The Center for Popular Democracy funds grassroots basebuilding and electoral/campaign infrastructure that advances immigrant rights, housing justice, workers’ power, corporate accountability and climate justice, with an emphasis on state and local organizing hubs. Grants are largely directed to member organizations and allied state Make the Road and community organizing groups for core operating support, canvass/civic engagement programs, and rapid-response “fight back” campaign work. The foundation prioritizes organizations that build political power among low-income, immigrant and BIPOC communities through training, canvassing, and policy campaigns. Funding frequently supports capacity-building and multi-site scaling of proven organizing models rather than service delivery.
A defining feature of Center for Popular Democracy Inc.'s recent giving is the scale of support it sends to state-based organizing infrastructure, especially groups working on housing, immigrant rights, workers’ power, climate justice, and civic engagement. The largest grant in the recent list went to Acce Institute in Los Angeles for basebuilding and housing campaigns, reflecting the funder’s focus on campaign capacity rather than direct service delivery. Other large awards support networked organizers that can operate across multiple issue areas, such as Make the Road Nevada in Las Vegas and Casa de Maryland in Hyattsville, both funded for campaigns that combine housing, immigrant rights, economic justice, climate justice, and civic engagement. The foundation also backs recurring organizing platforms, including canvass networks and affiliated state groups, to expand political participation and mobilization. Across the recent grants, the pattern is clear: this is a public charity using sizable grants to help member organizations and allied coalitions run sustained organizing work at the state and local level.
Housing justice is a consistent thread in the recent grants. Center for Popular Democracy Inc. gave $886,500 to Acce Institute for basebuilding and housing campaigns, and $519,000 to One Pennsylvania Inc. for a general campaign that included housing. Immigrant-rights organizing appears alongside other issue work, including $618,400 to Casa de Maryland for basebuilding, housing, immigrant rights, corporate accountability, states, climate justice, and Fight Back work. Workers’ justice is another major theme: Make the Road New Jersey in Elizabeth received $468,000 for workers justice and climate justice campaigns, while Make the Road New York in Brooklyn got $597,969 for a broader campaign mix that included workers justice. Civic engagement also shows up as a distinct funding lane, with $460,000 to Make the Road Pennsylvania in Reading for civic engagement.
Typical grants are sizable: the p25 is $25,000, the median is $124,599, and the p75 is $268,867. The recent list shows repeat funding to the same organizations across multiple years, including CPD Action Canvass Network LLC, Make the Road New York, Make the Road New Jersey, Casa de Maryland, Arizona Center for Empowerment, and New York Communities for Change, which points to ongoing support rather than isolated awards. The foundation is a public charity and does not fund individuals. Its grants are made nationally, with a strong preference for recurring organizing partners and campaign infrastructure.
$9.2M
$42.4M
$40.9M
$31.8M
Most grants fall between $25K and $269K, with a median of $125K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$125K
75th Percentile
$269K
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Concentrated, repeat funding to a defined network of state and local organizing groups and intermediary partners; mix of multi-year general operating support and program/campaign grants, typically mid-to-large sized awards spread across roughly 60+ grants with many organizations receiving multiple grants.
Notable grantees: CPD Action Canvass Network LLC, Make the Road New York / Make the Road states network, CASA de Maryland, ACCE Institute, New York Communities for Change
All of the recent grants in the dataset go to US recipients. Funding reaches a wide set of cities, with repeated awards in Brooklyn, Hyattsville, Phoenix, Elizabeth, and Las Vegas, plus grants in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Reading, Durham, Philadelphia, Seattle, Bridgeport, Detroit, New Orleans, Washington, DC, and San Antonio. New York recipients account for 20% of grants, but the foundation’s highest grant count is in Oregon, indicating that giving concentration differs from headquarters. The recipient map is broad rather than local, with state-based organizing groups spread across multiple regions.
The recent grants favor state-based organizing groups and member-network affiliates working on housing, immigrant rights, workers’ justice, climate justice, corporate accountability, and civic engagement. Examples in the data include canvass networks, Make the Road affiliates, and other campaign-focused organizations using basebuilding and advocacy mobilization.
