Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

Center for Popular Democracy (CPD)

Website:

populardemocracy.org
Location:

BROOKLYN, NY
Tax ID:

45-3813436
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $28,906,156
Expenses: $36,498,613
Assets: $25,461,945
Formation:

2012
Principal Officers:

Andrew Friedman

Ana Maria Archila

Brian Kettenring

Jennifer Epps-Addison

The Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) is a left-of-center 501(c)(3) organization involved in voter mobilization and policy development. The center’s stated mission is “to create equity, opportunity and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base-building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions.”[1] The organization signed a petition supporting the Green New Deal. [2] In January 2019 CPD was a co-signatory on a letter that denounced nuclear power as “dirty energy” (nuclear power plants produce no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions). [3]

The group has numerous state- and local-level partner organizations and is active in approximately thirty states. In the 2016 election cycle, CPD and its 501(c)(4) affiliate Center for Popular Democracy Action sought $7 million in contributions for work in concert with the left-wing Working Families Organization on voter contact and activation for progressive candidates.[4]

Center for Popular Democracy is a “recommended organization” endorsed by the progressive donor consortium Democracy Alliance.[5] Center for Popular Democracy has received millions in funding from various progressive foundations, including the Wyss Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Surdna Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Public Welfare Foundation.[6] Despite supporting restrictions on anonymous conservative political speech, CPD has taken over $3 million in anonymized contributions from the donor-advised Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund.[7]

People

CPD has four co-directors: Andrew Friedman, Ana Maria Archila, Jennifer Epps-Addison, and Brian Kettenring.

Andrew Friedman, a graduate of Columbia College and the New York University School of Law, is a longtime veteran of left-of-center politics.[8] He founded Make the Road New York, another left-of-center group focused on worker and immigrant rights, in 1997. CPD compensated Friedman $189,115 in 2014, including $153,500 in base pay.

Ana Maria Archila is another longtime left-of-center activist. She joined CPD in 2013 after serving as the executive director of Make the Road New York and the Latin American Integration Center.[9]

Brian Kettering led the Leadership Center for the Common Good until the group merged with CPD in 2013.[10] Kettering worked for the now-defunct ACORN from 1995 until 2010. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Kettering denied ACORN engaged in voter fraud tactics and accused Republicans of attacking the group to suppress voters.[11]

Initiatives

Center for Popular Democracy was founded in 2012, merging with the Leadership Center for the Common Good in 2014.[12] It has taken the lead for liberal organizing on local policies through its arm Local Progress, demanded extremely loose monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, and advocated for a broad and aggressive progressive-left agenda.

Local Progress

Center for Popular Democracy’s most prominent campaign is Local Progress, an effort to pool policy ideas and activism from municipal councilors in America’s most liberal cities and spread them to more cities. The group is closely tied to the key players in the Democratic coalition: The Local Progress Board includes officials from the AFL-CIO and SEIU.[13] Local Progress’s board is chaired by Councilor Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn), the chairman of the New York City Council’s Progressive Caucus and powerful Rules Committee.[14]

The group seeks to use its organization of municipal policy to influence state and federal regulation. Local Progress published a platform in 2016 that sought to influence the campaign of Hillary Clinton for President, emphasizing gun control, advancing left-wing labor and employment regulation, reversing school choice, and demanding environmentalist energy policy.[15]

Local Progress’s strategies include forcing businesses to push states to adopt the group’s preferred policies rather than face patchworks of inconsistent rules. Local Progress chair Lander described the strategy: “Eventually that should be a national law or a CFPB regulation. That’s not going to happen until a lot of cities and states do it […] And if there’s a competition for who can do the strongest law, eventually it’ll make sense for businesses to say ‘we should have a national law.’”[16]

Since the election of President Donald Trump, Local Progress has taken a key role in coordinating opposition to the Administration’s immigration restriction policies. In March 2017, Local Progress gathered representatives of 30 “sanctuary cities” that refuse to provide certain information on illegal immigrants to federal authorities to plan defiance of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.[17]

Labor Regulation

Center for Popular Democracy led the effort to pass so-called “fair workweek” legislation in Seattle, Washington.[18] The ordinance mandates larger retail and food establishments post worker schedules two weeks in advance, provide at least 10 hours between shifts and offer additional hours to employees before adding new workers. Portland, Oregon, passed a nonbinding resolution calling on businesses to review their scheduling practices.[19] The laws, based on a law first passed in San Francisco under heavy influence of organized labor unions, have been criticized for reducing workplace flexibility for part-time employees and reducing employment.[20]

CPD has also engaged in progressive and labor union campaigns to push minimum wage increases. In November 2016, Colorado voters voted for a plan to boost the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour, plus yearly wage inflation adjustments. CPD spent the most money of the progressive groups supporting the campaign, reportedly more than $1 million.[21]

Federal Reserve System Changes

CPD has also agitated against the Federal Reserve’s efforts to prevent inflation through its “Fed Up” campaign. Campaign activists met with Fed officials in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in August 2016 to demand Fed officials slow interest rate increases and restrict the independence of regional Federal Reserve Banks.[22] CPD sued the federal government in October 2016 to demand more transparency into how the regional banks select their presidents.[23]

