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Non-profit

Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund)

Parent Organization: Arabella Advisors
Website:

www.sixteenthirtyfund.org
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

26-4486735
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2016):

Revenue: $21,258,592
Expenses: $19,660,860
Assets: $7,840,711
Formation:

2009
Type:

Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship Nonprofit
President:

Eric Kessler
Managed By:

Arabella Advisors
Latest Tax Filing:

2018 Form 990

The Sixteen Thirty Fund (sometimes styled “1630 Fund”) is a left-of-center lobbying and advocacy organization founded in 2008.[1] Sixteen Thirty Fund often operates alongside its charitable “sister” nonprofit New Venture Fund, which provides similar funding and fiscal sponsorship services to center-left organizations. Both groups, along with the Hopewell Fund and Windward Fund,  are administered by Arabella Advisors, a Washington, D.C.-based philanthropy consulting firm that caters to left-leaning clients.

According to its founding documents, the Sixteen Thirty Fund was created with seed funding from Americans United for Change (AUFC), ACORN, USAction, the Sierra Club, and Working America. [2]

Both Sixteen Thirty Fund and New Venture Fund have been criticized as “dark money” organizations, serving as a way for left-leaning groups to anonymously funnel money toward various advocacy issues, such as attacking vulnerable Republicans or pushing state-level environmental restrictions. [3][4] The left-leaning Politico has called the Sixteen Thirty Fund a “massive ‘dark money’ network” responsible for “boost[ing] Democrats” in the 2018 midterm elections. [5] In its 2018 Form 990, New Venture Fund shows a $26.7 million grant to the Sixteen Thirty Fund for “capacity building.” [6] Sixteen Thirty Fund’s Form 990 of the same year, also shows zero employees, and notes in Schedule O that “New Venture Fund (NVF) is the paymaster for Sixteen Thirty Fund payroll. NVF pays the salary and immediately invoices Sixteen Thirty Fund, which reimburses the full amount.” [7]

The Sixteen Thirty Fund has also been characterized as one of the “key groups founded to resist Trump” by the left-leaning Atlantic. [8]

Arabella and its nonprofit network have been criticized as “dark money” funders both for channeling hundreds of millions of dollars to left-wing organizations and for hosting hundreds of “pop-up groups”—websites designed to look like standalone nonprofits that are really projects of an Arabella-run nonprofit. [9]

In November 2019, Politico criticized the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the 501(c)(4) advocacy wing of Arabella’s nonprofit network, as a “little-known,” “massive ‘dark money’ group [that] boosted Democrats” in the 2018 midterm elections with $140 million. “The money contributed to efforts ranging from fighting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and other Trump judicial nominees to boosting ballot measures raising the minimum wage and changing laws on voting and redistricting in numerous states,” the left-leaning website reported. Politico also noted that Sixteen Thirty Fund’s biggest single donation (made anonymously) was for $51.7 million, “more than the group had ever raised before in an entire year before President Donald Trump was elected,” adding that “the group’s 2018 fundraising surpassed any amount ever raised by a left-leaning political nonprofit.” [10]

The left-leaning Washington Post further criticized Arabella’s Sixteen Thirty Fund as a “big campaign donor” in a November 21, 2019 opinion by the editorial board, which called on Congress to change nonprofit disclosure laws, noting in particular a $26.7 million anonymous donation to the Fund. [11] However, the Post also failed to connect the Sixteen Thirty Fund to Arabella Advisors and its other three nonprofits.

In a November 24, 2019 letter to the editor published by the Washington Post, Capital Research Center president Scott Walter identified the $26.7 million donation as originating with the New Venture Fund, the largest of Arabella’s in-house nonprofits, and confirmed Politico’s suspicion that the Sixteen Thirty Fund is “part of a larger network of dark money.” [12]

Seed Capital from the Left

The Sixteen Thirty Fund is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. According to its original filings with the IRS (archived here), the group received $350,745 in seed capital in 2009 from five left-wing organizations, including the scandal-ridden ACORN, which collapsed in 2010. [13]

Americans United for Change (AUFC) has been characterized as a “dark money group” by the left-leaning Sunlight Foundation for its support of left-wingcauses and Democratic Party candidates. The group is headed by Brad Woodhouse, a controversial Democratic operative who also runs Protect Our Care, a project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund. [14] AUFC is heavily funded by labor unions, including the AFL-CIO and AFSCME. [15]

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is a now-defunct community organizing network that once had hundreds of affiliates nationwide. The group, which provided voter registration and mobilization efforts for left-wing causes beginning in the 1970s, disbanded in 2010 after declaring bankruptcy following a loss of federal funding. [16]

USAction was a center-left advocacy nonprofit created by activist Heather Booth in 1999 as a successor to the scandal-ridden consumer advocacy group Citizen Action, founded by Ralph Nader in the 1970s. USAction was a key player in the creation of Health Care for America Now (HCAN), a major coalition of center-left groups formed in 2007 to help pass the Democratic Party’s healthcare overhaul bill (which later became Obamacare). [17] HCAN was later revived as a joint project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the New Venture Fund, which manages the HCAN Education Fund. [18] In 2016, USAction merged with a number of other left-wing groups to form People’s Action.

