Non-profit

Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action)

Website:

www.americanprogressaction.org/

Location:

WASHINGTON, DC

Tax ID:

30-0192708

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $9,212,661
Expenses: $10,830,961
Assets: $4,505,040

Formation:

2003

Founder:

John Podesta

Type:

Political Advocacy Organization

CEO:

Neera Tanden

Affiliates:

Center for American Progress (CAP)

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $9,423,724

Expenses: $10,569,439

Assets: $6,343,066 43

References

  1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center For American Progress Action Fund. 2023. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300192708/202443169349300529/full

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Also see Center for American Progress (Nonprofit)

The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action) is a 501(c)(4) left-of-center policy group established in 2003 as the lobbying arm of the Center for American Progress (CAP) think tank. The Action Fund is also the home of the CAP Progress Report, 1 the former operator of prominent left-of-center blog ThinkProgress, and operates a college campus organizing group, Campus Progress. 2

Between 2004 and 2017, CAP Action “spent $3.5 million on lobbying,” supporting and seeking to pass left-of-center legislation while at the same time opposing right-of-center legislative policies.  2

Background

The Center for American Progress (formerly the American Majority Institute) launched on July 7, 2003, with an approximately $10 million budget. 3 It was founded by by philanthropist George Soros, former Clinton administration White House Chief of Staff and Obama White House Counselor to the President John Podesta, and Morton Halperin from Soros’s Open Society Institute. 4

According to a Boston Globe report, CAP’s formation “helped pioneer a new breed of aggressively ideological think tank.” The “founding principle” of the Center for American Progress, “was to use policy studies to press a liberal agenda.”5 But according to the report, “what set CAP apart from other think tanks is that, “from the moment it was created, its founders sought to aggressively push an agenda on Congress and the White House.”5

Organizations exempt from taxation as charities under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code like CAP face limits on their lobbying and advocacy activities and are barred from intervening in elections. CAP’s organizers established the Center for American Progress Action Fund in 2004 as a 501(c)(4) organization that could conduct political advocacy and unlimited lobbying.5

CAP Action claims it “pursues its agenda through direct lobbying, as well as through a variety of programs, websites, coalitions, and organizing groups, most notably Campus Progress.”5 Additionally, in 2015, CAP Action disclosed that the organization spent over $700,000 on political activities.6 The group states that while they do not endorse or expressly advocate on behalf of candidates, the organization “makes communications to the general public commending or criticizing particular public positions taken by candidates” through position papers, blog posts, press releases and other similar public communications.6

The First Trump Administration

In 2017, following the election of then-president Donald Trump, CAP Action announced that the organization was seeking to become the “nerve center for the anti-Donald Trump resistance”7 and announced a plan to create a war-room “which its leaders hope will provide Democrats with a centralized resource to oppose the president-elect’s moves — starting with his Cabinet nominations.”7 Adam Jentleson, the war room’s recently hired director, said that his hope is “to bring is a relentlessly aggressive attitude and orientation toward holding Trump accountable every single day.” Further, he said, “they [CAP Action] have incredible resources here, a large staff, and I think what I hope to do is look to weaponize all of the resources that CAP can bring to bear.”7

In 2024, with regards to Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, then-CAP Action Fund CEO Patrick Gaspard claimed, “What Trump and his acolytes are running on is an authoritarian playbook…so now we have to democracy-proof our actual institutions and the values that we share.” 8 9

Advocacy

In April 2024, CAP Action claimed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wanted to cut taxes for the wealthy while repealing Obamacare to do it. The report claimed that Trump’s plans to repeal Obamacare and impose new tariffs would raise the cost of living for low- and middle-income Americans. 10

In June 2024, CAP Action’s Michael Sozan released a statement praising the conviction of then-former President Trump, claiming it was , “…about Trump’s repeated efforts to subvert our nation’s democracy, as one of the prosecuting attorneys stated in closing argument. It is yet another example of Trump’s pattern of breaking rules to gain and maintain power, which has included asking Russia for help to win the 2016 election and masterminding the plot to overturn the 2020 election, which resulted in the violent Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.” 11 Sozan also claimed Project 2025 would, “gut our government’s system of checks and balances to place almost all power in the president, making it possible for the first time to carry out radical policies without barriers.” 11

