Proteus Action League is a politically focused funder that concentrates on civic participation, progressive electoral infrastructure, and rights-based advocacy. Its support is heavily tilted toward organizations running voter engagement, state-level campaign and electoral reform efforts, and justice-focused advocacy groups — often providing repeated grants to the same organizations and intermediary action funds. The foundation funds both national identity-based civic groups (e.g., Muslim and Jewish civic engagement) and grassroots state coalitions that boost turnout and democracy reform.
Proteus Action League’s recent giving is anchored by a $150,000 grant to Neo Philanthropy Action Fund, alongside repeated support for groups such as Emgage Action, Niac Action, and TIRRC Votes. Across the file, the foundation backs political and civic-advocacy infrastructure rather than direct service programs: intermediary action funds, voter-engagement organizations, democracy-reform coalitions, and rights-based advocacy groups. Its portfolio shows a steady emphasis on organizations that mobilize voters and build progressive electoral capacity at the state and national level. Grants also reach identity-based civic engagement groups working with Muslim, Arab-American, Jewish, racial justice, and disability justice constituencies. Several recipients appear more than once across the listed years, suggesting a pattern of follow-on support rather than isolated awards. The grant record also includes state-focused campaign and reform organizations in places such as Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, and Ohio, plus fiscal sponsors that channel support to broader advocacy networks. With annual grants of $3,233,708 and a 2025 filing year, Proteus Action League operates as a substantial political grantmaker with a national footprint.
A core thread in Proteus Action League’s grantmaking is democracy reform and voter mobilization. The foundation gave $75,000 to Washington Community Alliance Action-dba People Powered Elections Pac for democracy work, and $50,000 to Reform for Illinois for the same area. It also supported Floridians for Open Democracy with a $50,000 democracy grant. Another clear area is identity-based civic participation. Proteus Action League awarded $125,000 to Emgage Action for rights and justice work, and $84,300 to Niac Action for the same purpose. Supporting racial justice and cross-racial organizing is visible in the $45,000 grant to Showing Up for Racial Justice Action. The record also includes advocacy intermediaries and coalition infrastructure. Neo Philanthropy Action Fund received $150,000, while Grassroots Global Justice Action Fund received $50,000, both for rights and justice. These grants point to support for organizations that move resources through broader advocacy networks rather than only to single-issue local groups.
$1.8M
$1.9M
$1M
$1.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 1% of grants go to recipients in NY.
PAUL DI DONATO
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Concentrated, strategic giving with many repeat grants to core national and state-level progressive civic and rights organizations; typical awards are mid-sized ($40k–$275k) and often routed through action funds or intermediaries to support electoral/advocacy campaigns and infrastructure.
Notable grantees: EMGAGE ACTION, NIAC Action, TIRRC Votes, Neo Philanthropy Action Fund, Common Cause
Typical awards cluster around a modest mid-five-figure range: p25 is $10,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $30,000. The recent grants list shows frequent $50,000 awards and a few larger exceptions, including a $150,000 grant. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Emgage Action, Niac Action, TIRRC Votes, Neo Philanthropy Action Fund, and Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change, which indicates recurring support. The foundation is an independent grantmaker rather than an operating charity, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Proteus Action League gives nationally, with every listed recipient in the United States. By count, California is the top state for recipient organizations, but grants also land in New York, Tennessee, Florida, Washington, and Illinois. Named recipient cities include New York, Nashville, Lakeland, Bellingham, Chicago, and Washington, DC. The list also shows awards to Oakland, Tallahassee, Buffalo, and Honolulu, reflecting a broad multi-state pattern rather than a single regional focus.
The foundation supports democracy and rights-based advocacy organizations, including voter-engagement groups, state-level election reform coalitions, identity-based civic participation organizations, and intermediary action funds that channel advocacy grants.
The distribution is centered in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $10,000, median is $15,000, and p75 is $30,000. Many recent awards are $50,000, with some larger grants such as $150,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Emgage Action, Niac Action, TIRRC Votes, Neo Philanthropy Action Fund, and Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change.
