Forward Action Fund is a politically engaged, progressive funder that concentrates large grants to electoral and advocacy organizations working to win races, mobilize voters, and advance family-friendly economic and accountability reforms. Their giving primarily supports PACs, 501(c)(4) social welfare groups, and state-level voter protection and organizing efforts in battleground states, often permitting lobbying or direct political activity. The foundation favors organizations that build electoral infrastructure, protect voting rights, and push policy campaigns on economic fairness and corporate accountability.
Forward Action Fund concentrates large grants on electoral and advocacy organizations that work on voter mobilization, voting rights protection, and policy campaigns tied to family-friendly economic reform and accountability. Its recent awards show a clear preference for organizations that can operate in campaign-adjacent spaces, including PACs and social welfare groups that support direct political activity or lobbying where permitted. In 2025, the foundation’s largest grant went to Majority Forward for primary purpose, non-lobbying activities, followed by a sizable general operating grant to Somos Pac and support for Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy Pac. Those awards point to a funder that backs both statewide campaign infrastructure and issue-specific advocacy. The pattern extends beyond election operations: the fund also supports anti-corruption, corporate accountability, reproductive rights, and voter protection efforts, with grants to groups such as Stop Political Corruption Inc and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Across the listed grants, the foundation appears to favor organizations already embedded in battleground-state politics and public-policy fights, rather than direct services or individual support.
On democracy and voter protection, Forward Action Fund has backed New Day Nevada Inc for a disinformation program, Protect Your Vote Nevada to protect democracy and voting rights in Nevada, and Black Leadership Organizing Collaborative to support a voter contact program. In family-friendly economic policy, it funded Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy Pac and Ohio Families for Democracy, both tied to economic and advocacy work for working families. The foundation also supports anti-corruption and corporate accountability efforts, including Stop Political Corruption Inc and Fight Big Pharma Inc, each receiving grants with lobbying allowed or permissable purposes. Reproductive-rights electoral advocacy is another visible thread, with funding to Planned Parenthood Action Fund for social welfare purposes with lobbying allowed, as well as support for Floridians Protecting Freedom and Florida Rising Inc in Florida-related organizing.
Forward Action Fund’s typical grant size clusters around a median of $100,000, with a lower quartile of $27,004 and an upper quartile of $377,500. The recent list includes both seven-figure grants and small staffing or program-specific awards, showing a wide spread in check size. The same recipients can appear in multiple years: Somos Pac received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Communities United Action Fund appeared in both 2024 and 2025. The funder is structured as a foundation with politically engaged grantmaking; the awards include general operating, primary purpose, unrestricted, political contribution, and lobbying-allowed categories. No application process is described in the provided data.
$25.7M
$4.3M
$72.3M
$73M
Most grants fall between $27K and $378K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$27K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$378K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in DC.
DEBORAH BUTLER
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Concentrated, large-dollar giving to a relatively small set of political and advocacy organizations with repeat and multi-year style support; many grants enable primary-purpose political activity or lobbying, with significant funding funneled to state and national PACs and voter-mobilization intermediaries.
Notable grantees: Majority Forward, SOMOS PAC, MAP USA, America Votes, Ohio Families for Democracy
Grant recipients are concentrated in Washington, DC, which appears most often in the recent list, followed by Ohio and Florida. Other named recipient locations include Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Salt Lake City, Cleveland, Raleigh, Detroit, Wilmington, and North Bethesda. All listed grants go to US recipients. Although the foundation’s headquarters is in Concord, New Hampshire, the grant pattern shows no recipient concentration in New Hampshire; the listed grants there are isolated rather than dominant.
It funds politically engaged PACs, 501(c)(4) social welfare groups, and advocacy organizations working on voter mobilization, voting rights, family-friendly economic policy, anti-corruption, and reproductive-rights electoral advocacy. The recent grants also include campaign infrastructure, disinformation work, and staffing support.
The grant-size distribution centers on a median of $100,000, with a p25 of $27,004 and a p75 of $377,500. The recent list also includes multi-million-dollar awards, so the funder uses both large anchor grants and smaller targeted grants.
Yes. Somos Pac appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Communities United Action Fund appears in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests recurring support for some organizations rather than entirely one-off grants.
Its top state by grant count is DC. Other frequently appearing recipient locations include Ohio and Florida, with additional grants to Nevada, New York, Utah, North Carolina, Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, and New Hampshire.