In June 2024, CAP Action’s Sara Estep criticized the U.S. Supreme Court over the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, claiming, “…it takes broad bipartisan support to enshrine such a sweeping policy change. In this case, a small number of Donald Trump’s MAGA sycophants at the state level managed to rip away fundamental reproductive freedoms from women across the United States.”  12 She also claimed, “Trump, a felon, made this nightmare a reality by appointing the justices whose votes swung the Supreme Court in Dobbs and enabled these state restrictions.” 12

In August 2024, the group published an article criticizing then-former president Trump’s proposal to impose a 20 percent tariff on all imported items and a 60 percent tariff on China calling it a “$3,900 tax increase for a typical family.” 13

In August 2024, CAP Action published an article claiming that Project 2025 was the basis of presidential candidate Donald Trump’s platform. The article claimed that Project 2025 was full of former Trump staffers and that Trump had already tried to implement its policy recommendations in his first term. 14

In September 2024, CAP Action claimed that amnesty for illegal immigrants would strengthen Social Security and Medicare and accused presidential candidate Donald Trump of lying about the issue. The report claimed that illegal immigrants pay into both programs but do not collect benefits from either one. The report advocated increased immigration and claimed that Trump’s plans for mass deportation would harm the economy. 15

In October 2024, CAP Action wrote an article praising the Inflation Reduction Act’s  increased subsidies for weather-dependent energy claiming they would increase employment in that field. The article also claimed that Americans would save money by switching away reliable sources of energy towards weather-dependent sources of energy. The article further alleged that Project 2025 would eliminate weather-dependent energy subsidies, raise costs, and lead to job losses. 16

In December 2024, CAP Action published an article claiming that Kamala Harris did better among union voters in 2024 than Joe Biden did in 2020. The group claimed that Harris’s increased performance was due to unions keeping their members “informed” about economic policies and pro-union policies enacted by the Biden-Harris administration. The group claimed that Harris won union voters by 16 percent which was larger than the 14 percent Biden won union voters in 2020. The group also claimed that union members came out to vote in greater numbers in 2024 than in 2020. 17

In February 2025, CAP Action’s Karla Walter and David Madland published an article advocating for states to expand unionization, implement sectoral bargaining, and  apply project labor and prevailing wage standards. 18

In March 2025, CAP Action reposted an article by its parent group claiming that counties which benefited from Biden-Harris industrial policy subsidies resulted in slightly more votes for Kamala Harris in 2024 than what Joe Biden received in 2020, but it was not enough to alter the outcome of the election. 19

Lobbying Activities

According to lobbying disclosure information compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, CAP Action has spent $3.79 million on lobbying activities since 2004, including $975k in 2009 and $862k in 2010. 20

Legislation that CAP Action has lobbied on relates to several left-of-center policy topics including Obamacare, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010, national defense spending, environmental issues such as the GREEN Act, immigration, unemployment, paycheck fairness, and abortion. CAP Action disclosed that it lobbied on approximately 137 bills between 2008 and 2013. 20

Funding

The CAP Action 501(c)(4) organization is largely funded by grants and other assistance provided by the larger Center for American Progress 501(c)(3) organization.

Year Total CAP Contributions to CAP Action21 Total CAP Action Contributions22 % of CAP Action “Contribution” Revenues
2004 $1,009,194 $1,044,854 96.59 %
2005 $2,269,278 $1,784,009 127.20 %
2006 $2,645,064 $1,593,514 165.99 %
2007 $3,786,342 $3,146,131 120.35 %
2008 $4,172,434 $8,444,698 49.41 %
2009 $5,599,614 $8,679,365 64.52 %
2010 $5,415,677 $8,904,353 60.82 %
2011 $4,252,502 $6,602,019 64.41 %
2012 $3,890,449 $5,766,807 67.46 %
2013 $4,165,000 $6,658,037 62.56 %
2014 $3,976,225 $5,368,633 74.06 %