The “Fed Up” campaign won what appeared to be its biggest victory when then-Democratic Presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton endorsed CPD’s proposal to bar bankers from serving on Federal Reserve regional bank boards. CPD and Clinton had been in talks with Clinton’s campaign to advance the left-wing regulatory agenda.[24]

Race Relations and Policing

Center for Popular Democracy also plays in the debates surrounding policing reform and the Black Lives Matter movement.  CPD was involved in a 2015 Democracy Alliance-associated conference kickoff dinner strategizing on how progressives could fund the efforts of anti-police activists.[25]

A Center policy advocate sits on an eight-member inter-organizational “Movement for Black Lives policy leadership team,” which released a policy manifesto in August 2016.[26] The manifesto addressed policy areas far outside those of policing reform including demanding reparations for slavery and the reinstitution of the Franklin D. Roosevelt-era Glass-Steagall banking regulation.[27]

A Center for Popular Democracy deputy director proposed seizing revenues from a future decriminalized or legalized marijuana industry and redistributing them as reparations. Marbre Shahly-Butts told a policy conference of the liberal state policy development group State Innovation Exchange: “The idea is we that have extracted literally millions of dollars from communities, we have destroyed families. Mass incarceration has led to the destruction of communities across the country. We can track which communities, like we have that data. And so if we’re going to be decriminalizing things like marijuana, all of the profit from that should go back to the folks we’ve extracted it from,” reportedly to widespread applause from principally Democratic state and municipal legislators.[28]

Activity

Strike for Black Lives

On July 20, 2020, the Center for Popular Democracy participated in the “Strike for Black Lives.” Labor unions and other organizations participated in the mass strike in 25 different cities to protest racism and acts of police violence in the United States. [29]

Employees in the fast food, ride-share, nursing home, and airport industries left work to participate in the strike. Protesters sought to press elected officials in state and federal offices to pass laws that would require employers to raise wages and allow employees to unionize so that they may negotiate better health care, child support care, and sick leave policies. Protesters stressed the need for increased safety measures to protect low-wage workers who do not have the option to work from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organizers of the protest claimed that one of the goals of the strike is to incite action from corporations and the government that promotes career opportunities for Black and Hispanic workers. Organizers stated that the strike was inspired by the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike in 1968 over low wages, inhuman working conditions, and a disparity in the distribution of benefits to black and white employees.

They stated that the purpose of the “Strike for Black Lives” is to remove anti-union and employment policies that prevent employees from bargaining collectively for better working conditions and wages. [30]

Opposition to Nuclear Energy

Nuclear power plants produce no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions, and as of 2021 accounted for 20 percent of American electricity production—the largest source of zero carbon electricity in the United States. [31]  An October 2018 proposal from The Nature Conservancy noted that zero-carbon nuclear plants produced 7.8 percent of total world energy output and recommended reducing carbon emissions by increasing nuclear capacity to 33 percent of total world energy output. [32]

The Center for Popular Democracy was one of more than 600 co-signing organizations on a January 2019 open letter to Congress titled “Legislation to Address the Urgent Threat of Climate Change.” The signatories declared their support for new laws to bring about “100 percent decarbonization” of the transportation sector but denounced nuclear power as an example of “dirty energy” that should not be included in any legislation promoting the use of so-called “renewable energy.”[33]

Controversies

Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings

During the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September 2018, CPD co-executive director Ana Maria Archila and another staffer “cornered Arizona [S]enator Jeff Flake, who had just announced he was going to vote yes on moving Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination out of the Judiciary Committee and onto the Senate floor for a full debate. The women wouldn’t let Flake leave until they had yelled at him, face to face, for several minutes.” [34]

In a fundraising email, CPD wrote: [35]

“Last week, you saw protestors interrupting the Kavanaugh hearings, trying to slow it down and show the Judiciary Committee how much they/we care. Those protests were organized by the Women’s March and the Center for Popular Democracy and other groups.”

“Be A Hero” Campaign (2018)

On October 3, 2018, a handful of activists wearing T-shirts featuring “Be A Hero” harassed and shouted at Republican Sen. David Perdue (Georgia) and his wife as they traveled through Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The “Be A Hero” campaign is a project of the Center for Popular Democracy, encouraging voters to vote for Democrats in the November 2018 midterm elections.[36]

Criticism of Trump Administration

CPD 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. [37]

Ties to Harassment of Sen. Kristen Sinema

On October 3, 2021, a group of activists affiliated with Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), one of CPD’s organizational members, followed Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) into a bathroom at Arizona State University, where she taught several classes. [38] The activists, in possible violation of Arizona law, filmed Sinema in the bathroom while pressuring her to pass a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill backed by Sinema’s fellow Senate Democrats, and harassing her for her stance on immigration policies. [39] CPD has funded LUCHA extensively, granting them $65,000 in 2015, [40] $288,600 in 2017, [41] $202,000 in 2018, [42] and $332,400 in 2019.[43] The Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund, CPD’s 501(c)(4) wing, has also contributed to LUCHA, giving $984,806 in 2016 for the organization’s minimum wage campaign.[44]

