Allied Progress is a project of the New Venture Fund, a left-of-center funding organization characterized by critics as a “dark money outfit.” ^{1 2} It has a sister organization, Allied Progress Action, which is a project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund.

However, as of January 2020, Accountable.US (another New Venture Fund project) has claimed control of Allied Progress. Accountable.US notes that it is “in the process of transitioning from the New Venture Fund” into a standalone nonprofit. ³

Controversies

Allied Progress has strongly criticized Trump administration officials, launching a campaign called “Defending the Consumer Bureau” against Consumer Financial Protection Bureau acting director Mick Mulvaney.⁴

In May 2018, the Washington Free Beacon reported on Allied Progress’ status as a fiscal sponsor (or project) of the New Venture Fund, a major left-of-center grantmaking organization affiliated with Clinton operative Eric Kessler that has received funding from left-wing sponsors such as George Soros’s Open Society Foundations. The New Ventured Fund has been criticized as a “dark money” organization for funding its fiscal sponsorship of activist organizations such as Allied Progress, a practice which obscures donors to the activist groups.^{5 6}

Criticism of Trump Administration

Allied Progress signed a letter condemning the immigration policy of the Trump Administration and urging American CEOs not to employ anyone involved with the policy. It accused these officials of being directly guilty for physical abuse, sexual assault, and even the death of illegal immigrant children. The letter was titled “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs” and was dated April 6, 2019. ⁷

1. “Donate.” Allied Progress. Accessed August 21, 2019. Original URL: https://alliedprogress.org/Donate/. Archived here: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/08/Allied-Progress-NVF-Project.-08.2019.pdf.
2. Markay, Lachlan. “Over 100 Left-Wing Groups Sourced to DC Dark Money Outfit.” Washington Free Beacon. October 22, 2015. Accessed January 08, 2019. https://freebeacon.com/issues/over-100-left-wing-groups-sourced-to-d-c-dark-money-outfit/.
3. “Donate.” Accountable.US. Accessed January 23, 2020. Original URL: https://www.accountable.us/donate/. Archived URL: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2020/01/Accountable.US-Donate.-New-Venture-Fund-Project.-01.2020.pdf

   From the archived page:

   Accountable.US is a project of the New Venture Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides fiscal sponsorship and project hosting for various public interest campaigns. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Contributions to Accountable.US may appear as New Venture Fund on your bank or credit card statement. EIN 20-5806345

   Accountable.US is in the process of transitioning from New Venture Fund and expects to be able to accept donations as an independent 501(c)(3) entity in the near future.

4. “Defending the Consumer Bureau.” Allied Progress. Accessed June 22, 2018. https://alliedprogress.org/campaigns/cfpb/.
5. Schoffstall, Joe. “‘Pro-Consumer’ Group Attacking Mulvaney Tied to Liberal Dark Money Org.” Washington Free Beacon. May 02, 2018. Accessed June 13, 2018. http://freebeacon.com/politics/pro-consumer-group-attacking-mulvaney-tied-liberal-dark-money-org/.
6. “Help Us Fight Back… and Win.” Allied Progress. August 21, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2018. https://alliedprogress.org/donate/.
7. “An Open Letter to America’s CEOs.” Restore Public Trust. April 6, 2019. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/04/Restore-Public-Trust-Open-Letter-Asylum-04.2019.pdf