In addition to CAP support, CAP Action has disclosed receiving financial support from the following entities23:

CAP Action Supporters24
$1,000,000 or more
Center for American Progress
$5,000 to $999,999
[Anonymous Donor]
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
$100,000 to $499,999
[Three Anonymous Donors]
AFSCME
Nick and Leslie Hanauer
$50,000 to $99,999
American Federation of Teachers
Joan and Irwin Jacobs
Motion Picture Association of America
National Public Education Foundation
$5,000 to $49,999
[Anonymous Donor]
Naomi Aberly
AFL-CIO
Blue Shield of California
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
Douglas H. Phelps
Ploughshares Fund
SKDKnickerbocker
Tides Foundation

Past donors to CAP Action include the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Wendy and Jim Abrams, Ben Barnes, Google, Harold Ickes, Jack Marco, and Will Robinson.24

CAP and CAP Action Business Alliance

In 2013, The Nation reported that Center for American Progress and CAP Action, had created a “a secret group of corporate donors,” known as the Business Alliance, which is “a membership rewards program for corporate contributors” that “exploded when [President Barack] Obama was elected in 2008.” 25

“A confidential CAP donor pitch” for the Business Alliance stated, “‘CAP and CAP Action, launched the American Progress Business Alliance in 2007, as a channel for engagement with the corporate community.”25 The Nation report detailing CAP Action’s Business Alliance actions noted that CAP Action-Business Alliance donor pitch letter outlined “three membership levels, with the perks to top donors ($100,000 and up) including private meetings with CAP experts and executives, round-table” and provided members “the opportunity to…collaborate on common interests.’”25

The Nation’s report further explained, “many Washington think tanks effectively serve as unregistered lobbyists for corporate donors, and companies strategically contribute to them just as they hire a PR or lobby shop or make campaign donations.” It continued, that because these think tanks “are not subject to financial disclosure requirements,” it is “impossible for the public and lawmakers to know if a think tank is putting out an impartial study or one that’s been shaped by a donor’s political agenda.” The report noted, that at the time, that CAP and CAP Action were “among the most secretive of all think tanks concerning its donors,” and that a CAP spokesman, “flatly refused to discuss specific donors or to provide an on-the-record explanation for why CAP won’t disclose them.”25

Further reporting indicated that CAP “and its ‘Action’ activist arm frequently worked to advance the interests of high-profile Business Alliance donors.” In one specific instance, the report noted that “CAP and Lockheed both lobbied Congress on 18 of the same pieces of legislation throughout 2010 and 2011,” and that CAP Action’s Think Progress Blog covered Lockheed positively during the period.26

The report also noted that during this period, Tom Perriello, a former U.S. Representative and  2017 candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Virginia, headed “the CAP Action Fund, an advocacy unit, which operates out of the same offices [as CAP] and shares personnel.”25

A CAP spokesman summarized the report in the following manner, “The inference at the heart of the author’s story is that corporate donations shape or drive the content of CAP and CAP Action.” CAP’s spokesman denied this inference. Since this report, CAP has provided more detailed information about their donors. 25

According to its website, as of 2023, the George Soros-led Open Society Action Fund and the Center for American Progress were listed as CAP Action’s largest single donors, giving the group over $1,000,000 in total. The Arabella Advisors-managed Sixteen Thirty Fund gave between $500,000 and $999,999. The Heising-Simons Action Fund and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) both donated between $100,000 and $499,999. Environmentalists Wendy and Jim Abrams, the National Education Association teacher’s union, and the Tides Foundation each donated between $50,000 and $99,999. Christie Hefner, the daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, and philanthropist Barbara Stiefel, each donated between $5,000 and $49,999. 27

Leadership

CAP Action’s website lists over 300 staff members, their responsibilities within the organization, and a corresponding biography for each individual.28

