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Non-profit

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund

Location:

NEW YORK, NY
Tax ID:

80-0444461
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $10,358,810
Expenses: $9,003,292
Assets: $12,346,003
Type:

Fiscal Sponsorship and Pass-Through Group
Formerly:

Public Interest Projects Action Fund

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund (formerly Public Interest Projects Action Fund) is the lobbying and election-related advocacy arm of left-of-center funding pass-through NEO Philanthropy (formerly Public Interest Projects). It provides financial support to left-of-center lobbying and election-related advocacy groups including Asian Americans Advancing Justice, NextGen Climate Action, and Make the Road Action. 1

History and General Activities

The NEO Philanthropy Action Fund was created in 2009 as the political advocacy arm of NEO Philanthropy to advance left-of-center social policy goals. The organization engages with elected officials, conducts direct advocacy, and trains activists focused on environmentalism and climate change, illegal immigration, and civic engagement. 2

Americans for Financial Reform

Americans for Financial Reform is a joint project of NEO Philanthropy Action Fund and Americans United for Change. In 2010, the group published a television advertisement entitled “Sen. Tester, Keep Fighting for Financial Reform.” 3

Leadership

President

Michele Lord is the president of the NEO Philanthropy Action Fund and NEO Philanthropy. 4 From 2012 to 2015, she was co-president alongside Berta Colon; 5 since 2015, she has been the organization’s sole president. 6

From 2009 to 2012, John Gilroy was the NEO Philanthropy Action Fund’s president. 7 Gilroy is a member of NEO’s board of directors. 8

Board of Directors

As of 2023, the NEO Philanthropy Action Fund board included Gilroy, left-wing nonprofit operative Sara Jameel Hadad, 9 and left-of-center expansionist immigration activist and nonprofit consultant Rovika Rajkishun, 10  while Susan Stamler of United Neighborhood Houses had departed the board during the year. 11 4

Funding

A table of NEO Philanthropy Action Fund’s total revenues between 2010 and 2018 is available below: 12

NEO PhilanthropyNEO Philanthropy Action Fund
Annual RevenuesAnnual Revenues
2018$83,350,8382018$14,397,520
2017$58,068,4142017$10,114,588
2016$38,374,1872016$7,996,232
2015$39,361,1922015$2,039,350
2014$51,747,4392014$6,159,366
2013$41,666,2582013$6,171,768
2012$43,722,6312012$9,308,000
2011$34,557,9482011$8,918,605
2010$30,206,5352010$1,015,581
Grand Total:$421,055,442Grand Total:$66,121,010

A table of NEO Philanthropy Action Fund’s total expenditures between 2010 and 2018 is available below: 13

NEO PhilanthropyNEO Philanthropy Action Fund
Annual ExpendituresAnnual Expenditures
2018$68,749,2102018$8,452,395
2017$45,086,1382017$8,245,330
2016$38,557,4612016$8,101,542
2015$39,701,5062015$3,191,129
2014$46,872,4852014$8,714,271
2013$38,578,0272013$3,786,318
2012$42,281,3492012$11,486,609
2011$32,847,6842011$4,263,280
2010$30,510,9332010$1,856,880
Grand Total:$383,184,793Grand Total:$58,097,754

Funding Sources

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund received $21,993,000 from Atlantic Philanthropies between 2009 and 2010. 14 In 2011, Atlantic Philanthropies’s Atlantic Advocacy Fund gave the Action fund $2,197,500; in 2012, it gave the Action Fund another $1,802,500. 15

The Action Fund has given at least $100,000 to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund from 2009 to 2019. 16

Grant Recipients

A table of NEO Philanthropy Action Fund’s grant recipients from 2009 to 2017 is available below: 17