Its grants are national, with all listed recipients in the United States. California is the top state by grant count, and named recipient cities include Nashville, Lakeland, New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Oakland.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEO PHILANTHROPY ACTION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| EMGAGE ACTION | LAKELAND, FL | $125,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| NIAC ACTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $84,300 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE ACTION-DBA PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS PAC | BELLINGHAM, WA | $75,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| TIRRC VOTES | NASHVILLE, TN | $75,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| FLORIDIANS FOR OPEN DEMOCRACY | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| REFORM FOR ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| EMGAGE ACTION | LAKELAND, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| NEO PHILANTHROPY ACTION FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| TIRRC VOTES | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| NIAC ACTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| GRASSROOTS GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTION FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE ACTION | BUFFALO, NY | $45,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| OHIO FAMILIES UNITE FOR POLITICAL ACTION AND CHANGE | HILLIARD, OH | $35,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| VOTERS NOT MONEY | ANN ARBOR, MI | $35,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| WOVEN ACTION | HONOLULU, HI | $33,762 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE ACTION | BERKELEY, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| PROJECT MAINE ELECTIONS | RAYMOND, ME | $30,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN COALITION TO RENEW DEMOCRACY ACTS | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| NEW DISABLED SOUTH RISING | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| EQUITY ACTION | AUSTIN, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| OHIO FAMILIES UNITE FOR POLITICAL ACTION AND CHANGE | HILLIARD, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| ARAB AMERICANS FOR PROGRESS | DEARBORN, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| ACTION CENTER ON RACE AND THE ECONOMY | CHICAGO, IL | $22,500 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| ORGANIZE ACTION | CLOVERDALE, CA | $20,320 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| TIDES ADVOCACY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| NC FOR THE PEOPLE ACTION | DURHAM, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| EMANCIPATE VOTES | DURHAM, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| UNITED WORKING FAMILIES | BROOKLYN, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| THE BLOC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| NC FOR THE PEOPLE ACTION | DURHAM, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| NEW PENNSYLVANIA PROJECT | WEST CHESTER, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| PODER | PHOENIX, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| OPPORTUNITY ARIZONA | PHOENIX, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| NEW ERA COLORADO ACTION FUND | DENVER, CO | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| FORWARD MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| COMMON CAUSE | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| PROJECT SAY SOMETHING DIRECT ACTION | FLORENCE, AL | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| FAITH IN MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| JUSTICE NOT POLITICS ALASKA | ANCHORAGE, AK | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| TIDES ADVOCACY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | RIGHTS & JUSTICE |
| AMERICAN-ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| JUSTICE NOT POLITICS | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| THINK TENNESSEE | NASHVILLE, TN | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| WEST VIRGINIA CITIZEN ACTION GROUP | CHARLESTON, WV | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| THE GOOD NATION FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| JUSTICE NOT POLITICS | DES MOINES, IA | $15,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK STRUGGLE | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $14,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
| MISSOURI JOBS WITH JUSTICE VOTER ACTION | ST LOUIS, MO | $13,000 | 2025 | DEMOCRACY |
EMGAGE ACTION
$125,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
NIAC ACTION
$84,300RIGHTS & JUSTICE
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ALLIANCE ACTION-DBA PEOPLE POWERED ELECTIONS PAC
$75,000DEMOCRACY
FLORIDIANS FOR OPEN DEMOCRACY
$50,000DEMOCRACY
REFORM FOR ILLINOIS
$50,000DEMOCRACY
EMGAGE ACTION
$50,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
NIAC ACTION
$50,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
GRASSROOTS GLOBAL JUSTICE ACTION FUND
$50,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE ACTION
$45,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
OHIO FAMILIES UNITE FOR POLITICAL ACTION AND CHANGE
$35,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
VOTERS NOT MONEY
$35,000DEMOCRACY
WOVEN ACTION
$33,762DEMOCRACY
JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE ACTION
$30,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
PROJECT MAINE ELECTIONS
$30,000DEMOCRACY
SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN COALITION TO RENEW DEMOCRACY ACTS
$25,000DEMOCRACY
NEW DISABLED SOUTH RISING
$25,000DEMOCRACY
EQUITY ACTION
$25,000DEMOCRACY
OHIO FAMILIES UNITE FOR POLITICAL ACTION AND CHANGE
$25,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
ACTION CENTER ON RACE AND THE ECONOMY
$22,500RIGHTS & JUSTICE
NC FOR THE PEOPLE ACTION
$20,000DEMOCRACY
EMANCIPATE VOTES
$20,000DEMOCRACY
UNITED WORKING FAMILIES
$20,000RIGHTS & JUSTICE
THE BLOC
$15,000DEMOCRACY
NC FOR THE PEOPLE ACTION
$15,000DEMOCRACY
SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
$15,000DEMOCRACY
OPPORTUNITY ARIZONA
$15,000DEMOCRACY
PROJECT SAY SOMETHING DIRECT ACTION
$15,000DEMOCRACY
JUSTICE NOT POLITICS ALASKA
$15,000DEMOCRACY
AMERICAN-ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE
$15,000DEMOCRACY
JUSTICE NOT POLITICS
$15,000DEMOCRACY
WEST VIRGINIA CITIZEN ACTION GROUP
$15,000DEMOCRACY
JUSTICE NOT POLITICS
$15,000DEMOCRACY
ORGANIZATION FOR BLACK STRUGGLE
$14,000DEMOCRACY