Andy and Deborah Rappaport

Andy and Deborah Rappaport are founders of the NDN, originally the New Democrat Network, and its New Politics Institute. They also founded the New Progressive Coalition. They are, according to their biography on the New Politics Institute website, "emerging as two of the most important national leaders for progressive politics, Andy and Deborah are focused on building the progressive movement for the long term through intellectual, financial and strategic support of organizations dedicated to facing the challenges of the 21st century political battlefield. Andy is a partner with August Capital in Menlo Park, and Deborah is a Portola Valley school board member, Andy has more than 15 years of experience as a founder, investor, and/or director of venture-backed start-ups, and has served on more than 30 public and private company boards."

On July 25, 2004, Matt Bai wrote in the New York Times, "Andy Rappaport made his millions as a venture capitalist, searching out what he calls 'ideas that change the world.' ...  Rappaport is also, increasingly, an avid investor in liberal causes, and in this context he might be called a political venture capitalist. Rappaport and his wife, Deborah, whose philanthropic activities in recent years include several million dollars in donations to art museums and after-school music programs, have committed at least $5 million this year -- so far -- to support a bevy of fledgling liberal groups, like Music for America and Punkvoter.com, aimed at mobilizing younger voters."

Rappaport Family Foundation

 * http://www.rappaportfamilyfoundation.org/

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 * New Democrat Network
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