About Us


For more than 50 years, Common Cause Rhode Island and our members have fought for the democracy we deserve.

In 1970 Rhode Islander Natalie C. Joslin answered John Gardner’s newspaper ad seeking to build a ‘Peoples’ Lobby’ and started Common Cause Rhode Island. Ever since Common Cause Rhode Island has been at the forefront of reform in the Ocean State. From Sunshine Laws of the 1970s, to the creation of the state’s constitutional Ethics Commission in the 1980s, to the establishment of merit selection of judges in the 1990s, Separation of powers in the 2000s, reestablishing the Ethics Commission’s jurisdiction over the legislature in the 2010s, to our current campaign for same day voter registration, we’ve been leading the charge for change for more than five decades.

That work has been the result of generations of staff, members, and volunteer leaders. Beginning in 2004 we began recognizing some of the most important staff and volunteer leaders in our history with the John Gardner Fellowship.

John Gardner Fellows

Alan Flink (1927-2024), Alan Hassenfeld, Natalie C. Joslin (1927-2023), James C. Miller, John Sapinsley (1922-2012), Lila Sapinsley (1922-2014), Henry D. Sharpe, Jr. (1923-2022), and H. Philip West, Jr.

Discover the Common Cause Education Fund

Common Cause’s 501(c)(3) affiliate leads public education campaigns, spearheads key research efforts, and more. All Education Fund donations are tax-deductible.

Learn More

Common Cause works...

In the Legislature
In the Courts
On the Ground
And Beyond...

Our History

John Gardner, a Republican who served in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Cabinet, founded Common Cause as “a people’s lobby” in 1970. Today, we are 1.5 million members and supporters strong and have active offices in over 25 states. Our long and rich history includes milestones like lowering the national voting age to 18, enacting a ban on “soft money” in political campaigns, and helping to create the Office of Congressional Ethics.

Discover Our Impact

Our Commitment to Equity

At Common Cause, we know that racial equity and inclusion must be at the core of what we strive to be, as must equity and inclusion for all individuals across identities and differences (ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religious beliefs, tribe, caste, age, class, thinking and communication styles, etc.). These values are essential to the successful execution of our mission: creating a truly representative and inclusive government.

Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.

Donate