Center Forward is an advocacy organization that bills itself as a forum for cross-party dialogue and an advocate for centrist policies at the federal level.

Though it presents itself as nonpartisan, Center Forward is led by former staffers of Democratic U.S. Representatives and the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama; funds ads in support of Democratic legislators; supports the left-wing philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and receives funding from groups associated with Democratic Party leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Activities

Center Forward argues that America is neither a right-wing nor a left-wing country, and argues that the best policies come from “the Center.” ⁶ The organization’s top issue areas are energy and sustainability, financial services, health care, innovation and technology, pragmatic governing, tax policy, trade, and workforce development. ⁷

To advance its issue areas, Center Forward hosts roundtable discussions, policy conferences, and networking receptions with government staff. It also publishes research, conducts polling, and writes opinion pieces, think pieces, and analyses on legislative and regulatory issues. ⁸

Among the policies and philosophies that Center Forward supports are incentives for hydrogen tax credits to combat global warming; the child tax credit; broadband equity; the left-wing concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and electric vehicles. ⁹

As of March 2024, Center Forward’s top “calls to action” included signing a petition to advocate for a balanced budget; promoting an economic policy project focused on Federal Reserve rules, an alleged shortage in domestic labor, and the national debt; and promoting voter registration. ^{10 11}

In the lead-up to the 2022 midterm election, Center Forward Committee reportedly spent millions of dollars on ads for center-left members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate who are either Democrats or caucus with the Democratic Party, including U.S. Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ). ¹²

According to tax filings, in 2022 Center Forward directed nearly all its expenses ($12,259,683 of $12,974,128) toward hosting panels discussions and events, conducting research, and conducting nationwide advertising to support its policy goals. ¹³

People

The executive director of Center Forward is Riley Kilburg. Kilburg worked as the communications director and senior advisor for Rita Hart, a member of the Democratic Party and former Iowa state senator, in her campaign for Iowa’s 2^nd Congressional District. Hart lost her election by six votes out of nearly 394,000 cast. Kilburg was also on the field, delegate, and political teams for the primary and general election presidential campaigns of former First Lady Hillary Clinton (D) in 2015 and 2016, including working as Clinton’s Iowa deputy political director. In 2012, Kilburg worked on the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama (D). Kilburg is a member of the board of Q Street, an LGBT-interest lobbying organization. ^{14 15}

The CEO of Center Forward is Cory Cramer. Cramer was previously a chief of staff for Mike Ross, a member of the Democratic Party who represented Arkansas’s 4^th district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and ran who ran for governor of Arkansas in 2014, losing to Asa Hutchison (R) by 470,429 votes to 352,115 votes. Kramer was also chief of staff to and managed the U.S. Senate campaign of Brad Ellsworth, a Democratic member of the U.S. House from Indiana from 2007 to 2011. ^{16 17 18}

Funding

In 2022, Center Forward received $13,996,225 of its $14,146,007 in revenue from gifts, grants, and other contributions, according to tax filings. ¹⁹

Groups associated with Center Forward have also received over $1.1 million from groups associated with Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives. In 2022, House Majority PAC gave $547,000 to Center Forward’s Super PAC six weeks before the 2022 midterm election. House Majority Forward gave $300,000 to Center Forward in 2020 and $600,000 to Center Forward in 2022. ²⁰

Affiliates

Center Forward Foundation is Center Forward’s 501(c)(3) arm that exists to educate the public on Center Forward’s priorities. ²¹

1. “Our Team.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/who-we-are/our-team/.
2. “What We Do: Education.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/what-we-do/education/.
3. Moore, David. “House Dems Donate to Centrist Group That Undermines Their Agenda.” Sludge. March 14, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://readsludge.com/2024/03/14/house-dems-donate-to-centrist-group-that-undermines-their-agenda/.
4. “What We Do: Overview.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/what-we-do/.
5. Moore, David. “House Dems Donate to Centrist Group That Undermines Their Agenda.” Sludge. March 14, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://readsludge.com/2024/03/14/house-dems-donate-to-centrist-group-that-undermines-their-agenda/.
6. “Center Forward.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/.
7. “Who We Are: Issues.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/who-we-are/issues/
8. “What We Do: Overview.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/what-we-do/
9. “What We Do: Education.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/what-we-do/education/.
10. “Center Forward.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/.
11. “Protect Our Economy.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/what-we-do/protect-our-economy/#Aboutissue.
12. Moore, David. “House Dems Donate to Centrist Group That Undermines Their Agenda.” Sludge. March 14, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://readsludge.com/2024/03/14/house-dems-donate-to-centrist-group-that-undermines-their-agenda/.
13. Center Forward Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
14. “Our Team.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/who-we-are/our-team/.
15. “Rita Hart.” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/Rita_Hart
16. “Our Team.” Center Forward. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://center-forward.org/who-we-are/our-team/.
17. “Mike Ross (Arkansas.” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 20, 2024.
18. United States congressional delegations from Indiana.” Ballotpedia. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_congressional_delegations_from_Indiana.
19. Center Forward Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.
20. Moore, David. “House Dems Donate to Centrist Group That Undermines Their Agenda.” Sludge. March 14, 2024. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://readsludge.com/2024/03/14/house-dems-donate-to-centrist-group-that-undermines-their-agenda/.
21. Center Forward Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2022.