CPRT Launches as Independent Organization, Third Side Strategies
Since its founding in 2021, the Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce (CPRT) has operated as a bold experiment within the Erb Institute at the University of Michigan—a place where leaders from business, academia, and civil society came together to explore how companies can align their political influence with their public commitments and long-term value creation.
Now, that experiment is becoming a standalone organization.
The Erb Institute is proud to announce the launch of Third Side Strategies (TSS), a new action-oriented think tank and non-profit advisory firm dedicated to helping companies integrate Corporate Political Responsibility (CPR) into their governance, strategy, and culture. TSS will be hosted by Future500 and led by CPRT founding director Elizabeth Doty, who will continue to build on the initiative’s momentum as Executive Director.
This launch marks a significant milestone—not just for the CPRT, but for the Erb Institute.
“The transition of CPRT into Third Side Strategies is a powerful example of the Erb Institute’s mission in action,” said Charlene Zietsma, Faculty Director of the Erb Institute. “We’re proud to have incubated this groundbreaking work at the intersection of business, sustainability, and democracy—and we’re thrilled to see it evolve into an independent force for principled leadership.”
Incubated at Erb, Now Taking Flight
CPRT was born out of a simple but profound insight: sustainability innovators are often placed at a competitive disadvantage when the rules of the market don’t support long-term thinking. If companies want to lead on sustainability, their public affairs strategies must align with their values—not undermine them. This vision was articulated in an award-winning article, “CSR Needs CPR: Corporate Sustainability and Politics” by Erb Professor Tom Lyon and co-authors that coined the term corporate political responsibility.
With that vision, the Erb Institute launched CPRT as a strictly non-partisan forum to support businesses in managing their political influence responsibly. Under Doty’s leadership, CPRT convened hundreds of business leaders and experts to co-create tools, strategies and frameworks—including one of its most widely recognized contributions: The Erb Principles for Corporate Political Responsibility.
These principles, publicly launched in Washington, D.C. in March 2023, provide a practical roadmap for companies seeking to align their political activities with their stated values, long-term goals, and commitments to create value. They have been supported by major corporations including IBM, Danone, and Pirelli Tire, and have shaped thought leadership across the field—from Oxfam International and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility to Harvard Business Review.
“This work has always been about helping companies strengthen the governance of their public affairs,” said Elizabeth Doty, now Executive Director of Third Side Strategies. “By embedding Corporate Political Responsibility as a core business practice, companies can reduce risk, enable long-term value, and restore trust during an increasingly turbulent time.”
The Erb Principles didn’t just stay on paper—they have helped companies reassess trade association practices, deepen internal decision-making, and clarify how and when to engage on civic issues like climate policy and democratic institutions. As one company leader shared with CPRT, “This is much more practical than what I would have expected from a university!”
Tools, Talent, and a Thriving Ecosystem
Beyond the Principles, CPRT developed a growing suite of practical tools, including the CPR Decision Tool & Conversation Guide. The Principles and this tool are helping executives and teams assess complex questions of civic engagement with confidence, transparency, and shared values. Looking ahead, Third Side Strategies will soon be publishing a CPR Governance Review Guide, building on the CPRT’s work.
Students and alumni have also played a critical role in building this new body of work, from building the database of best practices to embedding CPR into classrooms and design challenges. The CPR movement bolstered at Erb has empowered companies and educators alike to integrate CPR into climate action, human rights, competitive market strategies, and election readiness planning.
A Continued Collaboration
While Third Side Strategies begins a new chapter, its roots in the Erb Institute remain strong. Longtime CPRT faculty co-lead and Erb Professor Tom Lyon will continue to support TSS as Faculty Advisor and Director of Editorial Content. His 2023 book, Corporate Political Responsibility, includes a chapter on the development of the Erb CPRT and highlights the Erb Principles as a critical contribution to the field.
“It’s gratifying to see the CPRT’s work take on a life of its own,” Lyon said. “This kind of spin-off is exactly what university-based institutes like Erb aim for: planting a seed, nurturing it, and watching it grow into something with real-world impact.”
Third Side Strategies’ team will also include Lauren Caplan, as Director of Governance and Risk Integration. Previously, Lauren developed the Corporate Guide to Navigating US Political Risk as Head of the Democracy-Aligned Investing Initiative with the Leadership Now Project. She has also served as Associate General Counsel in the Yale Investments Office, and now teaches at Yale School of Management.
As Third Side Strategies launches, the Erb Institute celebrates a new milestone in its own journey—proving once again that by bringing together business and sustainability, bold ideas can become transformative action.
At the center of Third Sides Strategies’ offerings is The CPR Hub, a curated digital resource featuring practical ways to put CPR Governance into practice. To learn more about Third Side Strategies’ full range of services, including capacity-building and consultation, click here.