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund: Grant Recipients (2009-2017)YearGrant Amount
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative2009$145,000
Tides Center 2009$39,600
Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights2010$75,000
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative2010$181,255
Tides Center 2010$52,320
Campaign for America's Future2010$15,000
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCHR)2010$103,402
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights 2010$7,500
Change to Win2010$90,000
U.S. Chamber Watch 2010$140,476
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women2011$150,000
Afro World Enterprises, Ltd.2011$40,000
Alliance of Local Leaders for Education Registration and Turnout2011$225,000
American Bar Association FJE2011$26,000
American Values Project2011$50,000
Asian Pacific Environmental Network Action 2011$150,000
Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Inc. 2011$50,000
Citizen Action of Wisconsin 2011$100,000
Colorado Progressive Action2011$100,000
Equality Maine2011$60,000
John Jay College Foundation, Inc. 2011$20,000
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth 2011$150,000
League of Independent Voters 2011$40,000
League of Young Voters Education Fund2011$50,000
Maine's People's Alliance 2011$150,000
Movement Strategy Center Action Fund 2011$75,000
NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund 2011$50,000
Ohio Organizing Campaign2011$350,000
PICO National Network2011$100,000
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin 2011$100,000
Public Interest Projects Inc. 2011$825,000
Somali Action Alliance, Inc. 2011$40,000
Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE)2011$125,000
TakeAction Minnesota 2011$90,000
Tides Center2011$27,032
Virginia New Majority 2011$250,000
Western States Strategies 2011$150,000
Wisconsin Voices, Inc. 2011$200,000
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women2012$195,000
Action North Carolina2012$150,000
Afro World Enterprises, Ltd.2012$40,000
Alliance of Local Leaders for Education Registration and Turnout2012$225,000
America Votes Education and Action Fund2012$200,000
American Civil Liberties Union, Inc. 2012$170,000
Asian Pacific Environmental Network Action 2012$150,000
Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Inc. 2012$75,000
Blueprint NC2012$200,000
Campaign for Community Change 2012$300,000
Center for Civic Action2012$428,000
Citizen Action of Wisconsin 2012$100,000
Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable2012$260,000
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition 2012$250,000
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund 2012$153,800
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Right2012$75,000
Colorado Progressive Action2012$100,000
ColorOfChange.org2012$350,000
Democracy North Carolina 2012$150,000
El Centro De Igualdad Y Derechos2012$125,000
Engage Texas 2012$250,000
Equality Maine2012$60,000
Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, Inc. 2012$75,000
Florida New Majority2012$400,000
Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV)2012$75,000
Georgia Wand Education Fund, Inc. 2012$75,000
Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement Action Fund 2012$150,000
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth 2012$150,000
Latin American Coalition 2012$150,000
League of Independent Voters 2012$40,000
League of Young Voters Education Fund2012$50,000
Maine's People's Alliance 2012$150,000
Maine's People's Resource Center2012$100,000
Make The Road New York2012$75,000
Mi Familia Vota 2012$400,000
Mississippi State Conference NAACP 2012$200,000
Missouri Jobs with Justice 2012$75,000
Mobilize the Immigrant Vote Action 2012$200,000
Movement Strategy Center Action Fund 2012$75,000
NAACP2012$150,000
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative2012$142,293
NC NAACP2012$150,000
Needmor Fund2012$100,000
Nevada Advocates for Planned Parenthood Affiliates 2012$150,000
New Mexico New Majority2012$200,000
North Carolina Futures Action Fund2012$100,000
Ohio Organizing Campaign2012$350,000
PICO Action Fund 2012$200,000
PICO National Network2012$100,000
Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Inc. 2012$100,000
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia 2012$150,000
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin2012$100,000
Planned Parenthood of North Texas Action Fund, Inc. 2012$150,000
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada2012$100,000
Progressive States Action 2012$75,000
ProgressNow Nevada Action2012$100,000
Public Interest Projects Inc. 2012$457,500
Rights for all People 2012$50,000
Social Justice Fund NW2012$100,000
Somali Action Alliance, Inc. 2012$40,000
Somos Un Pueblo Unido 2012$125,000
Southwest Public Workers Union, Inc. 2012$75,000
TakeAction Minnesota 2012$90,000
Texas Organizing Project2012$150,000
Virginia New Majority 2012$250,000
Virginia Organizing, Inc. 2012$150,000
Wellstone Action2012$200,000
Western Organization of Resource Councils 2012$50,000
Western States Strategies 2012$150,000
Win Win Action 2012$100,000
Young Women United2012$75,000
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women2013$140,000
Action North Carolina2013$150,000
Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Inc. 2013$75,000
Blueprint NC2013$200,000
Center for Civic Action2013$275,000
Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable2013$250,000
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund 2013$250,000
Colorado Organization for Latina Oppurtunity and Reproductive Rights2013$75,000
Colorado Progressive Action2013$200,000
Community Organizations In Action2013$150,000
Democracy North Carolina 2013$125,000
El Centro De Igualdad2013$125,000
Latin American Coalition2013$150,000
League Of Conservation Voters, Inc. 2013$850,000
NC NAACP2013$150,000
New Mexico New Majority2013$100,000
North Carolina Futures Action Fund2013$100,000
Rights for All People 2013$50,000
Somos Un Pueblo Unido 2013$125,000
Wellstone Action2013$20,000
Young Women United2013$75,000
9 to 5 National Association of Working Women2014$140,000
Action North Carolina2014$125,000
American Wind Energy Association2014$350,000
Asian Americans Advancing Justice 2014$15,000
Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Inc. 2014$75,000
Blueprint NC2014$100,000
Center for Civic Action2014$275,000
CIRC Action Fund2014$250,000
Citizens For Responsible Energy Solutions2014$500,000
Coalicion Latinoamericana2014$75,000
Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable2014$250,000
Colorado Organization For Latina Oppurtunity and Reproductive Rights2014$75,000
Colorado Progressive Action2014$200,000
Democracy North Carolina 2014$125,000
El Centro De Igualdad Y Derechos2014$125,000
Environmental Defense Action Fund 2014$900,000
Georgia League Of Conservation Voters 2014$20,000
Latin American Coalition2014$75,000
League Of Conservation Voters, Inc. 2014$2,200,000
NAACP National Voter Fund 2014$80,000
North Carolina Futures Action Fund2014$100,000
Partnership Project Action Fund2014$750,000
Patriot Majority USA Inc. 2014$300,000
Rights for all People 2014$50,000
Sierra Club2014$900,000
Somos Un Pueblo Unido 2014$125,000
Southwest Organizing Project Action Fund2014$300,000
Virginia New Majority 2014$20,000
Young Women United2014$75,000
Blueprint NC2015$25,000
Center for Civic Action2015$25,000
Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable2015$25000
League Of Conservation Voters, Inc. 2015$1,215,000
Media Matters Action Network2015$400,000
North Carolina State Conference NAACP2015$150,000
Partnership Project Action Fund2015$1,260,000
Environmental Defense Action Fund 2016$1,250,000
Fair Share Inc. 2016$900,000
Food And Water Action Fund 2016$365,000
For Our Future Action Fund 2016$1,000,000
League Of Conservation Voters, Inc. 2016$1,525,000
Majority Forward2016$500,000
NextGen Climate Action 2016$1,000,000
NRDC Action Fund Inc. 2016$350,000
The Civic Participation Action Fund2016$1,000,000
American Bridge 21st Century Foundation2017$645,000
Bipartisan Policy Center Action Inc. 2017$200,000
Environment America Inc. 2017$900,000
Food And Water Action Fund 2017$665,700
Green Tech Action Fund 2017$200,000
League Of Conservation Voters, Inc. 2017$5,300,000
Online Progressive Engagement Network (NEO fiscal sponsor project) 2017$40,000
Grand Total:$46,669,878