No. The funder does not fund individuals, and the recent grants show organizational awards only, including PACs, social welfare groups, and advocacy organizations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAJORITY FORWARD | WASHINGTON, DC | $8,800,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE, NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES |
| SOMOS PAC | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,813,205 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING/UNRESTRICTED |
| CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY PAC | CONCORD, NH | $2,228,320 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING/UNRESTRICTED |
| MAP USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,200,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE/LOBBYING RESTRICTED |
| OHIO FAMILIES FOR DEMOCRACY | CONCORD, NH | $2,083,713 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE/LOBBYING ALLOWABLE |
| STOP POLITICAL CORRUPTION INC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,500,000 | 2025 | PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE; LOBBYING ALLOWED |
| PROMOTING AMERICAN VALUES FOR EVERYONE INC | WILMINGTON, DE | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING/UNRESTRICTED |
| MAKE NORTH CAROLINA FIRST | RALEIGH, NC | $400,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE, NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES |
| FREEDOM AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $320,000 | 2025 | ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE; LOBBYING PERMISSABLE |
| OHIO CITIZEN ACTION | CLEVELAND, OH | $310,000 | 2025 | ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE |
| COMMUNITIES UNITED ACTION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE, NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES |
| FIGHT BIG PHARMA INC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $250,000 | 2025 | ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE; LOBBYING PERMISSABLE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | SOCIAL WELFARE PURPOSES; LOBBYING ALLOWED |
| BLACK LEADERSHIP ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE | ARKON, OH | $150,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT VOTER CONTACT PROGRAM |
| NORTH MAIN STREET FUND | CONCORD, NH | $122,736 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE; NON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES |
| BUSINESS EDUCATION FUND | NORTH BETHESDA, MD | $12,000 | 2025 | STAFFING SUPPORT; NO LOBBYING ACTIVITIES |
| AMERICA VOTES | WASHINGTON, DC | $750,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PRIMARY PURPOSE GRANT |
| SOMOS PAC | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION |
| COMMUNITIES UNITED ACTION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $33,017 | 2024 | GENERAL PRIMARY PURPOSE GRANT |
| FLORIDIANS PROTECTING FREEDOM | MIAMI, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PRIMARY PURPOSE GRANT |
| COMMITTEE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE | DETROIT, MI | $10,009 | 2024 | MOBLIZATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR EARNED MEDIA EVENTS |
| HOUSE MAJORITY PAC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BPAC EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $816,000 | 2023 | NEW ACCOUNT FUNDING |
| FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTION PAC | WASHINGTON, DC | $400,000 | 2023 | CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY ACTIVITIES |
| TIOGA FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $310,000 | 2023 | CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY |
| SOMOS PAC | WASHINGTON, DC | $222,150 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW DAY NEVADA INC | LAS VEGAS, NV | $100,000 | 2023 | DISINFORMATION PROGRAM |
| PROTECT YOUR VOTE NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $50,000 | 2023 | TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHTS IN NEVADA |
| JUSTICE UNITES US PAC | WASHINGTON, DC | $24,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA RISING INC | MIAMI, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | IN SUPPORT OF HABLAMOS ESPANOL FLORIDA |
MAJORITY FORWARD
$8,800,000PRIMARY PURPOSE, NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
SOMOS PAC
$5,813,205GENERAL OPERATING/UNRESTRICTED
CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY PAC
$2,228,320GENERAL OPERATING/UNRESTRICTED
MAP USA
$2,200,000PRIMARY PURPOSE/LOBBYING RESTRICTED
OHIO FAMILIES FOR DEMOCRACY
$2,083,713GENERAL PURPOSE/LOBBYING ALLOWABLE
STOP POLITICAL CORRUPTION INC
$1,500,000PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE; LOBBYING ALLOWED
PROMOTING AMERICAN VALUES FOR EVERYONE INC
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATING/UNRESTRICTED
MAKE NORTH CAROLINA FIRST
$400,000PRIMARY PURPOSE, NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
FREEDOM AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
$320,000ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE; LOBBYING PERMISSABLE
OHIO CITIZEN ACTION
$310,000ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE
COMMUNITIES UNITED ACTION FUND
$300,000PRIMARY PURPOSE, NON-LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
FIGHT BIG PHARMA INC
$250,000ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE; LOBBYING PERMISSABLE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND
$200,000SOCIAL WELFARE PURPOSES; LOBBYING ALLOWED
BLACK LEADERSHIP ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE
$150,000TO SUPPORT VOTER CONTACT PROGRAM
NORTH MAIN STREET FUND
$122,736PRIMARY PURPOSE; NON LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
BUSINESS EDUCATION FUND
$12,000STAFFING SUPPORT; NO LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
AMERICA VOTES
$750,000GENERAL PRIMARY PURPOSE GRANT
SOMOS PAC
$100,000POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION
COMMUNITIES UNITED ACTION FUND
$33,017GENERAL PRIMARY PURPOSE GRANT
FLORIDIANS PROTECTING FREEDOM
$25,000GENERAL PRIMARY PURPOSE GRANT
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE
$10,009MOBLIZATION OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FOR EARNED MEDIA EVENTS
HOUSE MAJORITY PAC
$1,000,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BPAC EDUCATION FUND
$816,000NEW ACCOUNT FUNDING
FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTION PAC
$400,000CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY ACTIVITIES
TIOGA FUND
$310,000CAMPAIGN FOR A FAMILY FRIENDLY ECONOMY
SOMOS PAC
$222,150GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW DAY NEVADA INC
$100,000DISINFORMATION PROGRAM
PROTECT YOUR VOTE NEVADA
$50,000TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND VOTING RIGHTS IN NEVADA
JUSTICE UNITES US PAC
$24,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FLORIDA RISING INC
$10,000IN SUPPORT OF HABLAMOS ESPANOL FLORIDA