Typical grants are substantial. The distribution shows a p25 of $25,000, a median grant of $124,599, and a p75 of $268,867. The recent list also includes several awards above $400,000, showing that the foundation often supports organizations at a large scale.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including CPD Action Canvass Network LLC, Make the Road New York, Make the Road New Jersey, Casa de Maryland, Arizona Center for Empowerment, and New York Communities for Change. That pattern suggests ongoing support for recurring partners and campaigns.
The giving is national, and the recipient country distribution is entirely US-based in the dataset. Recent awards go to organizations in places such as Brooklyn, Hyattsville, Phoenix, Elizabeth, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Reading, and San Antonio.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAKE THE ROAD STATES DBA MAKE THE ROAD NV | LAS VEGAS, NV | $667,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CIVIC ENGAGEMENTCAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE) |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT | PHOENIX, AZ | $578,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| CPD ACTION CANVASS NETWORK LLC | BROOKLYN, NY | $547,746 | 2025 | BASEBUILDING - CANVASS FOR POWER |
| CENTER FOR LAW AND HUMAN VALUE DBA THE ACTION LAB | RIDGEWOOD, NY | $478,928 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECTS |
| MAKE THE ROAD STATES DBA MAKE THE ROAD PA | READING, PA | $460,000 | 2025 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT |
| ACTION INSTITUTE NORTH CAROLINA | DURHAM, NC | $447,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) |
| MAKE THE ROAD STATES DBA MAKE THE ROAD NJ | ELIZABETH, NJ | $417,200 | 2025 | BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| CASA DE MARYLAND | HYATTSVILLE, MD | $390,000 | 2025 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENTBASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| ONEPA ACTIVIST UNITED | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $380,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE) CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL) CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| TIDES CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $330,000 | 2025 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENTCAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| STEP UP LOUISIANA ORGANIZING FUND | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $323,200 | 2025 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENTBASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT EDUCATION FUND | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $302,700 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| WORKING WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $300,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE | YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $270,000 | 2025 | BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| NEW YORK COMMUNITIES FOR CHANGE INC | BROOKLYN, NY | $260,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| MAKE THE ROAD STATES DBA MAKE THE ROAD CT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $250,200 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| ACCE INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $221,400 | 2025 | BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| MAINE PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER | PORTLAND, ME | $218,200 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE) |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $212,066 | 2025 | BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| FUSION PARTNERSHIP INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $196,600 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - FED UP/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK! |
| FUERTE ART COLLECTIVE | PHOENIX, AZ | $188,900 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT | AUSTIN, TX | $165,000 | 2025 | CLIMATE JUSTICE |
| ARKANSAS COMMUNITY INSTITUTE | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $149,700 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| CHURCHES UNITED FOR FAIR HOUSING | BROOKLYN, NY | $146,567 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP - (TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING & NETWORK MGMT) |
| CONSTRUYAMOS OTRO ACUERDO | SAN HUAN, PR | $145,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALASKANS TAKE A STAND INC | ANCHORAGE, AK | $141,500 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE) |
| FLORIDA RISING TOGETHER | MIAMI, FL | $140,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| NEW YORK COMMUNITIES ORGANIZING | BROOKLYN, NY | $112,667 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| NEW GEORGIA PROJECT | ATLANTA, GA | $105,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) |
| SUNFLOWER COMMUNITY ACTION | WICHITA, KS | $102,205 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY INSTITUTE | BURLINGTON, VT | $97,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE) |
| COPAL ED FUND | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $90,200 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) |
