Brian Derrick

STRATEGIC IMPACT. Brian Derrick’s journey from a curious, science-obsessed child in Ohio to the co-founder of Oath is a testament to the power of curiosity and the courage to follow one’s own path. Brian’s eternal curiosity has been a guiding force throughout his life, driving him to explore complex ideas and tackle challenging problems with data-driven strategies. This relentless pursuit of understanding and innovation is now at the heart of Oath, the company he co-founded in 2021.

Oath is a donation platform designed to help donors maximize the impact of their contributions by making data-driven recommendations. “We analyze thousands of races, from the President down to local school board races, to find where donations will have the greatest probability of moving the needle,” Brian explains. The platform doesn’t just help donors allocate their funds strategically; it also protects their privacy, a feature Brian and his team believe is crucial in today’s world. “We think it’s really important to empower donors to have control over who has their contact information.”

Growing up in Ohio, Brian was fascinated by science. This passion for inquiry shaped his approach to strategy in both business and politics. At Ohio State University, Brian’s trajectory shifted when he became involved in social justice work after coming out during his sophomore year. “Coming out was really rough for me, and on the other side of it, I wanted to make it easier for the next person,” Brian says.

This experience ignited his passion for public policy and social justice, leading him to major in public affairs and become deeply involved in campus organizations like Buckeyethon, Ohio State’s Dance Marathon. It was through Buckeyethon that Brian first teamed up with his future co-founder, and together, they broke records, raising over a million dollars for pediatric cancer research. This success cemented their partnership and set the stage for Oath. Now, Oath has surpassed $25 million in donations as the platform continues to grow.

After graduating, Brian began his career in development work, initially focusing on fundraising for cancer research and then transitioning to LGBTQIA+ organizations. The election of Donald Trump in 2016 was a pivotal moment for Brian, compelling him to shift his focus to the political space. “I felt called to work on what I felt was a more pressing crisis around issues both facing the LGBTQIA+ community and generally, threats to our democracy,” he explains.

Oath was born out of frustration with the inefficiencies Brian and his co-founder observed in the political fundraising space. “We didn’t set out to be founders, but we found this problem so frustrating that we couldn’t help but brainstorm solutions,” Brian says. The pair spent years discussing the challenges donors faced in engaging meaningfully with the political system before finally deciding to build the solution themselves. They started working on Oath in their spare time. By June 2022, they launched the MVP, and within months, Oath had attracted 10,000 users who donated over $2 million through the platform.

EMPOWERED GIVING. One of the keys to Oath’s success, according to Brian, is its adaptability. The platform has thrived by staying attuned to the rapidly evolving landscape of political communication, particularly among Gen Z. “You need to have the ability to do really compelling, organic content,” Brian explains.

Reflecting on his journey, Brian sees his LGBTQIA+ identity as integral to his success as a founder. “Being gay freed me of other people’s expectations of me,” he says. This liberation allowed him to take risks and pursue unconventional paths with confidence. His advice to other LGBTQIA+ founders is to draw on the same strength that it often takes to come out and apply it to the challenges of entrepreneurship. “The loneliest part of the journey is the start when you are the only person who can see the vision,” Brian advises. “You have to develop a thick skin early if you want to make it out of that phase, but it’s so worth it.”