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Non-profit

E Pluribus Unum Fund

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Founder:

Mitch Landrieu
Website:

https://www.unumfund.org/
Location:

New Orleans, LA
Type:

Left-leaning Advocacy Organization
Budget (2018):

Revenue: $2,410,777

Expenses: $779,616

Assets: $1,631,161

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The E Pluribus Unum Fund is a center-left public policy think tank that was founded by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D) in 2018 that operates outreach and educational programs supporting left-leaning racial and economic policies in the American South. The organization’s national advisory board includes former President Bill Clinton, left-leaning donor Laurene Powell Jobs, Democratic operative Donna Brazile, and Ford Foundation president Darren Walker. Little is known of the organization’s finances. However, 2020 tax records revealed that the New Venture Fund, a left-leaning “dark money” funding arm operated by Arabella Advisors, donated $6 million to the organization in 2020, which was over double the organization’s 2018 revenue. 1 2 3 4

Background

The E Pluribus Unum Fund, also referred to as the E Pluribus Unum Initiative or as simply E Pluribus Unum, is a left-leaning think tank and advocacy group launched in 2018 by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D). Landrieu, who drew attention for leading the removal of several monuments to Confederate figures in New Orleans during his tenure as Mayor, launched the organization with a focus on racial issues in the American South. The organization advocates for the removal of similar monuments across the United States. The organization provides support for various race-related policy issues as well as left-leaning policing policies and conducts training programs for southern state lawmakers and other elected officials. 5 6 7

Funding

While little is publicly available concerning the finances of the E Pluribus Unum Fund, 2020 tax records revealed that the New Venture Fund, a left-leaning “dark money” funding arm operated by Arabella Advisors, donated $6 million to the organization in 2020. 8

At the organization’s founding, it was reported that he organization was at least partially sponsored by the Emerson Collective, a left-leaning funding organization founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs and a member of the organization’s advisory board. 9

The only tax filing available for the organization as of November 2021 was from the organization’s founding year of 2018, which revealed that the fund raised $2.4 million total in 2018 and spent $1.6 million. 10

Activity

The E Pluribus Unum Fund conducts a variety of programs and press events focused around a desire to promote “racial equity” in the south and highlighting the work and writings of founder Mitch Landrieu. The organization sponsors policy scholars that conduct work on issues including housing, environmentalism, and minority entrepreneurship. The organization also hosts a fellowship program for left-leaning southern state legislators that consists of a “a year-long program to advance racial and economic equity in their states.” 11 12

The organization also conducts polling on issues and opinions held by white, black, and Hispanic southerners. For example, one survey conducted in October 2021 by the organization on the trending tropic of critical race theory found that only 16% of white respondents and 27% pf black respondents felt that critical race theory should be defended as a “positive/accurate focus on race.” 13

People

The E Pluribus Unum Fund was founded by former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D) who worked as president of the organization until the fall of 2021, when he stepped aside temporarily for a role managing the Biden Administration’s deployment of funds from infrastructure legislation passed by Congress in 2021. Landrieu was briefly mentioned as a potential 2020 presidential candidate but never entered the race, opting to form the organization instead. 14

The organization’s advisory council includes former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile, former President Bill Clinton, former Harvard president Drew Faust, Emerson Collective founder Laurene Powell Jobs, and National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver. 15

References

  1. “National Advisory Council.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/about/national-advisory-council/
  2. Williams, Jessica and Adelson, Jeff. “Mitch Landrieu launches nonprofit aimed at tackling racism; Bill Clinton to serve on board.” NoLa.com. October 25, 2019. Accessed November 23, 2021.  https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4b4ac76a-f6b5-11e9-be69-afeeebd8d803.html
  3. “IRS Form 990.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. 2018. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831276899
  4. “IRS Form 990.” New Venture Fund. 2020. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2021/11/new-venture-fund-2020-form-990.pdf
  5. “About.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/about/
  6. “Fellows.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/fellows/
  7. Williams, Jessica and Adelson, Jeff. “Mitch Landrieu launches nonprofit aimed at tackling racism; Bill Clinton to serve on board.” NoLa.com. October 25, 2019. Accessed November 23, 2021.  https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4b4ac76a-f6b5-11e9-be69-afeeebd8d803.html
  8. “IRS Form 990.” New Venture Fund. 2020. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2021/11/new-venture-fund-2020-form-990.pdf
  9. Williams, Jessica and Adelson, Jeff. “Mitch Landrieu launches nonprofit aimed at tackling racism; Bill Clinton to serve on board.” NoLa.com. October 25, 2019. Accessed November 23, 2021.  https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_4b4ac76a-f6b5-11e9-be69-afeeebd8d803.html
  10. “IRS Form 990.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. 2018. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/831276899
  11. “Fellows.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/fellows/
  12. “Policy Scholars.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/policy-scholars/
  13. “Toplines: Southern States Multimodal Survey.” E Pluribus Unum Fund/GABO. October 25, 2021. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Unum-Southern-States-Survey-Topline-Results-101521-3.pdf
  14. McGill, Kevin. “Mitch Landrieu is back in the spotlight tackling U.S. infrastructure, equity.” NoLa.com. November 20, 2021. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.nola.com/news/politics/article_f25e0a48-4a4c-11ec-96d6-875f45dccd9d.html
  15. “National Advisory Council.” E Pluribus Unum Fund. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.unumfund.org/about/national-advisory-council/
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