The Long Ridge Action Fund is an advocacy foundation that supports left-of-center social activism and civic engagement initiatives. ¹ The San Francisco-based group was established in 2021 as a family-run operation of the Burnett family. ^{2 3}

The organization is run by Nancy Packard Burnett, daughter of Hewlett-Packard and David and Lucille Packard Foundation co-founder David Packard. Nancy Burnett’s family are the board members of Long Ridge Action Fund. ²

The group backs what it calls just, equitable, and democratic society by promoting social change, protecting civil rights, and advancing civic participation. ¹ The organization has donated $250,000 to the Arabella Advisors-managed North Fund. ⁴

Background

The Long Ridge Action Fund advocates for a “more equitable society” and gives money to organizations that it believes strengthen core democratic institutions and give “a voice for all people.” ⁵ The Long Ridge Action Fund was established in 2021. ^{2 3}

The president of the Long Ridge Action Fund board of directors is Nancy Packard Burnett, daughter of David Packard, the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard who with his wife started the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. Nancy Burnett’s family constitutes the board of Long Ridge Action Fund. ¹

The organization was granted tax-exempt status in September 2022 as a 501(c)(4) organization. ^{6 2}

Financial Connections

The Long Ridge Action Fund gave $250,00 to the Arabella Advisors-managed North Fund, which is involved in campaigns related to state ballot measures. ⁴

The Long Ridge Action Fund donated $175,000 to All Voting is Local, which is a project of the left-of-center Leadership Conference Education Fund. It contributed $150,000 to Tides Advocacy, a pass-through organization affiliated with the left-wing Tides Foundation, and gave $150,000 to Every Eligible American, a left-leaning voter turnout organization. ⁵

The Long Ridge Action Fund also provides support to numerous other left-leaning projects that focus on gender, race, voting, environmental, and other matters. These include the Hub Project, a research organization founded by former Obama administration officials; the Gender Equity Action Fund, which is a project of the Arabella Advisors-managed North Fund; Emerge America, a left-of-center candidate training organization; the Environmental Defense Action Fund, an environmentalist group; Every Library, a political action committee for libraries; Down Ballot Climate Partners, which is a project of Tides Advocacy; Run for Something Action Fund, which trains left-leaning candidates to run for office; Voto Latino, a voter mobilization group; Black Men Vote Civic Action Fund, a voter mobilization group; Indivisible, a left-of-center “resistance” nonprofit created after the 2016 election of former President Donald Trump; and Collective Future, a left-leaning project of the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ⁷

Leadership

Nancy Anne Burnett is the president of the board of directors of the Long Ridge Action Fund. ⁶

Christopher Milo Burnett is the secretary of the board. ⁶

James Gareth Clark is the treasurer of the board. ⁶

Other members of the board of directors for the Long Ridge Action Fund are Ipek Sarac Burnett, Sierra Laura Burnett, and Jason Kestrel Burnett. ⁶

Danielle Smith is the director of operations and grants management for the fund. ¹

1. Press Release. “Long Ridge Action Fund renews support for Every Library in protecting First Amendment rights in libraries.” March 15, 2023. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://librarytechnology.org/pr/28620
2. “Who We Are.” Long Ridge Action Fund. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.longridgeactionfund.org/home/#who-we-are
3. “Long Ridge Action Fund.” Bizpedia. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.bizapedia.com/ca/long-ridge-action-fund.html
4. Ludwig, Hayden. “Arabella: The Left’s ‘Dark Money’ Monster.” Restoration of America. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.restorationofamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Arabella-Dark-Money-Monster-Restoration-of-America.pdf
5.  “Long Ridge Action Fund.” Cause IQ. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/long-ridge-action-fund,862676698/
6. “Long Ridge Action Fund.” Pro Publica. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/862676698
7.  Long Ridge Action Fund. Accessed April 20, 2024. https://www.longridgeactionfund.org/