Around the same time, CPD also organized protestors on kayaks to protest outside the houseboat of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) in Washington, DC. Manchin was the only other senate Democrat to join Sen. Sinema in opposing the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill. The protesters reportedly continued for several days, shouting questions and abuse from their boats, until Manchin finally agreed to meet with them.[45]

Facilitation of Congressional Members’ Arrest

CPD’s 501(c)(4) sister organization CPD Action was involved in a protest outside the Supreme Court that several congresswomen, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, were arrested at. In an Instagram post, Ocasio-Cortez said that CPD Action organizers and activists had asked her and other congressional members to “submit themselves for arrest in front of the Supreme Court” to continue to draw media attention to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health.[46] CPD Action stated that its leaders were among the 18 people that were not congressional members but also arrested.[47] CPD Action said the incident showed “SCOTUS and lawmakers that #WeWontBackDown until ALL pregnancy-abled people are treated as full human beings with the autonomy to make decisions about OUR OWN bodies.”[48]

The incident drew widespread attention after Ocasio-Cortez’s critics accused her of pretending to be handcuffed to create a media attention.[49] Ocasio-Cortez said she was engaging in “a best practice when under arrest.”[50]

Funding

CPD reported more than $12.2 million in total revenue in 2014.[51] The group spent $7.3 million that year.[52] The group reported $3.05 million in total revenue in 2013, with $2.87 million in expenses.[53]

The Center receives substantial contributions from labor unions. In 2015, annual reports filed with the Department of Labor showed that unions spent $987,938 in expenditures to CPD and its 501(c)(4) Center for Popular Democracy Action.[54] The top union contributor in that year was the National Education Association, which contributed $148,900 to CPD and $422,000 to CPD Action Fund.[55]

The Tides Foundation donated $15,000 to CPD in 2014 on two separate occassions.[56] Tides gave the center $70,000 in 2013.[57] The Marguerite Casey Foundation granted CPD $350,000 in 2015 to bolster the Fed Up project.[58] The Open Philanthropy Project granted CPD $1 million for 2016 to aid the same campaign.[59]

The Ford Foundation gave $2.48 million through four separate donations during 2015 and 2016.[60] An October 2015 Ford Foundation blog post boasts of CPD’s work on the Fed Up Initiative.[61]  The Bauman Family Foundation granted CPD $130,000 between 2012 and 2016.[62]

The Mertz Gilmore Foundation granted CPD $40,000 in 2016 to, “support the Peabody Organizing Projects.”[63] CPD’s Missouri ally, Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, asked the now-bankrupt Peabody Energy, a coal company, for reparations to communities supposedly harmed by the company’s energy-producing practices.[64]

Ahead of the 2016 presidential election, numerous musicians collaborated to produce 30 songs in 30 days in opposition to then-candidate Donald Trump. Money raised by this project, launched by Dave Eggers and Jordan Kurland, will flow to CPD, which was reportedly chosen because of CPD’s advocacy of automatic voter registration.[65]

Grantmaking

From 2016 to 2019 the Center for Popular Democracy distributed roughly $30 million in grants, below is a table showing their grantmaking. [66] [67] [68] [69]

