The ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund is a left-0f-center communications hub advocating left-of-center policy in New Mexico. 1 It is the charitable arm of the advocacy group ProgressNow New Mexico (ProgressNow NM), a state affiliate of ProgressNow, a national left-leaning advocacy group. 2
Background
The ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund was established in 2012. The fund advocates for left-leaning policies on federal, state and local issues. 3 Its associated lobbying arm, ProgressNow New Mexico, is a state-level affiliate of ProgressNow, a national left-leaning communications campaign. 4
The fund advocates left-leaning policy in areas including abortion access, environmental issues, increasing voter participation, and combatting disinformation. 5
According to IRS filings, the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund has a mailing list of 100,000 emails. 6
Related Organizations
ProgressNow is a left-leaning advocacy organization with which both ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund and the related nonprofit ProgressNow New Mexico are affiliated. It was founded in 2003 as the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network. 7
ProgressNow New Mexico is the lobbying and electoral arm of the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund; the organizations share employees and an address. 8 9 10 ProgressNow New Mexico’s campaigns are focused on abortion access, environmental issues, and left wing voter guides. 11 12
According to ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund’s tax return, the organization is related to the Center for Civic Policy, a left-leaning advocacy group whose issues include voting rights and environmental issues. 13 14 Oriana Sandoval, the chief executive officer of the Center for Civic Policy and the lobbying and advocacy group Center for Civic Action, is the chair of the board of ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund. 15 Additionally, the organizations share an address. 16 17
The New Mexico Political Report is a news site that is hosted by the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund. The Report focuses on abortion access, environmentalism, and local politics, and also lists the same address as the fund on its Facebook page. 18 19 20
Dreams in Action NM is a lobbying and advocacy group that also lists the same address as the fund on its IRS forms. The organization works to increase the civic engagement of groups including immigrants, LGBT individuals, and women. Its website is owned and operated by the Center for Civic Policy, according to its privacy policy. 21 22
Activities
In 2024, the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund signed onto a letter urging both U.S. Senators from New Mexico to co-sponsor legislation proposed by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) that would investigate Israel over potential violations of humanitarian law following its retaliatory operations against Hamas after the October 7, 2023 attack against Israel. 23
In 2017, the Foundation to Promote Open Society granted $49,800 to the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund to establish a “Hate Watch” desk at the New Mexico Political Report, a news site focused on abortion access and environmental issues that shares an address with the fund. 24
Funding
The ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund has received money from left-of-center groups, including the New Venture Fund, the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, and the Foundation to Promote Open Society. 25 26 27 28
In 2024, Democracy Fund announced that it would give ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund $300,000 over two years for “their work to center justice for systemically excluded communities through partnerships, trusted digital communications, and issue-based and civic engagement campaigns.” 29
Leadership
Staff
Alissa Barnes is the executive director of ProgressNow New Mexico and the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund. Previously, Barnes worked for Roadrunner Food Bank, a food distribution center in New Mexico. 30
Board
Oriana Sandoval is the chair of the board of the ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund and is the chief executive officer at the Center for Civic Policy and the Center for Civic Action. Sandoval has been the co-director of the New Mexico Civic Engagement Table since 2015. Previously, Sandoval worked at the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment as a clerk researching litigation on climate change issues. In 2011, Oriana served as the founding executive director of New Mexico Vote Matters (NMVM). 31
References
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Part I Line 1.
- “New Mexico.” ProgressNow. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://progressnow.org/new-mexico/.
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Part I Line 1.
- “New Mexico.” ProgressNow. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://progressnow.org/new-mexico/.
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 2 Part III Line 4a.
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2021 Page 2 Part III Line 4a.
- Roberts, Michael. “Making Progress.” Westword. August 9, 2007. Accessed March 20, 2019. http://www.westword.com/2007-08-09/news/making-progress/
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Schedule R.
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Section C.
- ProgressNow New Mexico, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022. Page 1 Section C.
- “Issues – ProgressNow New Mexico.” ProgressNow New Mexico -, December 4, 2023. https://progressnownm.org/issues/.
- “New Mexico Progressive Voters Guide.” Progressive Voters Guide. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://progressivevotersguide.com/newmexico.
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023 Schedule R.
- “Center for Civic Policy.” Center for Civic Policy, August 14, 2023. https://civicpolicy.com/.
- “Oriana Sandoval.” Center for Civic Policy, Accessed July 12, 2024. https://civicpolicy.com/oriana-sandoval-2/.
- Center for Civic Policy, Fund Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Section C.
- ProgressNow New Mexico Education Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2023. Page 1 Section C.
- “Privacy Policy – NM Political Report.” NM Political Report -, September 28, 2016. https://nmpoliticalreport.com/about/privacy-policy/.
- “Our Team – NM Political Report.” NM Political Report -, November 29, 2023. https://nmpoliticalreport.com/about/our-team/.
- New Mexico Political Report.” Facebook. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/NMpoliticalReport/.
- “Dreams in Action NM’s Privacy Policy.” Dreams In Action NM. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://dreamsinactionnm.org/privacy-policy/.
- Dreams in Action NM, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022. Page 1.
- “Local New Mexico Organizations Urge Senators Heinrich and Lujan to Support a Ceasefire and Other Measures to End the War in Gaza.” NIAC. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.niacouncil.org/press_room/local-new-mexico-organizations-urge-senators-heinrich-and-lujan-to-support-a-ceasefire-and-other-measures-to-end-the-war-in-gaza/.
- “Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships – Open Society Foundations. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=ProgressNow%2BNew%2BMexico%2BEducation%2BFund&grant_id=OR2016-32240.
- “New Venture Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022 Schedule I.
- “Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2022 Schedule I.
- “The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Return of Private Foundation (Form 990PF) 2022.
- “Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships.” Open Society Foundations – Awarded Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships – Open Society Foundations. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=ProgressNow%2BNew%2BMexico%2BEducation%2BFund&grant_id=OR2016-32240.
- 30, January. “Democracy Fund Invests $3 Million in Local Organizing for Digital Equity.” Democracy Fund, January 30, 2024. https://democracyfund.org/idea/democracy-fund-invests-3-million-in-local-organizing-for-digital-equity/.
- “About – ProgressNow New Mexico.” ProgressNow New Mexico. Accessed July 12, 2024. https://progressnownm.org/about/#sp-wf5l4u.
- “Oriana Sandoval.” Center for Civic Policy, Accessed July 12, 2024. https://civicpolicy.com/oriana-sandoval-2/.