| ACCION POLITICA PCUNISTA | WOODBURN, OR | $85,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| WORKING FAMILIES ORGANIZATION | BROOKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| ONE PENNSYLVANIA INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE) CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL) CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| VOCAL NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $30,742 | 2025 | BASEBUILDING TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING & NETWORK MGMT/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK! |
| DELAWARE ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT | DOVER, DE | $30,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE) |
| RIGHTS & DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC | BURLINGTON, VT | $20,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE) |
| WORKER JUSTICE CENTER OF NEW YORK INC | ROCHESTER, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| BLACK FLOWER LLC | PARLIN, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL PROJECTS |
| WEST VIRGINIA HEALTHY KIDS AND FAMILIES COALITION | CHARLESTON, WV | $15,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| MARYLAND COMMUNITIES UNITED | BALTIMORE, MD | $14,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| THE ALLIANCE FOR A GREATER NEW YORK (ALIGN) | NEW YORK, NY | $12,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC JUSTICE |
| TAKEACTION MN EDUCATION FUND | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK! |
| ACCE INSTITUTE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $886,500 | 2024 | BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION) |
| ONE PENNSYLVANIA INC | PITTSBURGH, PA | $519,000 | 2024 | BASEBUILDING GENERAL/CAMPAIGN - HOUSING,IMMIGRANT RIGHTS,CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY,WORKERS JUSTICE/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK! |
| NEW YORK COMMUNITIES FOR CHANGE (NYCC) | BROOKLYN, NY | $474,500 | 2024 | BASEBUILDING - CANVASS FOR POWER |
| MTR STATES - MAKE THE ROAD NEW JERSEY | ELIZABETH, NJ | $468,000 | 2024 | BASEBUILDING GENERAL/CAMPAIGNS - WORKERS JUSTICE/CLIMATE JUSTICE/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK! |
| CPD ACTION CANVASS NETWORK LLC | BROOKLYN, NY | $446,692 | 2024 | BASEBUILDING GENERAL/CAMPAIGN - HOUSING,CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY/CLIMATE JUSTICE |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $440,748 | 2024 | CAMPAIGN - HOUSING,STATES,WORKERS JUSTICE/CLIMATE JUSTICE/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK! |
CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CIVIC ENGAGEMENTCAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)
CPD ACTION CANVASS NETWORK LLC
$547,746BASEBUILDING - CANVASS FOR POWER
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
ACTION INSTITUTE NORTH CAROLINA
$447,000CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)
BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
CIVIC ENGAGEMENTBASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE) CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL) CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
CIVIC ENGAGEMENTBASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
WORKING WASHINGTON
$300,000CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
MAINE PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER
$218,200CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)
BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
CAMPAIGNS - FED UP/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK!
CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
CHURCHES UNITED FOR FAIR HOUSING
$146,567CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP - (TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING & NETWORK MGMT)
CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)
CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)
SUNFLOWER COMMUNITY ACTION
$102,205CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)
CAMPAIGNS - (CLIMATE JUSTICE) CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING) BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL) CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
BASEBUILDING TRAINING, CAPACITY BUILDING & NETWORK MGMT/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK!
DELAWARE ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT
$30,000CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ECONOMIC JUSTICE)
CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)
BLACK FLOWER LLC
$20,000SPECIAL PROJECTS
WEST VIRGINIA HEALTHY KIDS AND FAMILIES COALITION
$15,000CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
MARYLAND COMMUNITIES UNITED
$14,000CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (HEALTHCARE)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
BASEBUILDING - (GENERAL)CAMPAIGNS - (HOUSING)CAMPAIGNS - (ADVOCACY & MOBILIZATION)
BASEBUILDING GENERAL/CAMPAIGN - HOUSING,IMMIGRANT RIGHTS,CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY,WORKERS JUSTICE/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK!
BASEBUILDING GENERAL/CAMPAIGNS - WORKERS JUSTICE/CLIMATE JUSTICE/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK!
CPD ACTION CANVASS NETWORK LLC
$446,692BASEBUILDING GENERAL/CAMPAIGN - HOUSING,CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY/CLIMATE JUSTICE
CAMPAIGN - HOUSING,STATES,WORKERS JUSTICE/CLIMATE JUSTICE/INNOVATIONS - FIGHT BACK!