The Century Foundation is a left-of-center think tank founded in 1919 by Filene’s department stores magnate Edward Filene as the Cooperative League to encourage business leaders to fight the growth of conservatism.

It researches from its left-of-center position and communicates the results via books, articles, position papers and events that are action-oriented.

In 2019 it launched Next100, a left-of-center “pop up” organization designed create the appearance of a grassroots operation designed to appeal to a younger demographic that takes positions favoring expunging criminal records, returning voting rights to felons, and expanding government-provided child-care and early education.

Founding

The Century Foundation was established in 1906 and incorporated in 1919 by Edward Filene, founder of Filene’s department stores and Filene’s Basement, as the Cooperative League to fight the growth of conservatism. Until Filene’s death in 1937 the League granted money to left-of-center organizations that supported Filene’s left-liberal principles. ^[1]

Concurrent with Filene’s transfer of 4,172 shares of Filene stock, the League was renamed the Twentieth Century Fund and began molding itself into a left-wing think-tank that limits grants to other organizations in favor of conducting research; publishing reports, books, and position papers; and sponsoring events designed to be of interest to government policy makers and the general public to prompt action that advances its positions. ^[2]

In 1999 the left-of-center think tank changed its name to The Century Foundation while maintaining its operating principles that rarely makes grants to other institutions or individuals. ^[3]

Policy Positions

The Century Foundation takes a number of policy positions in alignment with the Democratic Party and the broader left-progressive movement, including opposing photo identification, proof of citizenship, and national identification to vote;^[4] expanding labor union privileges to reduce income inequality; ^{[5] [6]} promoting closer U.S. collaboration with the United Nations in foreign affairs; ^[7] increasing government provision of daycare and health care;^{[8][9][10][11]} reducing prison population and increasing felons’ rights; ^[12] and demanding liberal expansionist immigration policy and decreased immigration enforcement. ^[13]

Solutions proposed by TCF almost always advocate for bigger government and it most often adopts the line of the Democratic Party. ^[14]

Activities and Statements

Recent tweets and re-tweets of NARAL tweets by the Century Foundation show their continued support for Obamacare and its expansion. ^[15] Facebook posts show their support for cancellation of student debt and promotion of expanded unionization of workers. ^[16]

Next100 is a “pop up” think tank created by Century Foundation intended to be more action oriented, appeal to a more youthful demographic, and look more like a grassroots operation. Next100 advocates for a radical-left “New Deal for New Americans Act” co-sponsored by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), expunging criminal records and return of voting rights to felons, expansion of early childhood education and child-care, a “Green New Deal” for public housing and a variety of other left-of-center positions. ^[17]

Century Foundation is closely allied with the left-of-center Center for American Progress (CAP), initially led by John Podesta, a longtime Democratic operative and former Hillary Clinton presidential campaign manager. ^[18]

Leadership

Mark Zuckerman, former deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Barack Obama and former Democratic staff director of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, is president of Century Foundation. ^[19]

Patricia Kozu, formerly managing director of the left-of-center National Employment Law Project (NLEP) and the F.B. Heron Foundation, is Century Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer. ^[20]

Emma Vadehra is executive director of Next100, a “pop up” project of the Century Foundation, and serves as a non-resident senior fellow at the left-of-center Center for American Progress (CAP). ^{[21] [22]}

Bradley Abelow, chairman of Century Foundation’s trustees, is a consultant working to advise clients about the politics of climate change. ^{[23] [24]}

Damon A. Silvers is a trustee of CF and is the director of policy and special counsel for the AFL-CIO. ^{[25] [26]}

Former U.S Senator and Governor of Nebraska Bob Kerrey (D) is a trustee along with Jonathan Alter a columnist for the Daily Beast and an analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. ^[27]

Jamila Taylor, director of health care reform and senior fellow, previously served as senior fellow and director of women’s health and rights at the left-of-center Center for American Progress (CAP) . ^[28]

Donors

Donors to the Century Foundation, with their contributions from 2015 through 2018, include:

Finances

Revenues total $4,249,189 in 2018 including $2,311,620 in grants and contributions received. Expenses were $6,469,126 including $2,800,071in salaries and wages and $1,647,005 in other expenses. ^[29] Direct charitable activities of $6,048,205 were reported and direct project expense of $1,647,005. ^[30]

Assets at the close of fiscal 2018 were $58,476,843. ^[31]