The Center for Empowered Politics prioritizes building political power among Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Black communities through grants to grassroots voter-mobilization groups, state and local action/PAC funds, and organizations focused on capacity-building. They commonly fund general operating and organizational-strengthening work as well as regranting vehicles that channel resources into electoral and policy campaigns in battleground states and metropolitan areas. Repeated multi-grant relationships with community-based groups and several contributions explicitly designated for PAC or primary-purpose political activity underscore a strategic focus on electoral influence and leadership development within communities of color.
The Center For Empowered Politics stands out for directing a large share of its recent grantmaking into political-purpose regrants and PAC-linked vehicles that support electoral work in communities of color. Its largest recent award in the data is a $599,969 grant to Rising Voices Action Fund for political purpose regranting, alongside multi-year support for groups such as Our Future Is Black and One Apia Nevada. That pattern points to a funder focused less on one-off project grants than on building durable political capacity through community-based intermediaries. Across the recent grant list, the foundation backs Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Black-led organizations, with awards that cover general operating support, organizational capacity building, research, and primary or political-purpose regranting. Several grants also support action funds and PAC activity, including contributions to organizations in Michigan, North Carolina, and California. The mix of grant purposes suggests a strategy centered on helping local groups organize, research, and move resources into state and municipal campaigns. The Center For Empowered Politics also shows continuity over time, with repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025.
In Asian American and Pacific Islander civic engagement, the foundation gave $140,000 to One Apia Nevada for organizational capacity building and general operating funds, and $120,000 to Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance for organizational capacity building and research. It also supported Asian Pacific American, Chinese Progressive Political Action, Chinese Progressive Political, and Nakasec Action Fund with operating grants, showing a sustained emphasis on community-based infrastructure. In Black-led political power-building, it gave $100,000 to Our Future Is Black for general operating support and another $63,000 for PAC activities. A separate $599,969 regrant to Rising Voices Action Fund and a $115,000 contribution to Michigan Action show how the foundation channels money into electoral and policy infrastructure. Its state-level and metro-area work also includes $50,000 to Young Womens Freedom Center for a policy campaign, plus grants to Chicago-based groups including Asian American Midwest Progressives, Chicago Normi, and Asian American Midwest.
$1.4M
$9.6M
$9.4M
$8.2M
Most grants fall between $14K and $50K, with a median of $33K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$33K
75th Percentile
$50K
Timmy Lu
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 FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, strategic grantmaking with repeated multi-year or multiple grants to a core set of community-based political organizations and regranting intermediaries; prefers mid-to-large general operating and capacity-building awards, plus explicit funding for PAC/primary-political activities targeted at battleground states and communities of color.
Notable grantees: RISING VOICES ACTION FUND, OUR FUTURE IS BLACK, ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY FUND, ONE APIA NEVADA, NCAAT IN ACTION
Typical grant size sits at $13,500 at the 25th percentile, $32,500 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, though the list also includes larger regranting awards. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Repeated awards to the same recipients across 2023, 2024, and 2025 show ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. Recent grant purposes skew toward general operating support, organizational capacity building, and political-purpose regranting, with some technical assistance and stipends mixed in.
The Center For Empowered Politics gives nationally, and every listed recipient is in the United States. California receives 24% of grants, and the recent list includes multiple California recipients in Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, and the state’s broader metro areas. Outside California, grants cluster in cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Raleigh, Detroit, Las Vegas, Boston, and Jackson Heights. The recipient map also reaches Norcross, Centreville, Lansing, and North Carolina and Michigan political hubs.
It funds Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Black-led organizations, along with grassroots civic groups, political organizations and PACs, nonprofit advocacy groups, and campaign operators. Recent grants include general operating support, organizational capacity building, research, stipends, and regranting for political-purpose work.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support across multiple years for several recipients, including Michigan Action in 2023 and 2024, Our Future Is Black in 2023, 2024, and 2024 again for PAC activities, and One Apia Nevada in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The typical grant size is $13,500 at the 25th percentile, $32,500 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes a much larger $599,969 regrant to Rising Voices Action Fund.
California is the top state by grant count, and 24% of grants go to recipients in California. Recent California recipients appear in Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, and other in-state locations, while the broader portfolio also reaches cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Raleigh, Detroit, and Las Vegas.