Grant RecipientYear Amount ($)
ACCE Institute2016296,500
Action Institute NC2016147,500
Action United201630,000
Arizona Center For Empowerment201635,250
CASA De Maryland2016263,500
Center For Economic & Policy Research2016105,000
Center On Policy Initiatives201630,000
Centro De Trabajadores Unidos En Lucha201690,000
Common Good Ohio 201660,000
Communities Creating Opportunity201629,000
Community Labor United 201615,000
Economic Policy Institute201618,000
Florida Institute For Reform And Empowerment2016125,000
Front Range Economic Strategic Center201690,000
Good Jobs Now2016178,450
Isaiah 201660,000
Los Angeles Alliance For A New Economy201635,000
Make The Road New Jersey201625,000
Make The Road New York2016142,500
Make The Road Pennsylvania201650,000
Maryland Communities United201630,000
Missourians Organizing For Reform And Empowerment201643,000
New Venture Fund201650,000
New York Communities For Change2016160,000
One Pennsylvania Inc201665,000
Organization For Black Struggle201625,000
Rights And Democracy 201640,000
Silicon Valley Rising Action201625,000
Sunflower Community Action201615,000
Texas Organizing Project Education Fund201647,500
Wellstone Action Fund201663,900
Wisconsin Jobs Now201640,000
Workers Defense Project201675,000
Working America Education Fund201650,000
Working Families Organization2016420,000
Working Partnerships USA201650,000
Working Washington 201664,250
The University of Chicago 201650,000
North Start Fund201630,000
ACCE Institute2017165,000
Action Institute NC201760,000
Action North Carolina 2017191,000
Agitarte201710,000
Arizona Center For Empowerment201750,000
Association For Neighborhood & Housing Development201730,000
CPDA For Black Leaders Organizing For Community201730,000
CASA De Maryland2017357,250
Center For Economic & Policy Research201720,000
Central General De Trabajadores20175,000
Centro De La Mujer Dominicana INC201710,000
Centro De Periodismo Investigativo INC201750,000
Centro De Desarollo Politico Educativo Y Cultural 201725,000
Citizens Action Of New York201730,000
Community Justice Project INC2017130,000
Community Labor United 201750,000
Coordinadora Paz Para La Mujer20175,000
Economic Policy Institute201730,000
El Cano Martin Pena2017200,000
Fair Work Center201725,000
Family Forward Oregon201750,000
Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center2017100,000
Haser INC201725,000
Housing Rights Center201760,000
Human Impact Partners20175,000
Institute For Socio Ecological Research INC201725,000
Living United For Change In Arizona2017288,600
Los Angeles Alliance For A New Economy201775,000
Make The Road Action201730,000
Make The Road New York 2017310,825
Maryland Communities United201788,000
MASA-Mixed INC2017120,000
Missourians Organizing For Reform And Empowerment2017120,000
National Housing & Community Development Law Project2017125,000
National Immigration Law Center201765,000
Neighborhoods Organizing For Change2017260,000
New Florida Majority2017111,000
New Settlement Apartments2017167,237
New Virignia Majority2017229,000
New Virignia Majority Education Fund 201730,000
New World Education2017190,000
New York Communities For Change INC2017217,500
Ohio Organizing Collaborative 2017280,000
One Pennsylvania Inc201796,388
Organizacion Boricua De Agricultura Eco-Organica201710,000
Organize Florida2017121,000
Organize Florida Education Fund2017125,000
Organize Pennsylvania 2017378,000
Oirigcom INC201710,000
Proyecto De Solidaridad Y Autogestion Comunitaria Para La Descolonizacin20176,000
Puerto Rico Community Network For Clinical Research On Aids INC201720,000
Rights & Democracy Education Fund201750,000
Rights & Democracy Project INC2017150,000
Sol Es Vida 201720,000
Taller Salud INC2017200,000
Texas Organizing Project20177,500
Texas Organizing Project Education Fund201792,500
The Alliance For Greater New York201710,000
The University Of Chicago 201736,500
Tides Center201750,000
United For A New Economy2017215,000
Warehouse Workers Justice Center INC201745,000
Weikaraya Ke20175,000
Welcoming American INC201775,000
Workers Defense Project201720,000
Working Families Organization2017110,000
Working Partnership USA201710,000
Working Washington 201780,000
Centro De Trabajadores Unidos En Lucha201725,000
Caras Of The Americas201712,000
Good Jobs Now2017176,000
CASA De Maryland2018784,500
One Pennsylvania Inc2018712,600
Fideicomiso De Conservacin De Puerto Rico2018700,000
Taller Salud INC2018700,000
Progressive America Fund2018630,000
New Virginia Majority2018553,000
United For A New Economy2018459,750
Acton North Carolina 2018442,125
Organize Florida Education Fund2018425,000
Organize Florida2018351,000
Ole Educaiton Fund2018300,000
Action Institute North Carolina2018275,000
Make The Road New York2018255,000
New World Foundation2018215,000
New York Communities For Change INC2018210,000
