Brian Derrick

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  • Political Strategist, Civic Activist, and Tech Founder
  • Founder & CEO of Oath - a civic tech platform

Political strategist, activist, and tech founder Brian Derrick is transforming civic engagement with his message: “Stop doomscrolling. Start doing something.” Derrick has built a large online following with his digestible breakdowns of news and politics, including policy, election cycles and voting rights, equality, and more. He is the Founder and CEO of Oath – a civic tech platform supported by Higher Ground Labs. Oath has raised millions of dollars for and engaged hundreds of thousands of people in state and local elections. Derrick is in-demand with groups including Generator Collective, Eleanor’s Legacy, The Next 50, Columbia Law School, and more.

A seasoned political consultant, Derrick has consulted on campaigns from city council to president – most notably for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marti Gould Cummings (NYC City Council). Derrick is also a leader in the nonprofit sector. In development roles at Lambda Legal, the country's oldest LGBT civil rights organization, he launched new programs for the next generation of philanthropists. His activism has had lasting impact at organizations including Pelotonia, Equitas Health, and others. Leveraging his experience speaking to individuals and corporations, Derrick offers substantial insight on today’s most pressing issues.

 



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Past Hosts Include:
  • American Democracy Summit
  • Triplelift
  • The Next 50 Foundation
  • Vocal Media
  • Ziff Davis
  • Ogilvy
  • Workshop/APD
  • Way Forward
  • Generator Collective
  • Girl and the Gov
Brian Derrick speaks on Build back better, was the filibuster fight a mistake, election integrity, and more - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Brian Derrick
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Creators are King: Strategies for Harnessing the Power of New Media

Young people spend as much as 8 hours consuming video content per day. Communicating effectively with these audiences requires a strategy to work with creators and influencers in an authentic and strategic way to share your message on new platforms. Understanding and leveraging the power of social m ...

Young people spend as much as 8 hours consuming video content per day. Communicating effectively with these audiences requires a strategy to work with creators and influencers in an authentic and strategic way to share your message on new platforms. Understanding and leveraging the power of social media, digital media, and content creators is essential to reaching a growing portion of consumers, employees, and voters.

Digital Storytelling: How to Build Online Narratives that Change the World

BRIAN DERRICK is an expert in using digital storytelling as a way to change real world behavior. Over the last five years, Brian has reached tens of millions of people and raised millions of dollars without a single dollar of paid advertising by sharing moving and thoughtful stories about building c ...

BRIAN DERRICK is an expert in using digital storytelling as a way to change real world behavior. Over the last five years, Brian has reached tens of millions of people and raised millions of dollars without a single dollar of paid advertising by sharing moving and thoughtful stories about building community and collective power. This session focuses on strategies that can help you craft online narratives that advance your goals. 

An End to DoomScrolling: Celebrating the Wins Even in Dark Times

BRIAN DERRICK is known for his upbeat attitude and dedication to what he calls "optimistic activism." Much of modern politics is motivated by anger and opposition, but Optimistic Activism changes the paradigm to ground us in what is possible when we work together strategically. Drawing on lessons fr ...

BRIAN DERRICK is known for his upbeat attitude and dedication to what he calls "optimistic activism." Much of modern politics is motivated by anger and opposition, but Optimistic Activism changes the paradigm to ground us in what is possible when we work together strategically. Drawing on lessons from the Civil Rights movement and the fight for LGBT equality, Brian channels a new kind of activism that finds strength in hope. 

The Fast Changing Landscape of LGBT Rights

More than 600 anti-LGBT bills were introduced in state legislatures in 2023. But why now? What do they do and what can be done about it? BRIAN DERRICK provides the simplest breakdown out there of what any LGBT allies need to know about the newest front in the fight for equality and what to expect ne ...

More than 600 anti-LGBT bills were introduced in state legislatures in 2023. But why now? What do they do and what can be done about it? BRIAN DERRICK provides the simplest breakdown out there of what any LGBT allies need to know about the newest front in the fight for equality and what to expect next. 

Getting Involved in Our Own Communities

Inspiring organizer BRIAN DERRICK motivates audiences of all kinds in this powerhouse talk. Derrick breaks down major headline issues – from policy to human right issues – and reveals how people can get involved and make change on a local level by investing right where they are in their own communit ...

Inspiring organizer BRIAN DERRICK motivates audiences of all kinds in this powerhouse talk. Derrick breaks down major headline issues – from policy to human right issues – and reveals how people can get involved and make change on a local level by investing right where they are in their own communities.

The Fight for Voting Rights

Leveraging the lessons from his work with campaigns at every level, political strategist BRIAN DERRICK offers an uplifting outlook on the work ahead to protect and expand voting rights. Offering inspiring examples of local organizing, Derrick shares insights about using data, community service, and ...

Leveraging the lessons from his work with campaigns at every level, political strategist BRIAN DERRICK offers an uplifting outlook on the work ahead to protect and expand voting rights. Offering inspiring examples of local organizing, Derrick shares insights about using data, community service, and relational organizing to make an impact.

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<p><strong>Brian Derrick, founder of Oath, revolutionizes political fundraising at Higher Ground Labs</strong></p>

Brian Derrick, founder of Oath, revolutionizes political fundraising at Higher Ground Labs

Shrewd political strategist, inspiring activist, and tech founder BRIAN DERRICK is altering the landscape of grassroot change with Oath, a donor-first platform recently selected for the prestigious Higher Ground Labs 2023 Accelerator cohort. Leveraging his background in the nonprofit sector with Lambda Legal, Derrick has raised millions of dollars and engaged hundreds of thousands in civic philanthropy through Oath. Seeking to not only make a splash in donor enablement but also donor empowerment, Derrick is a keen educator on contemporary political topics such as policy, election cycles, voting rights, equality, and more. His activism has already made lasting change at organizations such as Pelotonia, Equitas Health, and more. For any organization looking to hear from one of the brightest voices in politics today, Derrick provides an uplifting overview of where we are, where we’re headed, and how to kickstart change.

Watch Brian Derrick in conversation about democracy with Lancaster County Democrats >>

Watch Brian Derrick speak on integrity in politics with HWA >>

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Biography

Brian Derrick is a political strategist, activist, influencer, and tech founder. He has built a large online following with his digestible breakdowns of news and politics. He is also the Founder and CEO of Oath, a tech platform that has raised millions of dollars for candidates in state and local elections. Under his leadership, Oath grew from a small advising firm to a national force in politics with clients at the highest reaches of Hollywood and Big Tech.

Before Oath, Brian worked as a consultant and staffer for candidates running for City Council, President of the United States and everything in between. He worked with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, Representative Ben Bowman, Mandela Barnes, Marti Allen-Cummings, and more. His finance and communications expertise helped propel candidates to victory across the country.

Derrick is also a leader in the nonprofit sector. In Development roles at Lambda Legal, the country's oldest LGBT civil rights organization, he launched new programs for the next generation of philanthropists. His activism has had lasting impact at organizations including Pelotonia, Equitas Health, and others. Brian is from Loveland, Ohio and is an alumnus from The Ohio State University. He currently resides in New York City.