Yes. Several grants are explicitly tied to political or primary-purpose activity, including $599,969 to Rising Voices Action Fund for political purpose regranting, $115,000 to Ncaat in Action for primary and political purpose regranting, and $63,000 to Our Future Is Black for PAC activities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RISING VOICES ACTION FUND | LANSING, MI | $599,969 | 2026 | POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT |
| ONE APIA NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $140,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT AND GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER POLITICAL ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $120,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT/RESEARCH |
| NCAAT IN ACTION | RALEIGH, NC | $115,000 | 2026 | PRIMARY AND POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT |
| ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY FUND | NORCROSS, GA | $50,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| MISSISSIPPI VOTES ACTION FUND | JACKSON, MS | $42,500 | 2026 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| AZ ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER ADVOCATES | PHOENIX, AZ | $40,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| SILICON VALLEY RISING ACTION | SAN JOSE, CA | $37,500 | 2026 | PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| OUR FUTURE IS BLACK PAC | OAKLAND, CA | $27,687 | 2026 | POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT |
| FORCE FOR CHANGE | OAKLAND, CA | $26,850 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION TO PRIMARY PURPOSE VOTER GUIDE |
| ELLA BAKER CENTER ACTION FUND | OAKLAND, CA | $20,500 | 2026 | CALIFORNIAN'S UNITED AGAINST PROP 36 SUPPORT |
| ASIAN AMERICAN MIDWEST PROGRESSIVES | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| DRUM BEATS | JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| CHINESE PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ACTION | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| EAST BAY ACTION | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | GOVERNING POWER PROJECT AND VOTER OUTREACH |
| RED WINE & BLUE | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2026 | REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT |
| BLACK VOTERS MATTER | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2026 | REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT |
| PICO CALIFORNIA ACTION FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| MAINE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE | PORTLAND, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT |
| YOUNG WOMENS FREEDOM CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $12,500 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| EAST BAY ACTION PAC | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | NO ON PROP 36 AND PROP 5 |
| ONE VOICE INC | LAKE ODESSA, MI | $8,000 | 2026 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| OAKLANDERS TOGETHER FOR A SAFER OAKLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | OPPOSE MEASURE NN IN OAKLAND |
| SALVATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | TRENTON, NJ | $7,500 | 2026 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| CHANGE TODAY CHANGE TOMORROW INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $7,500 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| NEW GEORGIA PROJECT INC | ATLANTA, GA | $7,500 | 2026 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| RISING VOICES ACTION FUND | LANSING, MI | $599,969 | 2025 | POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT |
| ONE APIA NEVADA | LAS VEGAS, NV | $140,000 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT AND GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS |
| ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER POLITICAL ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $120,000 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT/RESEARCH |
| NCAAT IN ACTION | RALEIGH, NC | $115,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY AND POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT |
| ASIAN AMERICAN ADVOCACY FUND | NORCROSS, GA | $50,000 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| MISSISSIPPI VOTES ACTION FUND | JACKSON, MS | $42,500 | 2025 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| AZ ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER ADVOCATES | PHOENIX, AZ | $40,000 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| SILICON VALLEY RISING ACTION | SAN JOSE, CA | $37,500 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| OUR FUTURE IS BLACK PAC | OAKLAND, CA | $27,687 | 2025 | POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT |
| FORCE FOR CHANGE | OAKLAND, CA | $26,850 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION TO PRIMARY PURPOSE VOTER GUIDE |
| DRUM BEATS | JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| CHINESE PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ACTION | BOSTON, MA | $20,000 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| EAST BAY ACTION | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GOVERNING POWER PROJECT AND VOTER OUTREACH |
| ASIAN AMERICAN MIDWEST PROGRESSIVES | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| BLACK VOTERS MATTER | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT |
| MAINE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE | PORTLAND, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT |
| RED WINE & BLUE | CLEVELAND, OH | $15,000 | 2025 | REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT |
| PICO CALIFORNIA ACTION FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT |
| YOUNG WOMENS FREEDOM CENTER | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $12,500 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| ONE VOICE INC | LAKE ODESSA, MI | $8,000 | 2025 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| SALVATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | TRENTON, NJ | $7,500 | 2025 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| CHANGE TODAY CHANGE TOMORROW INC | LOUISVILLE, KY | $7,500 | 2025 | ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT |
| NEW GEORGIA PROJECT INC | ATLANTA, GA | $7,500 | 2025 | BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT |
| MICHIGAN ACTION | DETROIT, MI | $115,000 | 2024 | RISING VOICES CONTRIBUTION |
RISING VOICES ACTION FUND
$599,969POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT AND GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER POLITICAL ALLIANCE
$120,000ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT/RESEARCH
MISSISSIPPI VOTES ACTION FUND
BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
SILICON VALLEY RISING ACTION
$37,500PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT
OUR FUTURE IS BLACK PAC
$27,687POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT
FORCE FOR CHANGE
$26,850CONTRIBUTION TO PRIMARY PURPOSE VOTER GUIDE
ELLA BAKER CENTER ACTION FUND
$20,500CALIFORNIAN'S UNITED AGAINST PROP 36 SUPPORT
ASIAN AMERICAN MIDWEST PROGRESSIVES
$20,000ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
DRUM BEATS
$20,000PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT
CHINESE PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ACTION
$20,000ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
EAST BAY ACTION
$20,000GOVERNING POWER PROJECT AND VOTER OUTREACH
PICO CALIFORNIA ACTION FUND
$15,000PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT
MAINE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE
$15,000REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT
EAST BAY ACTION PAC
$10,000NO ON PROP 36 AND PROP 5
OAKLANDERS TOGETHER FOR A SAFER OAKLAND
$8,000OPPOSE MEASURE NN IN OAKLAND
RISING VOICES ACTION FUND
$599,969POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT AND GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS
ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER POLITICAL ALLIANCE
$120,000ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT/RESEARCH
MISSISSIPPI VOTES ACTION FUND
$42,500BLACK POLICY INITIATIVE GRANT
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
SILICON VALLEY RISING ACTION
$37,500PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT
OUR FUTURE IS BLACK PAC
$27,687POLITICAL PURPOSE REGRANT
FORCE FOR CHANGE
$26,850CONTRIBUTION TO PRIMARY PURPOSE VOTER GUIDE
DRUM BEATS
$20,000PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT
CHINESE PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL ACTION
$20,000ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
EAST BAY ACTION
$20,000GOVERNING POWER PROJECT AND VOTER OUTREACH
ASIAN AMERICAN MIDWEST PROGRESSIVES
$20,000ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANT
MAINE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE
$15,000REGRANT FOR ADVANCED ACCELERATOR COHORT
PICO CALIFORNIA ACTION FUND
$15,000PRIMARY PURPOSE GENERAL OPERATING GRANT
MICHIGAN ACTION
$115,000RISING VOICES CONTRIBUTION