Living United For Change In Arizona2018202,000
Proyecto Matria INC2018200,000
Iniciativa De Eco-Desarrollo De Bahia De Jobos INC2018175,000
Maryland Communities United2018168,000
Arizona Center For Empowerment2018166,200
Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico INC2018150,000
Instituto Nueva Escuela 2018150,000
Working Washington 2018125,000
National Immigration Law Center2018120,000
Rights & Democracy Project INC2018115,000
Hoosier Action INC2018110,000
Haser INC2018106,000
Rights & Democracy Education Fund2018100,000
Texas Organizing Project2018100,000
New Setlement Apartments 201890,000
Mayor's Fund To Advance New York City 201875,000
The Ohio Organizing Collabrative 201875,000
Fideicomiso Para El Desarrpollo De Ro Piedras201875,000
Junta Comunitaria Del Carco Urbano De Rio Piedras201875,000
Immigrant Legal Resource Center201865,000
New York University Metro Center201860,000
Fair Work Center201860,000
Warehouse Workers Justice Center INC201860,000
Proyecto De Solidaridad Y Autogestion Comunitaria Para La Descolonizacin201860,000
Working Families Organization201858,800
Colectivo El Ancon De Lioza Incorporado Coop Las Robles201850,000
Community Labor United 201850,000
Family Forward Oregon 201850,000
Los Angeles Alliance For A New Economy201850,000
New Florida Majority Education Fund201850,000
Northwest Workers Justice Project201850,000
PCUN201850,000
Agitarte201850,000
Campamento Contra Cenizas En Penuelas INC201850,000
Centro De Periodismo Investigativo INC201850,000
Coco De Oro INC201850,000
The People's Institute For Survival And Beyond INC201850,000
New Florida Majority 201849,800
National Black Justice Coalition INC201847,500
Asociacion Recreative Educativa Y Comunal De Mariana201840,000
Weikaraya Ke201840,000
Fusion Partership INC201837,000
Take Action Minnesota201835,625
Association For Neighborhood & Housing Development201830,000
Delaware Alliance For Community Advacement201830,000
Brigada Solidaria Del Oeste201830,000
Centro De Apoyo Mutuo Bucarabones Unidos201830,000
Centro Para El Desarollo Politico Educativo Y Cultura201830,000
Mujeres De Islas INC201830,000
Chicago Jobs With Justice201825,000
Northwest Health Foundation Fund II201825,000
Workers Defense Project201825,000
Tides Center201823,000
American Friends Service Committee201820,000
Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition201820,000
Action Now Institute201810,000
Coordinadora Paz Para La Mujer201810,000
Public Accountability Initiative201875,000
Puerto Rico Community Foundation201875,000
Tides Foundation20193,157,571
Canvass LLC2019530,500
Organize Florida2019530,500
CASA De Maryland2019510,500
New Florida Majority2019354,000
Living United For Change In Arizona2019332,400
Arizona Center For Empowerment2019325,000
Rights & Democracy Project INC2019315,000
Action North Carolina 2019253,750
Make The Road New York2019215,000
United For A New Economy2019214,950
One Pennsylvania Inc2019210,000
New Florida Majority Education Fund2019200,000
Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico INC2019180,000
Working Washington 2019175,000
Maine People's Resource Center2019165,000
New Virginia Majority2019158,750
Organize Florida2019150,000
Repower Fund 2019135,383
New York Communitie For Change INC2019120,000
National Community Land Trust Network2019112,000
Action Institute North Carolina2019110,000
PCUN2019110,000
Maryland Communities United201995,000
New Georgia Project201990,000
New Settlement Apartments201987,000
Texas Organizing Project Education Fund201985,000
Ole Educaiton Fund201980,000
National Day Laborer Organizing Network201965,000
Family Forward Oregon201960,000
Haser INC201959,500
New York University Metro Center201956,000
Floss INC201955,000
Fuertefuerte INC201950,000
La Maraa201950,000
MASA-Mixed INC201950,000
Federacion De Mestros De Puerto Rico201945,000
Public Accountability Initiative201945,000
Comisin Ciudadana Para La Auditora Integral Del Credito Pblico INC201940,000
Semilleros De Las Artes INC201935,000
Sol Es Vida 201930,000
Taller Salud INC201926,500
Arkansas Community Institute201925,000
Tidmore Neuroscience E Corporation201925,000
University Of Puerto Rico Mayaguez201925,000
The Leadership Conference Education Fund INC201921,185
Allied Media Projects201920,000
American Friends Service Committee201920,000
Brigada Legal Solidaria INC201920,000
Coordinadora Paz Para La Mujer201920,000
Hoosier Action INC201920,000
Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition201920,000
Pueblo Critico INC201920,000
Sunflower Community Action201920,000
The Ohio Organizing Collabrative 201920,000
Mujeres De Islas INC201919,500
Agitarte 201910,000
Americans For Financial Reform Education Fund201910,000
Centro De Apoyo Mutuo Bucarabones Unidos201910,000
Vera Institute Of Justice 20198,000
Total2016-2019$30,865,539

