Logo for Influence Watch Influence Watch

Non-profit

Action for a Progressive Future

This is a logo for RootsAction, also known as Action for a Progressive Future.
Website:

www.rootsaction.org
Location:

Sacramento, CA
Tax ID:

27-2301175
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2015):

Revenue: $165,174
Expenses: $219,035
Assets: $36,055
Formation:

2011
Founder(s):

Jeff Cohen

Norman Solomon

Action for a Progressive Future (also known as RootsAction)[1] is a left-of-center lobbying group that supports anti-war efforts, automatic voter registration, eliminating bail, and the political efforts of self-described socialist U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). [2]

The organization and its leadership support removing President Donald Trump from office, overturning the Citizens United decision, and substantially restricting political and advocacy speech. [3]

Organizational Overview

Founded by Jeffrey Cohen and Norman Solomon  RootsAction was granted 501(c)(4) tax status in 2011. [4] Roots Action operates as an on-line organizing platform. The organization drives signature gathering campaigns to influence decisions to advance left-of-center causes. [5]

Roots Action combined with Free Speech for People to launch an “Impeach Trump Now” petition on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. [6]

Tax returns for 2017 indicate that $167,863[7] (43% of total income)[8] was spent on educating the public about constitutional provisions for impeaching President Trump including $122,368 in a grant to Democracy Action Inc. [9] A further $84,922 (22% of total income) went toward civic engagement campaigns supporting left-wing economic policy, [10] and $57,922 (15% of total income) was spent on “the peaceful resolution of conflicts to reduce suffering.” [11]

Expenditures ($101,520 was spent on web development in 2017)[12] are focused on delivering editorial articles via its website, development of packaged petition programs for dissemination by Roots Action and leveraging its on-line presence and email list to support local petitions that have already reached a hurdle level of signatures. Examples include stopping weapons development, providing ideas for gun control to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) and pressuring Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to co-sponsor the Green New Deal socialist environmentalist policy. [13]

Democracy In Action Inc. received a $122,368 grant from Roots Action in 2017. Democracy in Action is headed by John Bonifaz and has an expense sharing agreement with Free Speech For People. [14] Free Speech for People is also headed by Bonifaz, the founder of the National Voting Rights Institute, [15]  which has a formal affiliation agreement with the far-left think tank Demos. [16]

In 2013 RootsAction Education Fund, was formed as a separate 503(c)(3) with Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen as directors. In its 2016 tax return, it reported income of $256,401[17] with expenses of $280,471. [18]  

People

Board of Directors

Norman Solomon is a long time anti-war and left-wing activist, has authored a dozen books focused on anti-war efforts. He founded the Institute for Public Accuracy. Solomon was a Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic national convention. [19]

Jeff Cohen is a writer, journalist, and media critic who founded the far-left anti-corporate media criticism group Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR) in 1986. With Norman Solomon, he co-founded Action for a Progressive Future in 2011. [20]

Pia Gallegos is a trial lawyer with a practice focused on employment law and owns her own firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [21] She is the chair of Adelante Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party of New Mexico as well as CEO of Action for a Progressive Future. [22]

Deborah Thomas has been the publisher of FAIR’s newsletter Extra! and the Grand Street Literary Journal. She has worked on left-progressive magazines such as Seven Days, Politicks & Other Human Interests, and The Nation. [23]

Funding

Income in 2017 rose to $387,129[24]  offset by expenses of $402,842. [25] The largest reported expenditure was a grant to Democracy Action Inc followed by $101,520 spent on web functionality. [26] Assets at the end of the year totaled $50,281. [27]

References

  1. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 1 Line J. ^
  2. “RootsAction.” RootsAction. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://www.rootsaction.org/. ^
  3. “RootsAction.” RootsAction. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://www.rootsaction.org/. ^
  4. “The RootsAction Team.” RootsAction. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://www.rootsaction.org/about-rootsaction/staff-bios Accessed September 5, 2019. ^
  5. “The RootsAction Team.” RootsAction. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://www.rootsaction.org/about-rootsaction/staff-bios. ^
  6. “Who We Are.” Impeach Donald Trump Now. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://impeachdonaldtrumpnow.org/who-we-are/. ^
  7. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 2 Part III Line 4a. ^
  8. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Line 12. ^
  9. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Schedule I Part II Line 1. ^
  10. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 2 Part III Line 4b ^
  11. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 2 Part III Line 4c. ^
  12. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 10 Line 24 c. ^
  13. “RootsAction.” RootsAction. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://diy.rootsaction.org/. ^
  14. Democracy Action Inc. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Schedule O. ^
  15. “Board of Directors.” Free Speech for People. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://freespeechforpeople.org/about/board-of-directors/. ^
  16. “NVRI.” NVRI.org :: What We Do. Accessed September 18, 2019. http://nvri.net/about/index.shtml. ^
  17. Roots Action Education Fund Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) Page 1 Line 12. ^
  18. Roots Action Education Fund Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) Page 1 Line 12. ^
  19. “Norman Solomon Biography.” Norman Solomon. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://www.normansolomon.com/norman_solomon/2004/04/norman_solomon_.html. ^
  20. “Staff & Associates.” FAIR, August 14, 2019. https://fair.org/about-fair/staff-biographies/. ^
  21. “Attorney Profile.” Pia Gallegos Law Firm, P.C. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://www.piagallegoslaw.com/attorney-profile/. ^
  22. Gallegos, Pia. “Pia Gallegos.” The Nation, October 11, 2018. https://www.thenation.com/authors/pia-gallegos/. ^
  23. “HOME.” FAIR. Accessed September 18, 2019. https://fair.org/?s=deborah+thomas. ^
  24. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 1 Part I Line 12. ^
  25. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 1 Part I Line 18 ^
  26. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 10 Part IX Line 24c. ^
  27. Action For A Progressive Future Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990) 2017 Page 1 Part I Line 22. ^

Child Organizations

  1. RootsAction (Non-profit)
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2011

    • 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
    2015 Dec Form 990EZ $165,174 $219,035 $36,055 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2014 Dec Form 990 $218,937 $271,413 $89,916 $0 N $218,795 $0 $142 $4,325 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $257,507 $180,426 $142,392 $0 N $257,285 $0 $222 $3,120 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $235,100 $221,926 $65,311 $0 N $234,871 $0 $229 $3,260 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $241,912 $320,384 $52,138 $0 N $241,473 $0 $439 $149,390 PDF
    2010 Dec Form 990 $276,535 $145,925 $130,610 $0 N $276,200 $0 $335 $43,132 PDF
    Map image for Action for a Progressive Future

    Action for a Progressive Future

    1500 W EL CAMINO AVE 370
    Sacramento, CA 95833-1945