Northwest Progressive Institute

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The Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI) is a left wing think tank based in Redmond, Washington, founded in 2003 and incorporated in 2005. It uses technology, public policy research, and political advocacy to advance progressive causes in the Pacific Northwest region (the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) as well as across the United States. It describes itself as "a netroots powered strategy center working to raise America's quality of life through innovative research and imaginative advocacy."^[3]

NPI was founded on August 22, 2003, by activist Andrew Villeneuve, who had previously created a site called Permanent Defense in February 2002 to oppose initiatives sponsored by Tim Eyman and other conservatives.^[4] Eyman's political action committee at the time was known as Permanent Offense, which was the inspiration for the name Permanent Defense.

Villeneuve's experience working against Tim Eyman's Initiative 776 convinced him that a larger umbrella organization was needed to foster meaningful public dialogue about the long-term well-being of the Pacific Northwest. This realization led Villeneuve to sketch out a plan for an organization with a broader focus.

Since its founding, the organization has launched several online publications, advocated for and against numerous ballot measures, sponsored events to organize activists, and researched the cost and consequences of cutting funding for public services. NPI formally incorporated as a nonprofit in March 2005.^[5]

The organization maintains a list of major milestones at its website.^[6]