References

  1. “About Us,” The Center for Popular Democracy, April 6, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, https://populardemocracy.org/about-us. ^
  2. ”Green New Deal Hub.” Influence Watch. https://www.influencewatch.org/hub/green-new-deal/. ^
  3. “Group letter to Congress urging Green New Deal passage.” Earthworks. January 10, 2019. Accessed August 12, 2021. https://www.earthworks.org/publications/group-letter-to-congress-urging-green-new-deal-passage/. ^
  4. Markay, Lachlan. “Liberal Group’s Seven-Figure Turnout Efforts Target Battleground States.” Washington Free Beacon. May 9, 2016. Accessed March 30, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/liberal-groups-turnout-efforts-target-battleground-states/ ^
  5. “Recommended Organizations.” Democracy Alliance. Accessed March 30, 2017. http://democracyalliance.org/investments/ ^
  6. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted March 31, 2017. ^
  7. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted March 31, 2017. ^
  8. “Staff,” Center for Popular Democracy, November 14, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, https://populardemocracy.org/about-us/staff. ^
  9. “Staff,” Center for Popular Democracy, November 14, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, https://populardemocracy.org/about-us/staff. ^
  10. “Staff,” Center for Popular Democracy, November 14, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, https://populardemocracy.org/about-us/staff. ^
  11. John Fund, “An Acorn Whistleblower Testifies in Court,” Wall Street Journal (wsj.com), October 30, 2008, http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122533169940482893. ^
  12. “Center for Popular Democracy and the Leadership Center for the Common Good to Merge,” Center for Popular Democracy, December 3, 2013, accessed November 20, 2016, https://populardemocracy.org/blog/center-popular-democracy-and-leadership-center-common-good-merge. ^
  13. “Board Members.” LocalProgress. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://localprogress.org/who-we-are/board-members/ ^
  14. Taylor, Kate. “An Unassuming Liberal Makes a Rapid Ascent to Power Broker.” The New York Times. January 23, 2014. Accessed March 31, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/nyregion/unassuming-liberal-suddenly-becomes-council-kingmaker.html ^
  15. Torres, Ritchie, and Lisa Bender. “Here Are the City Policies That Democrats Need to be Talking About.” Next City. July 22, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/dnc-lawmakers-city-policies-democrats ^
  16. DePillis, Lydia. “Meet the lefty club behind a blitz of new laws in cities around the country.” The Washington Post. January 04, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/04/meet-the-lefty-club-behind-a-blitz-of-new-laws-in-cities-around-the-country/?utm_term=.4ded70e31710 ^
  17. Pazmino, Gloria. “At sanctuary cities gathering, policymakers vow to become Trump’s ‘worst nightmare'” Politico PRO. March 27, 2017. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2017/03/at-sanctuary-cities-gathering-policymakers-vow-to-become-trumps-worst-nightmare-110738 ^
  18. “Another Victory for Workers in Seattle — This Time It’s Their Schedules,” October 20, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/38071-another-victory-for-workers-in-seattle-this-time-it-s-their-schedules. ^
  19. “Fair Work Week Resolution Passes in Portland!,” Victories, October 17, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, http://workingfamilies.org/2016/10/fair-work-week-resolution-passes-portland/. ^
  20. Saltsman, Michael. “Scheduling Law Nonsense.” US News. October 13, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2016-10-13/scheduling-laws-make-no-sense-for-employees ^
  21. Carter, Eliza. “Minimum Wage Going Up,” Colorado Independent, November 9, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016.  http://www.coloradoindependent.com/162300/minimum-wage-colorado . ^
  22. Daniel Marans, “Progressive Activists Take A Seat for the People at Federal Reserve Retreat,” Huffington Post (The Huffington Post), August 25, 2016, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/federal-reserve-fed-up-jackson-hole_us_57bf7095e4b02673444f65b5. ^
  23. Jeffries, Tara. “Progressive Group Sues Fed, Seeking Information on Presidential Selection,” Morning Consult, October 19, 2016, accessed March 31, 2017 https://morningconsult.com/alert/progressive-group-sues-fed-seeking-information-presidential-selection/ ^
  24. Marans, Daniel. “Hillary Clinton Embraces Progressive Federal Reserve Reforms.” The Huffington Post. May 12, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-progressive-fed-reforms_us_5734c8fce4b060aa78199d25 ^
  25. Vogel, Kenneth P., and Sarah Wheaton. “Major donors consider funding Black Lives Matter.” POLITICO. November 13, 2015. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/major-donors-consider-funding-black-lives-matter-215814 ^
  26. McClain, Dani. “What Does Black Lives Matter Want? Now Its Demands Are Clearer Than Ever.” The Nation. August 10, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. https://www.thenation.com/article/what-does-black-lives-matter-want-we-now-have-it-in-writing/ ^
  27. See McClain, Dani. “What Does Black Lives Matter Want? Now Its Demands Are Clearer Than Ever.” The Nation. August 10, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. https://www.thenation.com/article/what-does-black-lives-matter-want-we-now-have-it-in-writing/ and Weeks, Maurice. “Op-Ed: Why Black Lives Matter wants Clinton to reinstate Glass-Steagall if she wins.” CNBC. September 09, 2016. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/07/why-black-lives-matter-wants-hillary-clinton-to-reinstate-glass-steagall-commentary.html ^
  28. Russell, Jason. “Black Lives Matter asks state Dems for ‘reparations'” Washington Examiner. October 02, 2015. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/black-lives-matter-asks-state-dems-for-reparations/article/2573331 ^
  29. Morrison, Aaron. “AP Exclusive: ‘Strike for Black Lives’ to highlight racism”. Associated Press. July 8, 2020. https://apnews.com/d33b36c415f5dde25f64e49ccc35ac43. ^
  30. Morrison, Aaron. “AP Exclusive: ‘Strike for Black Lives’ to highlight racism”. Associated Press. July 8, 2020. https://apnews.com/d33b36c415f5dde25f64e49ccc35ac43. ^
  31. “Nuclear explained.” U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed August 16, 2021. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/us-nuclear-industry.php ^
  32. “ The Science of Sustainability.” The Nature Conservancy. October 13, 2018. Accessed August 16, 2021. https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/the-science-of-sustainability ^
