Non-profit

Civic Involvement Fund (CIF)

Location:

BROOKLYN, NY

Tax ID:

85-2665963

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Type:

Left-of-center Advocacy Group

Formation:

2019

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The Civic Involvement Fund (CIF) is a 501(c)(4) organization created in 2019 by left-leaning activists and consultants Bill Roberts and Kathleen Welch. Roberts and Welch are the principal founders and executives of the left-leaning Corridor Partners consulting firm. The Civic Involvement Fund (CIF) was created with a $10.7 million grant of publicly traded securities from an undisclosed donor, but spent nothing during that year. CIF’s director, Shelley Hearne, is the spouse of Kathleen Welch. 1 2

Background and Activities

The Civic Involvement Fund was started in 2019 by left-leaning activists and consultants Bill Roberts and Kathleen Welch, both of whom are the principal founders and executives of the left-leaning Corridor Partners consulting firm. Both are unpaid board members of the organization, with the third, CIF director Shelley Hearne, being the spouse of Welch. According to visitor logs, between 2021 and 2024, the three board members combined have visited the White House roughly 60 times including at least a dozen visits with Biden climate advisor John Podesta. 3

According to its 2020 tax returns, the group claimed that its books were managed by Corridor Partners, even though it has never reported payments to the later organization in its returns. 4

Financials

During the 2020 tax year, leading up the presidential election, the Civic Involvement Fund donated passed along roughly $10.7 million to 5 left-of-center organizations including Priorities USA Action. 5

By the 2021 tax year, the group received two anonymous donations totaling $24.5 million. By 2022, this amount was donated to roughly 14 left-of-center organizations including Future Forward USA Action. 6

Leadership

According to its tax returns, the Civic Involvement Fund has reported no employees save for board members Bill Roberts, Kathleen Welch, and Shelley Hearne. Roberts and Welch are the founders and executives for the Corridor Partners consulting firm, while CIF director Hearne is the spouse of Welch. 7

References

  1. Return of Tax Exempt Organization, Form 990. Civic Involvement Fund. 2020. ProPublica. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/852665963/202110089349301971/full.
  2. Kerr, Andrew. “Democratic Dark Money Machine Quietly Adds Another Mystery Group to Its Ranks.” The Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-dark-money-machine-quietly-adds-another-mystery-group-to-its-ranks/
  3. Kerr, Andrew. “Democratic Dark Money Machine Quietly Adds Another Mystery Group to Its Ranks.” The Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-dark-money-machine-quietly-adds-another-mystery-group-to-its-ranks/
  4. Kerr, Andrew. “Democratic Dark Money Machine Quietly Adds Another Mystery Group to Its Ranks.” The Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-dark-money-machine-quietly-adds-another-mystery-group-to-its-ranks/
  5. Kerr, Andrew. “Democratic Dark Money Machine Quietly Adds Another Mystery Group to Its Ranks.” The Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-dark-money-machine-quietly-adds-another-mystery-group-to-its-ranks/
  6. Kerr, Andrew. “Democratic Dark Money Machine Quietly Adds Another Mystery Group to Its Ranks.” The Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-dark-money-machine-quietly-adds-another-mystery-group-to-its-ranks/
  7. Kerr, Andrew. “Democratic Dark Money Machine Quietly Adds Another Mystery Group to Its Ranks.” The Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-dark-money-machine-quietly-adds-another-mystery-group-to-its-ranks/
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Nonprofit Information


Available Filings

No filings available.

Civic Involvement Fund (CIF)

130 BERKELEY PL APT 3
BROOKLYN, NY 11217