The Sierra Club is one of the oldest and most powerful environmentalist organizations in the country, known for funding many activist groups on the Left.

Working America is a center-left labor union characterized as the “community affiliate” of the AFL-CIO. The group was formed in 2003 and claims more than 3 million members, many of whom it encourages to canvass neighborhoods during elections in order to support left-wing and Democratic Party political candidates. [19]

Low-Profile Funding Activities

The Sixteen Thirty Fund keeps a low profile compared with comparable nonprofit organizations. The organization boasts a one-page website, no Facebook page and no Twitter account. The fund has received little news coverage in the past few years. What little press coverage to be found centered on the 2013 effort to recall Democratic sate legislators in Colorado over their votes on a controversial gun-control measure.

That year, Sixteen Thirty Fund donated $35,000 to a Colorado group founded to defended Democratic state Sen. Angela Giron (D-Pueblo) from a recall effort over her votes for more gun control in the state. [20] Giron lost the effort after only 44 percent voted to retain her. [21] During the same recall effort, Sixteen Thirty Fund donated another $35,000 to a group supporting Colorado state Sen. John Morse (D-Colorado Springs), who also supported stricter gun control. [22] Morse also lost the recall vote when 51 percent voted to oust him. [23]

In 2017, the Washington Free Beacon tied the Sixteen Thirty Fund to progressive efforts to hide big money fueling criticism of President Donald Trump’s nominees to several Cabinet-level posts. Targeted nominees included businessman Andy Puzder (who would later withdraw as nominee for Secretary of Labor) and Steven Mnuchin (later confirmed as Secretary of the Treasury). [24]

Another publication, Tax Analysts, noticed Sixteen Thirty Fund’s financial support for “Tax March” rallies planned to protest President Trump’s unwillingness to release his tax returns. It is unclear how much Sixteen Thirty Fund contributed to the march. [25]

“Dark Money” Funder

The Sixteen Thirty Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that isn’t required by the IRS to disclose its donors, has been criticized by groups on the political Left and Right as a “dark money” funder.

In 2018, the left-leaning website Politico profiled the Sixteen Thirty Fund, noting that it spent “$141 million on more than 100 left-leaning causes during the [2018] midterm election”: [26]

Sixteen Thirty Fund played a role in the battle for the House of Representatives in 2018, a crucial contest for Democrats trying to seize back power after Trump’s rise. The election featured dozens of Democratic candidates who decried the influence of money in politics on the campaign trail.

In 2015, the Fund provided millions in grants to 29 different organizations. That year, Sixteen Thirty Fund’s largest grant—exceeding $1.9 million—went to the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, the “educational” arm of the League of Conservation Voters, an organization activating and rallying environmentalists to political activism. [27]

Ballot Initiatives

On September 4, 2018, the Missouri-based Kansas City Star reported a $3 million donation from Sixteen Thirty Fund to Raise Up Missouri, a left-wing PAC seeking to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour through a 2018 ballot initiative. Sixteen Thirty Fund also reportedly gave $500,000 to the PAC in 2017, and an additional $500,000 to it in May 2018. [28]

2018 Midterm Election

The Sixteen Thirty Fund spent approximately $740,000 in independent expenditures and electioneering communications during the 2018 midterm election.[29]

Sixteen Thirty Fund: 2018 Midterm Outside Spending
Sixteen Thirty Fund ProjectAmountExpenditure Type
Demand Justice$317,696Electioneering Communications
Floridians for a Fair Shake$286,113Electioneering Communications
Floridians for a Fair Shake$7,537Independent Expenditure
SoCal Healthcare Coalition$120,149Electioneering Communications
SoCal Healthcare Coalition$5,875Independent Expenditure
Ohioans for Economic Opportunity$2,721Independent Expenditure
Sum:$740,091

Lobbying for H.R. 1

In November 2019, the Sixteen Thirty Fund hired lobbyists Dana Singiser of Keefe Strategies and former chief of staff to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) Maura Keefe to lobby in favor of H.R. 1, an anti-dark money campaign finance and ethics reform bill (named the “For the People Act 2019”) that passed the House in March, 2019. [30] The bill aims to expand access to voting, create stronger ethics rules for public servants, and combat the influence of money in politics. [31]

