy, and communications campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and major nonprofit organizations. In December 2008, we opened an office in London to serve our increasing roster of European clients.