About Democratic Socialists of America
The Democratic Socialists of America Inc primarily funds local electoral and ballot-initiative campaigns, grassroots tenant and labor organizing, and DSA chapter infrastructure across U.S. cities and states. Their grants favor direct support for ballot fights (reproductive access, affordable housing, rent/raise-the-wage campaigns) and local chapter capacity-building, signaling a tactical focus on winning progressive local policy and building organizing power rather than large national charities.
Focus Areas
Local ballot initiative campaigns for progressive measures (reproductive rights, housing affordability, worker protections)City- and regional DSA chapter support and political infrastructure (e.g., metro DSA groups and DSA-affiliated funds)Tenant and affordable-housing organizing and anti-displacement campaignsLabor and worker-advocacy organizing (living wage/raise-the-wage campaigns and union-adjacent support)
Who They Fund
low-wage workersTacoma city residentshourly/frontline employees
About Democratic Socialists of America
A defining pattern in Democratic Socialists of America Inc’s recent giving is support for local ballot fights and organizing campaigns that aim to move city and state policy. The foundation’s grants are mostly in the $10,000 to $20,000 range, with awards used for ballot initiatives, tenant organizing, wage campaigns, and chapter infrastructure across the United States. In 2024, Tacoma for All received $20,001 for NEC Tacoma for All, showing the funder’s use of direct, campaign-specific support for local efforts in Washington. Another 2024 award went to Arizona Works Together for Grant Donation, underscoring that the foundation backs regional organizing groups as well as issue campaigns. The grant list also shows support for DSA-linked infrastructure and allied advocacy groups, including Maine DSA for Livable Portland and Metro DC DSA, alongside tenant and labor efforts in cities such as Portland, Denver, Seattle, and Washington, DC. The overall pattern points to a funder that uses relatively targeted grants to strengthen local political capacity and policy campaigns rather than broad charitable programming.
What Democratic Socialists of America Funds
Local policy campaigns are a central theme. The foundation gave $18,000 to Newr Denver for Ballot Initiative and $9,900 to Yes on Measure N in Santa Cruz for Ballot Initiative, indicating a focus on city- and state-level measures rather than national advocacy. Housing and tenant organizing also appears repeatedly. It awarded $10,000 to Tenants Organized Against Displacement in Portland for NEC Grant and $9,985 to the same group for Ballot Initiative, showing support for anti-displacement work in multiple forms. Reproductive access is another recurring area, with grants such as $15,000 to Reproductive Access for All in Louisville for Ballot Initiative and $10,000 to Northern Ketuckians for Reproductive Access in Crescent Springs for Ballot Initiative. Worker-focused campaigns are present as well, including $10,000 to Raise the Wage Renton in Seattle for Raise the Wage.
How Democratic Socialists of America Gives
Typical awards are tightly clustered: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $10,000, $10,000, and $20,000. That pattern suggests a small set of standard grant sizes with occasional amounts above the median, such as $20,001 and $18,000. The grants listed span 2023 and 2024, and some recipients appear more than once across those years, including Ue Research & Education Fund, Maine DSA for Livable Portland, and Tenants Organized Against Displacement. The foundation is not a fund for individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent record fits a project-specific, issue-based grantmaker that funds campaigns and organizing groups with straightforward restricted support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$24K
Total Assets
$5.1M
Total Revenue
$6.4M
Total Expenses
$5.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
Geographic Reach
National10 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Michael Grochowski
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Democratic Socialists of America?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime