Marty Kearns
Executive Director
Marty pioneered the integration of network-centric principles into civic organizing and social change work. He drives the strategy, vision and the development of Netcentric Campaigns, working with advocacy leaders from nonprofits and foundations to further their understanding of the powerful role networks of people can play in all elements of their work.
Marty leads Netcentric’s product design, project oversight, evaluation, development of advocacy network theory and strategic business planning. One of Netcentric’s founders, Marty has been with the organization for nearly 18 years and works with staff on all advocacy networks supported by Netcentric. These networks have played a vital role in moving change forward in a wide range of movements, including to achieve progressive victories in Maryland, support leaders in the public health space, reduce pollution in Pennsylvania and reverse childhood obesity nationwide.
In addition, Marty oversaw Green Media Toolshed, which for 12 years offered communications tools for the environmental movement that allowed advocates to spread their message more effectively and efficiently. GMT offered a professional suite of tools, strategic advice, training, and services to more than 300 organizations and more than 1,000 communication staff, helping them connect with media and save millions of dollars in the process.
Along with his direct advocacy work, Marty has developed mass online volunteer projects, engaging tens of thousands of volunteers in distributed online research into reporter contact data. For example, he was the founder and catalyst behind MobileActive.org, a first-of-its-kind international conference of people using cell phones for civic engagement. Marty also created the Georgia River Network, served as a grants coordinator at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and has worked on local, state and national political campaigns. He began his career as a Jesuit International Volunteer in Kingston, Jamaica.
A dynamic speaker, Marty is often found at communications, technology and organizing strategy venues supporting progressive civic engagement. He also has authored chapters in Mobilize2.0 and Rebooting America and has been published in Huffington Post, Daily Kos and Personal Democracy Forum. Marty taught a graduate course at Temple University Fox School of Business focused on lessons and innovations’ from the front of Cyberwar for leaders in business and organizing. He has a bachelor’s degree from LeMoyne College and a master’s degree from Yale University.
Netcentric Campaigns builds much of its capacity through fellows, network partners, and collaborators working directly within the advocacy networks we support. Rather than relying on a large centralized staff, our model emphasizes engaging leaders across movements to help guide strategy, strengthen relationships, and support shared work. This approach allows us to stay adaptive, collaborative, and closely connected to the communities driving change. Learn more about our Fellows and Fellowship partnerships.