  33. “Group letter to Congress urging Green New Deal passage.” Earthworks. January 10, 2019. Accessed August 12, 2021. https://www.earthworks.org/publications/group-letter-to-congress-urging-green-new-deal-passage/. ^
  34. Fund, John. “Who Was behind the Flake Set-Up?” National Review. October 01, 2018. Accessed October 01, 2018. https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/who-was-behind-the-flake-set-up/. ^
  35. Fund, John. “Who Was behind the Flake Set-Up?” National Review. October 01, 2018. Accessed October 01, 2018. https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/who-was-behind-the-flake-set-up/. ^
  36. Prince, Molly. “PROTESTERS SHOUT DOWN DAVID PERDUE WHILE HE’S IN THE BATHROOM, HE FIRES BACK.” October 3, 2018. Accessed October 15, 2018. https://dailycaller.com/2018/10/03/protesters-shout-down-gop-senator-david-perdue-while-hes-in-the-bathroom/. ^
  37. “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 ^
  38. “Immigration activists follow Sinema into bathroom, demanding action on reconciliation bill.” The Washington Post. Accessed October 5, 2021. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/575133-immigration-activists-follow-sinema-into-bathroom-in-phoenix. ^
  39. “Immigration activists follow Sinema into bathroom, demanding action on reconciliation bill.” The Washington Post. Accessed October 5, 2021. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/575133-immigration-activists-follow-sinema-into-bathroom-in-phoenix. ^
  40. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Form 990. 2015. The Center for Popular Democracy. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453813436/201643129349302149/IRS990ScheduleI. ^
  41. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Form 990. 2017. The Center for Popular Democracy. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453813436/201803169349305460/IRS990ScheduleI. ^
  42. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Form 990. 2018. The Center for Popular Democracy. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453813436/201903159349304450/IRS990ScheduleI. ^
  43. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Form 990. 2019. The Center for Popular Democracy. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453813436/202003149349302150/IRS990ScheduleI. ^
  44. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Form 990. 2016. The Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453860271/201723179349308122/IRS990ScheduleI. ^
  45. Cole, Brendan. “Joe Manchin Ambushed on His Yacht by Activists Demanding He Back Infrastructure Bill.” Newsweek. Newsweek, October 1, 2021. https://www.newsweek.com/joe-manchin-ambushed-yacht-activists-infrastructure-bill-1634593. ^
  46. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (aoc). “Let’s talk about it…” Instagram, July 20, 2022. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2022/07/IMG_3693.jpg.  Accessed July 21, 2022. ^
  47. Kerr, Andrew. “AOC and Ilhan Omar coordinated Supreme Court arrest stunt with Soros-funded dark money group.” Washington Examiner, July 20, 2022. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/aoc-ilhan-omar-supreme-court-arrest-staged-soros-group. ^
  48. CPD Action. “Moments ago, leaders from CPD Action network organizations, members of Congress & more participated…” Facebook, July 19, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/CPDAction. ^
  49. Kerr, Andrew. “AOC and Ilhan Omar coordinated Supreme Court arrest stunt with Soros-funded dark money group.” Washington Examiner, July 20, 2022. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/aoc-ilhan-omar-supreme-court-arrest-staged-soros-group. ^
  50. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (aoc). “Let’s talk about it…” Instagram, July 20, 2022. https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2022/07/IMG_3693.jpg.  Accessed July 21, 2022. ^
  51. Center for Popular Democracy, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Part I Line 12 ^
  52. Center for Popular Democracy, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Part I Line 18 ^
  53. Center for Popular Democracy, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Part I ^
  54. Author’s analysis of Annual Reports of a Labor Organization (Forms LM-2) from 2015, maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards. Queries conducted March 31, 2017. ^
  55. Author’s analysis of Annual Reports of a Labor Organization (Forms LM-2) from 2015, maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards. Queries conducted March 31, 2017. ^
  56. “Tides List of Grantees 2014,” Tides Foundation, accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.tides.org/fileadmin/user/grantees/Tides_list_of_2014_Grantees.pdf. ^
  57. “Tides List of Grantees 2013,” Tides Foundation, accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.tides.org/fileadmin/user/pdf/Tides_List_of_2013_Grantees.pdf. ^
  58. “Center for Popular Democracy,” Casey Grants, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, http://caseygrants.org/grantees/leadership-center-for-the-common-good/. ^
  59. “Center for Popular Democracy — Fed up Campaign 2016,” December 2015, accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.openphilanthropy.org/focus/us-policy/macroeconomic-policy/center-popular-democracy-fed-campaign-2016. ^
  60. “Grants Database,” Ford Foundation, accessed November 20, 2016, https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/grants-database/grants-all?search=%26SearchText%3Dcenter%20for%20popular%20democracy&page=0. ^
  61. Jean Ross, “Fed up Makes Inroads Against Interest Rate Hikes,” June 13, 2016, https://www.fordfoundation.org/ideas/equals-change-blog/posts/fed-up-makes-inroads-against-interest-rate-hikes/. ^
  62. “Center for Popular Democracy,” accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.baumanfoundation.org/grantee/172. ^
  63. “Climate Change Solutions,” Mertz Gilmore Foundation, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.mertzgilmore.org/program-areas/climate-change-solutions/. ^
  64. “Protesters March on Peabody HQ, Urging Reparations in Bankruptcy,” Riverfront Times, November 2, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, http://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2016/04/21/protesters-march-on-peabody-hq-urging-reparations-in-bankruptcy. ^
  65. “Musicians Are Rallying Against Donald Trump with ‘30 days, 30 songs,’” October 19, 2016, accessed November 20, 2016, http://uproxx.com/music/30-days-30-songs-donald-trump-interview/. ^
  66. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Popular Democracy. 2016. Schedule I. ^
  67. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Popular Democracy. 2017. Schedule I. ^
  68. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Popular Democracy. 2018. Schedule I. ^
  69. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Popular Democracy. 2019. Schedule I. ^