President and CEO

Neera Tanden is the president and CEO of the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund as of 2025. 29 Tanden had held both positions with CAP and CAP Action Fund from 2011 until Patrick Gaspard was announced as the president and CEO of CAP and CEO of CAP Action in June 2021. 30 Prior to working for CAP, Tanden was a senior adviser for health reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama, and she served in several policy roles for both the Obama-Biden presidential campaign and Hillary Clinton’s first presidential campaign. 31 Tanden first took over as president of CAP Action Fund from former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D) in February 2015.6 In February 2025, Tanden was announced to be rejoining CAP as president and CEO effective immediately, while also becoming CEO of CAP Action. She would be replacing Gaspard who would then take a distinguished senior fellow role with the organization. 32 33

Patrick Gaspard was the former president and CEO of CAP and the CEO of CAP Action, being announced in June 2021 to replace Neera Tanden. 30 Gaspard is a Democratic political operative who worked for many years as president of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), the principal philanthropic entities of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, from 2017 until late 2020. Prior to joining OSF, Gaspard served as United States Ambassador to South Africa and White House Director of Political Affairs under President Barack Obama and in a number of positions with other Democratic politicians and the 1199SEIU labor union. 34 In February 2025, it was announced that Tanden would be reappointed as President and CEO of CAP as well as CEO of CAP Action, with Gaspard being appointed as a distinguished senior fellow position with the organization. 34 32

Tom Perriello, a former U.S. Representative and unsuccessful candidate for the 2017 Democratic nomination for governor of Virginia, was president of the organization from 2011 through March 2014. 35

Board of Directors

CAP founder John Podesta was board of directors chairman until January 2014, when he joined the Obama White House as Counselor to the President. 36 He has returned to the Board of Directors of CAP Action as of 2025. 37

As of 2025, CAP Action’s board of directors is comprised of the following individuals: 38

Presidential Campaigns

Center for American Progress and CAP Action have served as sources or played a role in Democratic presidential campaigns since the think tank and its lobbying arm were formed by former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta in 2003. During the George W. Bush administration and lead-up to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, CAP was “widely seen as an unofficial outpost of Team Hillary.” 39

According to a report by the The New Republic, “this sense was fueled not only by Podesta’s long-standing ties to Bill and Hillary, but also by the swarm of Clinton administration refugees drawn to the center … From birth, CAP was not infrequently referred to as the ‘Clinton White House in exile’” or, more specifically, “‘Hillary’s think tank,’ a comfy holding pen where out-of-power wonks could hatch white papers while dreaming of the day when another, blonder Clinton would return them to glory.” 39

2008 Presidential Election

In 2008, it was suggested that CAP and CAP Action formed “an ideas factory for the expected presidential run of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY).”40 According to Podesta, “The right describes us as Hillary’s think tank.”40

The CAP organizations’ ties to the Clintons didn’t prevent the group from working for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign after the Democratic nominee defeated Clinton in the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primary. “Obama depended on CAP during the campaign for opposition research and talking points.” As CAP Action’s communications director put it, “There was not a policy ad that Obama did that did not quote us.” 41

CAP Action’s role in electing Obama combined with John Podesta’s leadership position in the President-elect’s transition effort to lead some to label it “the most influential independent organization in Obama’s nascent Washington.”41

2016 Presidential Election

In 2016, John Podesta served as chair of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, and Neera Tanden (a longtime friend and adviser to Hillary Clinton) worked as president of CAP and CAP Action. With these relationships to the Democratic front runner, CAP’s leaders were accused of running the organization “like a mini-Clinton White House instead of a center for progressive ideas.” 42 During the campaign, Podesta’s emails were hacked, and “in many of the emails, Tanden offers advice or gives policy ideas to Podesta and other Clinton aides,” which critics said highlighted alleged coordination between CAP and the Clinton campaign.42

