Fenton, the nation's first social impact agency, is a full-service firm purpose-built for organizations advancing equity and systemic change, with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. In a turbulent year for the industry, the fiercely independent agency doubled down on its values and its DEI commitments, deepening client relationships while acquiring DC Communicators, a networking and programming platform that convenes communications professionals for free forums on topics from AI to crisis communications. For the New York City Campaign Finance Board, Fenton helped voters navigate a complex 2025 election, building a first-of-its-kind audience modeling system to deliver multilingual content, and pairing digital ads with subway placements, murals, and on-the-ground activations that contributed to historic turnout. The agency also led communications for American Pride Rises, establishing it as a prominent voice for equal opportunity through research-driven messaging, media outreach, influencer engagement, and partner toolkits. Another highlight, the multilingual Vote For It campaign for the LA County Voter Registrar, reached mid- and low-propensity voters in nineteen languages through trusted messengers and culturally relevant content. With people of color strongly represented across the team and its senior leadership, Fenton reflects the lived experiences of the communities its work serves.
Leadership team:
Valarie De La Garza, CEO
Jennifer Hahn, Principal & Chief Client Officer
Paul Hernandez, Principal & Chief Strategy Officer
Joe Wagner, Principal & Chief of Political Advocacy
Karla Wagner, Chief People Officer
Erik Olvera, Chief of Issue Advocacy
Notable clients:
ACLU, Inatai Foundation, State Voices, Hyundai, Locus, National Nurses United, Lambda Legal, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Verizon-Houston Economic Growth Collaborative
New clients:
New York Campaign Finance Board, LA County Voter Registrar, California Service Corps, Chef Ann Foundation, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Election Protection Coalition, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Founding Date:
1982
Website:
fenton.com
