People For the American Way is a national progressive advocacy organization founded in 1981 to counter the rise of the religious right and defend constitutional liberties. Its stated mission is to protect democracy and equal justice by mobilizing public campaigns, media and legal advocacy to resist authoritarian and discriminatory policies and to defend voting rights, free expression, and separation of church and state.
Works on judicial nominations and court reform, voting rights and election protection, civil rights and anti-discrimination measures, separation of church and state and religious liberty, reproductive and LGBTQ rights, anti-censorship and anti-book-ban efforts in education, combating far-right extremism and disinformation, and related democracy-protection legislation
Primarily funded through individual donations and membership dues, philanthropic foundation grants and major donor contributions, plus fundraising events and tax-deductible gifts routed to its affiliated foundation
People For the American Way Foundation, People For the American Way Voters Alliance / Action Fund, the Right Wing Watch project; notable figures associated with the organization include founder Norman Lear and current president Svante Myrick
Non-profit advocacy organization (organized as a national 501(c)(4) social welfare group with affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation and related political entities)