References

  1. My American Progress: Personal Preference Management Center. Center For American Progress. 2017. Accessed Amy 25, 2017. http://my.americanprogress.org/LP=29/.
  2. Brodwin, David. “Opinion: Americans Lose When Think Tanks Become Lobbyists.” U.S. News. Aug. 30, 2013. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/08/30/heritage-foundation-center-for-american-progress-and-think-tanks-as-lobbyists.
  3. Bourge, Christian. “Analysis: Liberal Think Tank Debuts.” UPI. July 7, 2003. http://www.upi.com/Analysis-Liberal-think-tank-debuts/72261057610259/.
  4. Dreyfuss, Bob. “An Idea Factory for the Democrats.” The Nation. Feb. 12, 2004. Accessed May 25, 2017.  https://www.thenation.com/article/idea-factory-democrats/.
  5. Bender, Bryan. “Many D.C. Think Tanks Now Players In Partisan Wars.” Boston Globe. August 11, 2013. Accessed May 25, 2017. http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/08/10/brain-trust-for-sale-the-growing-footprint-washington-think-tank-industrial-complex/7ZifHfrLPlbz0bSeVOZHdI/story.html.
  6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax: Center for American Progress Action Fund.” Pro Publica. 2015. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300192708.
  7. Debenedetti, Gabriel. “Center For American Progress Focuses On Anti-Trump Efforts.” Politico. Dec. 15, 2016. Accessed May 25, 2017. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/center-american-progress-tanden-trump-232667.
  8. Epstein, Reid J., Maggie Haberman, Charlie Savage, and Jonathan Swan. “The Resistance to a New Trump Administration Has Already Started.” New York Times, June 16, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/16/us/politics/trump-2025-democratic-resistance.html
  9. Mclaughin, Dan. “The Resistance Sequel Will Be Even Worse.” The National Review, June 19, 2024. https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-resistance-sequel-will-be-even-worse/
  10. Duke, Brendan. “The Middle Class Will Pay the Price for Trump’s Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, Including Repealing the Affordable Care Act.” Center for American Progress Action, April 15, 2024. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/the-middle-class-will-pay-the-price-for-trumps-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy-including-repealing-the-affordable-care-act/.
  11. Sozan, Michael. “Counterpoint: Trump’s Conviction Is an Important Victory for the Rule of Law.” DC Journal – InsideSources, June 1, 2024. https://dcjournal.com/counterpoint-trumps-conviction-is-an-important-victory-for-the-rule-of-law/.
  12. Estep, Sara. “How Trump’s Justices Created Devastatingly Long Drives to Abortion Clinics.” DC Journal – InsideSources, June 28, 2024. https://dcjournal.com/how-trumps-justices-created-devastatingly-long-drives-to-abortion-clinics/.
  13. Duke, Brendan. “Former President Trump Proposes an up to $3,900 Tax Increase for a Typical Family.” Center for American Progress Action, August 15, 2024. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/former-president-trump-proposes-an-up-to-3900-tax-increase-for-a-typical-family/.
  14. Koronowski, Ryan, Thomas Musgrave, and Jessica Persano. “From Personnel to Policy: Project 2025 Is President Donald Trump’s Agenda.” Center for American Progress Action, August 14, 2024. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/from-personnel-to-policy-project-2025-is-president-donald-trumps-agenda/
  15. Kogan, Bobby, Debu Gandhi, and Brendan Duke. “Donald Trump Is Lying about Immigrants and Social Security/Medicare.” Center for American Progress Action, September 9, 2024. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/donald-trump-is-lying-about-immigrants-and-social-security-medicare/.
  16.  Marquez, Lucero, Jamie Friedman, and Jasia Smith. “Clean Energy Drives Economic Opportunity for the Middle Class.” Center for American Progress Action, October 24, 2024. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/clean-energy-drives-economic-opportunity-for-the-middle-class/.
  17.  Glass, Aurelia, and David Madland. “While Other Voters Moved Away from the Democrats, Union Members Shifted toward Harris in 2024.” Center for American Progress Action, December 2, 2024. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/while-other-voters-moved-away-from-the-democrats-union-members-shifted-toward-harris-in-2024/
  18. Madland, David, and Karla Walter. “What State Lawmakers Could Do for Working-Class Americans.” Governing, February 5, 2025. https://www.governing.com/workforce/what-state-lawmakers-could-do-for-working-class-americans.
  19. Glass, Aurelia, and David Madland. “Industrial Policy Projects Boosted Harris and Hurt Trump in the 2024 Election, but Not by Much.” Center for American Progress Action, March 3, 2025. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/industrial-policy-projects-boosted-harris-and-hurt-trump-in-the-2024-election-but-not-by-much/.
  20. Center for Responsive Politics, Opensecrets.org: Center for American Progress, Lobbying, bills Lobbied.  2004-2017. Accessed May 25, 2017. Https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientbills.php?id=D000032441&year=2011.
  21. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax: Center for American Progress. Section: VII Information Regarding Transfers to and Transactions and Relationships With Non-charitable Exempt Organizations Grants.” And

