NEO Philanthropy Action Fund

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

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(4)
Formerly:

Public Interest Projects Action Fund

Location: New York, NY View on map
Tax ID: 80-0444461
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $11,051,158 Revenue: $9,483,466 Expenses: $13,434,770

Contents

    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 Center2009$39,600
    Leadership Council on Civil and Human Rights2010$75,000
    National Economic and Social Rights Initiative2010$181,255
    Tides Center2010$52,320
    Campaign for America’s Future2010$15,000
    Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCHR)2010$103,402
    Leadership Conference on Civil Rights2010$7,500
    Change to Win2010$90,000
    U.S. Chamber Watch2010$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 Action2011$150,000
    Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Inc.2011$50,000
    Citizen Action of Wisconsin2011$100,000
    Colorado Progressive Action2011$100,000
    Equality Maine2011$60,000
    John Jay College Foundation, Inc.2011$20,000
    Kentuckians for the Commonwealth2011$150,000
    League of Independent Voters2011$40,000
    League of Young Voters Education Fund2011$50,000
    Maine’s People’s Alliance2011$150,000
    Movement Strategy Center Action Fund2011$75,000
    NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund2011$50,000
    Ohio Organizing Campaign2011$350,000
    PICO National Network2011$100,000
    Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin2011$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 Minnesota2011$90,000
    Tides Center2011$27,032
    Virginia New Majority2011$250,000
    Western States Strategies2011$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 Action2012$150,000
    Beloved Community Center of Greensboro, Inc.2012$75,000
    Blueprint NC2012$200,000
    Campaign for Community Change2012$300,000
    Center for Civic Action2012$428,000
    Citizen Action of Wisconsin2012$100,000
    Colorado Civic Engagement Roundtable2012$260,000
    Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition2012$250,000
    Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund2012$153,800
    Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Right2012$75,000
    Colorado Progressive Action2012$100,000
    ColorOfChange.org2012$350,000
    Democracy North Carolina2012$150,000
    El Centro De Igualdad Y Derechos2012$125,000
    Engage Texas2012$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 Fund2012$150,000
    Kentuckians for the Commonwealth2012$150,000
    Latin American Coalition2012$150,000
    League of Independent Voters2012$40,000
    League of Young Voters Education Fund2012$50,000
    Maine’s People’s Alliance2012$150,000
    Maine’s People’s Resource Center2012$100,000
    Make The Road New York2012$75,000
    Mi Familia Vota2012$400,000
    Mississippi State Conference NAACP2012$200,000
    Missouri Jobs with Justice2012$75,000
    Mobilize the Immigrant Vote Action2012$200,000
    Movement Strategy Center Action Fund2012$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 Affiliates2012$150,000
    New Mexico New Majority2012$200,000
    North Carolina Futures Action Fund2012$100,000
    Ohio Organizing Campaign2012$350,000
    PICO Action Fund2012$200,000
    PICO National Network2012$100,000
    Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Inc.2012$100,000
    Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia2012$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 Action2012$75,000
    ProgressNow Nevada Action2012$100,000
    Public Interest Projects Inc.2012$457,500
    Rights for all People2012$50,000
    Social Justice Fund NW2012$100,000
    Somali Action Alliance, Inc.2012$40,000
    Somos Un Pueblo Unido2012$125,000
    Southwest Public Workers Union, Inc.2012$75,000
    TakeAction Minnesota2012$90,000
    Texas Organizing Project2012$150,000
    Virginia New Majority2012$250,000
    Virginia Organizing, Inc.2012$150,000
    Wellstone Action2012$200,000
    Western Organization of Resource Councils2012$50,000
    Western States Strategies2012$150,000
    Win Win Action2012$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 Fund2013$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 Carolina2013$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 People2013$50,000
    Somos Un Pueblo Unido2013$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 Justice2014$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 Carolina2014$125,000
    El Centro De Igualdad Y Derechos2014$125,000
    Environmental Defense Action Fund2014$900,000
    Georgia League Of Conservation Voters2014$20,000
    Latin American Coalition2014$75,000
    League Of Conservation Voters, Inc.2014$2,200,000
    NAACP National Voter Fund2014$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 People2014$50,000
    Sierra Club2014$900,000
    Somos Un Pueblo Unido2014$125,000
    Southwest Organizing Project Action Fund2014$300,000
    Virginia New Majority2014$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 Fund2016$1,250,000
    Fair Share Inc.2016$900,000
    Food And Water Action Fund2016$365,000
    For Our Future Action Fund2016$1,000,000
    League Of Conservation Voters, Inc.2016$1,525,000
    Majority Forward2016$500,000
    NextGen Climate Action2016$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 Fund2017$665,700
    Green Tech Action Fund2017$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

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $11,051,158 $9,483,466 $13,434,770 View
    2023 $13,831,195 $9,101,710 $6,111,295 View
    2022 $12,346,003 $10,358,810 $9,003,292 View
    2021 $9,329,811 $21,155,351 $15,381,074 View
    2020 $3,589,631 $17,574,130 $21,099,910 View