According to tax filings, in 2022, the NEO Philanthropy Action Fund gave over $6.7 million in grants to largely left-aligned advocacy groups, including $290,000 to American Business Immigration Coalition Action, $250,000 to the Black Progressive Action Coalition, $200,000 to Americas Voice, $180,000 to the New Left Accelerator, $150,000 to Poder NC Action, and $54,357 to the Sixteen Thirty Fund. 4

References

  1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc. 2022, Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800444461/202443059349300044/IRS990ScheduleI
  2. “NEO Action Fund.” NEO Action Fund. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://neoactionfund.org/.
  3. “New TV Ad: Sen. Tester, Keep Fighting for Financial Reform.” WikiLeaks. Published February 25, 2010. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/19819
  4.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc. 2022 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800444461/202443059349300044/IRS990.
  5. NEO Philanthropy Action Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Part VII Section A https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800444461/201543209349309314/full
  6. “Michele Lord.” NEO Philanthropy, April 17, 2024. https://neophilanthropy.org/team/michele-lord/.
  7. NEO Philanthropy Action Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2010, Part VII Section A. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/800444461/2011_12_EO%2F80-0444461_990O_201012
  8. “John Gilroy.” NEO Philanthropy, March 8, 2023. https://neophilanthropy.org/team/john-gilroy/.
  9.  “Sara Jameel Hadad – New York, New York, United States .” LinkedIn. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadads/.
  10. “Rovika Rajkishun – Consultant – Ruby Slippers Fundraising .” LinkedIn. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rovikarajkishun/?_l=en.
  11. [1] “Susan Stamler – United Neighborhood Houses.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 15, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-stamler-65511a.
  12. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) (multiple). NEO Philanthropy, NEO Philanthropy Action Fund. 2010-2018. Part I. Line 12 (Total Revenues).
  13. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) (multiple). NEO Philanthropy, NEO Philanthropy Action Fund. 2010-2018. Part I. Line 18 (Total Expenditures).
  14. “Public Interest Projects Action Fund, Inc.” Atlantic Philanthopies. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/grantees/public-interest-projects-action-fund-inc
  15. “Atlantic Advocacy Fund.” Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/nonprof_contrib_grants.php?id=208293674&cycle=2016
  16. “Planned Parenthood Action Fund.” Issue One. Accessed May 22, 2019. https://www.issueone.org/dark-money-groups-planned-parenthood-action-fund/
  17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). NEO Philanthropy Action Fund. 2009-2017. Schedule I.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 2009

    • 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
    2022 Dec Form 990 $10,358,810 $9,003,292 $12,346,003 $1,926,506 N $10,263,582 $65,964 $29,264 $32,899 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $21,155,351 $15,381,074 $9,329,811 $273,387 N $21,086,740 $65,500 $3,159 $29,225
    2020 Dec Form 990 $17,574,130 $21,099,910 $3,589,631 $307,484 N $17,548,230 $2,987 $26,578 $30,794
    2019 Dec Form 990 $13,226,182 $15,328,281 $7,008,393 $200,466 N $13,152,592 $554 $73,036 $34,125
    2018 Dec Form 990 $14,397,520 $8,452,395 $8,958,082 $46,317 N $14,368,474 $9,102 $19,944 $50,728 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $10,114,588 $8,245,330 $3,171,714 $210,643 N $10,012,323 $96,694 $5,571 $101,662
    2016 Dec Form 990 $7,996,232 $8,101,542 $1,288,876 $197,063 N $7,980,224 $0 $16,008 $93,459 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,039,350 $3,191,129 $1,366,295 $169,172 N $2,035,000 $0 $4,350 $39,776 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $6,159,366 $8,714,271 $2,579,871 $230,969 N $6,150,000 $0 $9,366 $70,248 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $6,171,768 $3,786,318 $5,054,726 $150,919 N $6,162,500 $0 $9,268 $99,571 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $9,308,000 $11,486,609 $2,833,283 $314,926 N $9,292,500 $0 $15,500 $102,487 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $8,918,605 $4,263,280 $5,173,284 $476,318 N $8,898,000 $0 $20,605 $0 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $1,015,581 $1,856,880 $154,154 $112,513 N $1,013,417 $0 $2,164 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    NEO Philanthropy Action Fund


    NEW YORK, NY 10018-7635