    “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax: Center for American Progress: Schedule I: Grants and Other Assistance to Organizations, Governments and Individuals in the United States.” Pro Publica. Pro Publica. 2004-2014. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300126510.

  22. “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax: Center for American Progress Action Fund. Part VIII Statement of Revenue, Line F, All Other Contributions, Gifts, Grants, and Similar Amounts Included Above.” Pro Publica. 2007-2014. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300192708. And

    “Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax: Center for American Progress Action Fund. Part 1, Revenue, Expenses and Changes: Line 1a, Direct Public Support.” Pro Publica. 2004-2007. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300192708.

  23. “Center For American Progress Action Fund: Our Supporters.” 2016. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/about/c4-our-supporters/.
  24. “Our Supporters.” Center for American Progress Action Fund. Accessed November 25, 2016. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/c4-our-supporters/
  25. Silverstein, Ken. “The Secret Donors Behind the Center for American Progress and Other Think Tanks [Updated on 5/24].” The Nation. May 22, 2013. https://www.thenation.com/article/secret-donors-behind-center-american-progress-and-other-think-tanks-updated-524/.
  26. Markay, Lachlan. “CAP’s Conflicts of Interest.” The Washington Free Beacon. June 6, 2013. http://freebeacon.com/politics/caps-conflicts-of-interest/.
  27. “Our Supporters.” Center for American Progress Action. Accessed April 14, 2025. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/our-supporters/.
  28. “Staff.” Center for American Progress Action. Accessed May 01, 2018. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/about/staff/.
  29. “Neera Tanden.” Center for American Progress, Accessed March 13, 2025. https://www.americanprogress.org/people/tanden-neera/
  30. “Patrick Gaspard Named President and CEO of the Center for American Progress, CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.” Center for American Progress, June 30, 2021. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/general/news/2021/06/30/501239/patrick-gaspard-named-president-ceo-center-american-progress-ceo-center-american-progress-action-fund/.
  31. Center For American Progress Action Fund: Staff: Neera Tanden.” 2016. Accessed June 12, 2017. https://www.americanprogressaction.org/about/staff/tanden-neera/bio/.
  32. Kassel, Matthew. “Center for American Progress pushes aside Israel critic Patrick Gaspard from leadership.” Jewish Leadership, February 28, 2025. https://jewishinsider.com/2025/02/patrick-gaspard-neera-tandem-center-for-american-progress/
  33. “Press Release: STATEMENT: Neera Tanden Rejoins CAP as President and CEO.” Center for American Progress, February 20, 2025. https://www.americanprogress.org/press/statement-neera-tanden-rejoins-cap-as-president-and-ceo/
  34. “Patrick Gaspard.” Center for American Progress, Accessed March 13, 2025. https://www.americanprogress.org/people/gaspard-patrick/
  35. Glueck, Katie. “Strickland to Head CAP Action Arm.” POLITICO. March 19, 2014. Accessed June 20, 2018. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/ted-strickland-center-for-american-progress-104812.
  36. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax: Center for American Progress Action Fund.” Pro Publica. 2014. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/300192708.
  37. “Center For American Progress: Board of Directors.” 2016. Accessed June 12, 2017. https://www.americanprogress.org/c3-board/.
  38. “Board of Directors.” Center for American Progress, accessed March 13, 2025. https://www.americanprogress.org/about-us/c3-board/
  39. Cottle, Michelle. “CAP Trade.” New Republic. Mar 12, 2008. Accessed May 25, 2017. https://newrepublic.com/article/62399/cap-trade.
  40. Baker, Peter. “Think Tank’s Leader Charts A New Course.” Washington Post. May 22, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/21/AR2006052101207.html.
  41. Scherer, Michael. “Inside Obama’s Idea Factory in Washington.” Time Magazine. Nov. 21, 2008. Accessed May 25, 2017. http://content.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1861305,00.html.
  42. Plantz, Kyle. “WikiLeaks Emails Highlight Close Ties Between Clinton Campaign and Leading Democratic Think Tank.” Inside Sources. Oct. 12, 2016. Accessed May 25, 2017. http://www.insidesources.com/wikileaks-emails-highlight-close-ties-between-clinton-campaign-and-leading-democratic-think-tank/.