    Prior year filings: 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Michele LordPresident$383,616
    Rutledge SimmonsVice President and General Counsel$326,078
    Erin BallardCOO and Executive VP$325,126
    Margarita RubalcavaChief Program Officer$319,259
    Rini ChakrabortyVice President, FFF$297,570
    Su LimCFO and VP of Infrastructure$283,795

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $17,807,828
    • Number of Grants: 72
    • Number of Funders: 26

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $3,000,0002023 Open Society Action Fundto support nonpartisan policy advocacy in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community
    $2,750,0002021 Open Society Action Fundto support nonpartisan policy advocacy in North Carolina
    $1,100,0002024 Open Society Action FundTO SUPPORT THE GRANTEES SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES ON LATINX RIGHTS AND EMPOWERMENT
    $1,000,0002022 Open Society Action FundTo support policy advocacy for the Black, Arab, African, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities in the United States
    $750,0002024 Open Society Action FundTO SUPPORT NONPARTISAN POLICY ADVOCACY IN SUPPORT OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY
    $750,0002021 Open Society Action Fundto support policy advocacy on a range of racial justice issues by Blackbird Action Fund, a project of the Grantee
    $735,2152022 Open Society Action FundTo support the Common Good Action Fund, a project of the grantee, in its work to produce a blueprint to revitalize American institutions, demanding they work to benefit all people and advance the common good
    $600,0002021 Open Society Action Fundto support advocacy on Latinx rights and empowerment
    $550,0002020 National Education Association of the United StatesFINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
    $400,0002020 Open Society Action Fundto support policy advocacy on immigration
    $300,0002021 Open Society Action Fundto support policy advocacy on immigration
    $300,0002020 All Hands on Deck Network IncPRIMARY PURPOSE
    $250,0002024 Open Society Action FundTO SUPPORT POLICY ADVOCACY FOR THE BLACK, ARAB, AFRICAN, MIDDLE EASTERN, MUSLIM, AND SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
    $250,0002021 Open Society Action Fundto support policy advocacy for the Black, Arab, African, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian communities in the United States
    $200,0002024 Women Donors Network ActionPRIMARY PURPOSE AND GENERAL SUPPORT FOR MPOWER ACTION
    $200,0002023 Way to RiseGENERAL OPERATIONS
    $165,0002022 Inatai FoundationCORE SUPPORT FOR FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECT
    $150,0002024 Open Society Action FundTO SUPPORT POLICY ADVOCACY ON A RANGE OF RACIAL JUSTICE ISSUES BY BLACKBIRD ACTION FUND, A PROJECT OF THE GRANTEE
    $150,0002024 Proteus Action LeagueRIGHTS & JUSTICE
    $150,0002024 Grove Action FundFOUR FREEDOMS ACTION FUND
    $150,0002023 Grove Action FundPROJECT SUPPORT(FOUR FREEDOMS ACTION FUND)
    $150,0002022 Grove Action FundPROJECT SUPPORT
    $150,0002021 Grove Action FundPROJECT SUPPORT
    $150,0002020 Grove Action FundFOUR FREEDOMS ACTION FUND
    $150,0002020 Open Society Action Fundto support nonpartisan policy advocacy on Asian American and Pacific Islander civic engagement

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $85,255,346
    • Number of Grants: 330
    • Number of Recipients: 206

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $7,350,0002021 League of Conservation Voters IncProgram Grant
    $4,750,0002020 League of Conservation Voters IncProgram Grant
    $3,750,0002020 Center for American Progress Action FundProgram Grant
    $3,250,0002024 NEO PhilanthropyProgram Grant
    $2,000,0002021 Fund for a Better Future IncProgram Grant
    $2,000,0002020 Majority ForwardProgram Grant
    $2,000,0002020 Priorities USAProgram Grant
    $1,500,0002021 The Partnership Project Action FundProgram Grant
    $1,026,0002024 Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law CaucusProgram Grant
    $1,000,0002021 Nrdc Action Fund IncProgram Grant
    $1,000,0002020 AcronymProgram Grant
    $1,000,0002020 Environmental Defense Action FundProgram Grant
    $510,0002024 Make the Road Action IncProgram Grant
    $500,0002020 Ab FoundationProgram Grant
    $475,0002020 Sunrise MovementProgram Grant
    $461,6282020 National Education Association of the United StatesProgram Grant
    $431,5872020 Energy Action FundProgram Grant
    $400,0002024 NAKASEC Action FundProgram Grant
    $372,0002023 Asian Law CaucusProgram Grant
    $350,0002024 Sheriff Accountability ActionProgram Grant
    $300,7382024 New Yorkers for Equal Rights IncProgram Grant
    $300,0002020 Sheriff Accountability ActionProgram Grant
    $290,0002022 American Business Immigration Coalition ActionProgram Grant
    $250,0002022 Carolina FederationProgram Grant
    $250,0002022 Black Progressive Action CoalitionProgram Grant

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    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.