 A PowerPoint presentation, "The Conservative Message Machine Money Matrix", created by Rob Stein and shown to individuals and small groups of donors in 2003 and 2004, is often credited as being the impetus for the group's formation.The first meeting of the Democracy Alliance was held at The Boulders near Scottsdale, Arizona in April 2005.Rob Stein was appointed interim CEO, pending the group's selection of a permanent leader.