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Anna Burger
    Board Member
  2. Harold Ickes
    Board Member
  3. Tom Perriello
    Former President
  4. John Podesta
    Founder; Board Member
  5. Molly McUsic
    Former Board Member
  6. Anna Chu
    Former Vice President of Policy and Research
  7. Ronald Klain
    Board Member
  8. Scott Nathan
    Board Member
  9. Greg Rosenbaum
    Board Member
  10. Wendy Abrams
    Board Member
  11. Neera Tanden
    Former President
  12. Peter Edelman
    Board Member
  13. Judith Feder
    Board Member
  14. Christie Hefner
    Board Member
  15. Orin Kramer
    Board Member
  16. Dan Pfeiffer
    Board Member
  17. Robert Raymar
    Board Member
  18. Hilary Rosen
    Board Member
  19. Judd Legum
    Editor-in-Chief, ThinkProgress
  20. Jennifer Palmieri
    Former President
  21. Lori Lodes
    Former Senior Vice President of Campaigns and Strategy
  22. Tony Carrk
    Former Vice President for Policy and Research (2014-2015)
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2004

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $9,212,661 $10,830,961 $4,505,040 $777,586 Y $9,174,956 $0 $29,280 $402,449 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $12,854,526 $13,604,256 $5,490,835 $145,081 Y $12,848,683 $0 $442 $415,337
    2020 Dec Form 990 $27,270,734 $27,269,946 $6,643,102 $547,618 Y $27,225,741 $8,782 $6,861 $342,049
    2019 Dec Form 990 $16,612,721 $12,183,575 $6,252,006 $156,522 Y $16,136,911 $41,595 $4,523 $495,757 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $9,138,674 $11,361,133 $4,561,867 $2,867,107 Y $8,186,904 $250,000 $8,595 $536,773 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $9,035,473 $9,302,420 $5,318,716 $1,398,108 Y $7,639,471 $250,000 $1,490 $125,753 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $7,751,090 $8,240,074 $5,490,859 $1,264,913 Y $6,489,280 $0 $71 $100,234 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $8,526,740 $7,693,829 $7,659,651 $2,924,143 Y $7,263,740 $0 $72 $176,715 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $6,455,380 $7,678,925 $5,252,523 $1,349,926 Y $5,598,583 $0 $73 $356,700 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $6,880,760 $6,872,566 $8,224,674 $2,623,374 Y $6,824,087 $0 $87 $266,183 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $6,468,781 $6,763,488 $6,518,990 $925,884 Y $6,176,307 $123,050 $260 $360,494 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $6,872,955 $6,478,924 $6,052,655 $164,842 Y $6,795,019 $0 $317 $395,138 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $9,490,903 $7,999,512 $5,683,067 $189,285 Y $9,358,653 $93,282 $677 $276,159 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action)

    1333 H STREET NW 10TH FLOOR
    WASHINGTON, DC 20005-4746