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Jennifer Epps-Addison
    Co-Executive Director
  2. Brian Kettenring
    Co-Executive Director
  3. Ady Barkan
    Project Director: Local Progress, Fed Up
  4. Deborah Axt
    Board Member
  5. Javier Valdes
    Board Chair
  6. Ana Maria Archila
    Co-Executive Director
  7. Andrew Friedman
    Co-Executive Director
  8. Tony Perlstein
    Deputy Director of Communications
  9. Anita Jain
    Director of Communications

Donor Organizations

  1. 32BJ SEIU (Labor Union)
  2. Abelard Foundation (Non-profit)
  3. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) (Labor Union)
  4. Alliance for Open Society International (Open Society Institute Baltimore) (Non-profit)
  5. American Association for Justice Robert L. Habush Endowment (Non-profit)
  6. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) (Labor Union)
  7. American Federation of Teachers (AFT) (Labor Union)
  8. Anne Cox Chambers Foundation (Non-profit)
  9. Bafrayung Fund (Non-profit)
  10. Bread & Roses Community Fund (Non-profit)
  11. California Nurses Association (Labor Union)
  12. Chorus Foundation (Non-profit)
  13. Communications Workers of America (CWA) (Labor Union)
  14. David Rockefeller Fund (Non-profit)
  15. Economic Security Project (Non-profit)
  16. Elizabeth B. and Arthur E. Roswell Foundation (Non-profit)
  17. Flora Family Foundation (Non-profit)
  18. Ford Foundation (Non-profit)
  19. Groundswell Fund (Non-profit)
  20. Grove Foundation (Non-profit)
  21. Hagedorn Foundation (Non-profit)
  22. Hopewell Fund (Non-profit)
  23. Jerome L. Greene Foundation (Non-profit)
  24. JPB Foundation (Non-profit)
  25. Leonard & Sophie Davis Fund (Non-profit)
  26. Make the Road New York (MRNY) (Non-profit)
  27. Mariposa Foundation (Non-profit)
  28. Morningstar Foundation (Non-profit)
  29. Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation (Non-profit)
  30. Nathan Cummings Foundation (Non-profit)
  31. National Association of Letter Carriers (Labor Union)
  32. National Education Association (NEA) (Labor Union)
  33. National Nurses United (Labor Union)
  34. Needmor Fund (Non-profit)
  35. NEO Philanthropy (Non-profit)
  36. New Venture Fund (NVF) (Non-profit)
  37. New World Foundation (NWF) (Non-profit)
  38. New York Communities for Change (NYCC) (Non-profit)
  39. Newman’s Own Foundation (Non-profit)
  40. NoVo Foundation (Non-profit)
  41. Overbrook Foundation (Non-profit)
  42. Partnership Project (Non-profit)
  43. Patagonia Org (Non-profit)
  44. Proteus Fund (Non-profit)
  45. Public Welfare Foundation (Non-profit)
  46. Robert Sterling Clark Foundation (Non-profit)
  47. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) (Non-profit)
  48. Rockefeller Brothers Fund (Non-profit)
  49. Sagner Family Foundation (Non-profit)
  50. San Francisco Foundation (Non-profit)
  51. SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana (SEIU HCII) (Labor Union)
  52. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) (Labor Union)
  53. Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) (Non-profit)
  54. Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund) (Non-profit)
  55. Solidago Foundation (Non-profit)
  56. Sparkplug Foundation (Non-profit)
  57. Surdna Foundation (Non-profit)
  58. Susie Tompkins Buell Foundation (Non-profit)
  59. Unite Here (Labor Union)
  60. United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) (Labor Union)
  61. Walter and Elise Haas Fund (Non-profit)
  62. Wellspring Philanthropic Fund (Non-profit)
  63. William B. Wiener Jr. Foundation (Non-profit)
  64. Wyss Foundation (Non-profit)
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: December 1, 2012

    • 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
    2019 Dec Form 990 $28,906,156 $36,498,613 $25,461,945 $6,683,512 N $25,633,150 $3,017,547 $35,732 $713,731 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $36,972,905 $33,278,672 $31,686,439 $5,315,549 Y $34,289,145 $2,681,298 $39,682 $631,693 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $37,080,654 $22,473,870 $24,786,334 $2,109,677 N $35,691,465 $1,309,314 $9,898 $662,767 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $15,109,473 $15,086,955 $8,366,939 $1,420,768 N $12,741,337 $1,975,339 $1,501 $573,952 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $14,747,676 $13,482,726 $9,454,210 $2,530,557 N $13,442,554 $1,296,554 $5,240 $552,365 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $12,275,120 $7,319,884 $7,031,111 $673,560 N $11,084,618 $1,183,639 $3,941 $485,146 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $3,046,684 $2,869,329 $860,999 $47,031 N $2,612,761 $421,232 $0 $477,015 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,985,181 $1,372,422 $777,350 $140,737 N $1,487,533 $492,411 $0 $139,251 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990EZ $25,500 $1,646 $25,500 $1,646 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    Map image for Center for Popular Democracy (CPD)

    Center for Popular Democracy (CPD)

    449 TROUTMAN ST STE A
    BROOKLYN, NY 11237-2790