“Fake” Groups

Known Sixteen Thirty Fund Projects

Controversies

“Dark Money” Criticism

Arabella and its nonprofit network have been criticized as “dark money” funders both for channeling hundreds of millions of dollars to left-wing organizations and for hosting hundreds of “pop-up groups”—websites designed to look like standalone nonprofits that are really projects of an Arabella-run nonprofit. [32]

In November 2019, Politico criticized the Sixteen Thirty Fund, the 501(c)(4) advocacy wing of Arabella’s nonprofit network, as a “little-known,” “massive ‘dark money’ group [that] boosted Democrats” in the 2018 midterm elections with $140 million. “The money contributed to efforts ranging from fighting Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and other Trump judicial nominees to boosting ballot measures raising the minimum wage and changing laws on voting and redistricting in numerous states,” the left-leaning website reported. Politico also noted that Sixteen Thirty Fund’s biggest single donation (made anonymously) was for $51.7 million, “more than the group had ever raised before in an entire year before President Donald Trump was elected,” adding that “the group’s 2018 fundraising surpassed any amount ever raised by a left-leaning political nonprofit.” [33] However, Politico failed to tie the Sixteen Thirty Fund to Arabella Advisors’ nonprofit network.

The left-leaning Washington Post further criticized Arabella’s Sixteen Thirty Fund as a “big campaign donor” in a November 21, 2019 opinion by the editorial board, which called on Congress to change nonprofit disclosure laws, noting in particular a $26.7 million anonymous donation to the Fund. [34] However, the Post also failed to connect the Sixteen Thirty Fund to Arabella Advisors and its other three nonprofits.

In a November 24, 2019 letter to the editor published by the Washington Post, Capital Research Center president Scott Walter identified the $26.7 million donation as originating with the New Venture Fund, the largest of Arabella’s in-house nonprofits, and confirmed Politico’s suspicion that the Sixteen Thirty Fund is “part of a larger network of dark money.” [35]

Leadership

Eric Kessler, a former Clinton administration environmental policy staffer who also serves as principal of liberal philanthropic and investment strategy firm Arabella Advisors, is president of Sixteen Thirty Fund. [36] He additionally serves as the board chair for the New Venture Fund. [37] More than 100 progressive organizations boast connections to Kessler and the New Venture Fund. [38]

Board of Directors

From 2016 to 2018, the Sixteen Thirty Fund board of directors consisted of Arabella Advisors principal Eric Kessler; Albright Stonebridge Group senior adviser Michael Madnik, who resigned from the board in July 2018; Democratic Party consultant and former Hillary Clinton 2008 campaign spokesman Douglas Hattaway; Arabella Advisors chief financial officer Wilbur Priester; Arabella Advisors general counsel Andrew Schulz; American Democracy Institute vice president Dara Freed; former Democratic PAC staffer Monica Dixon; Latino Victory Project president Cristobal Alex, who resigned from the board in February 2019; and Hill-Snowdon Foundation executive director Nathaniel Chioke Williams, who resigned from the board in December 2018. [39]

Key Staff

All of Sixteen Thirty Fund’s IRS Form 990 filings from 2009 to 2018 show zero employees. Instead, as stated in the organization’s 2017 Form 990, “New Venture Fund (NVF) is the paymaster for all managed organizations under Arabella for payroll[.] NVF pays the salary and immediately invoices Sixteen Thirty Fund, which pays the full amount back[.]” [40]

Lobbying

Between 2013 and 2019 (Quarter 3), the Sixteen Thirty Fund spent nearly $2.5 million in lobbying expenditures in the U.S. Congress (a version with the bills lobbied for is available here): [41]

YearQuarterAmountLobbyistLobbying Firm
20193$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20193$40,000Daniel Ritter, Tim Peckinpaugh, Kathleen Nicholas, Slade Gorton, Pamela Garvie, Paul Stimers, Laurie Purpuro, James WalshK&L Gates LLP
20193$190,000Daniel SchumanSixteen Thirty Fund
20193$10,000Maria Price, Robert Raben, Joe Onek, Diego Sanchez Gallardo, Timothy Lynch, Lawrence Gonzakez, Marit VangrowThe Raben Group
20192$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20192$40,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Slade GortonK&L Gates LLP
20192$160,000Daniel SchumanSixteen Thirty Fund
20191$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20191$90,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Eli SchooleyK&L Gates LLP
20191$110,000Daniel SchumanSixteen Thirty Fund
20184$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20184$50,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, James Walsh, Tim PeckinpaughK&L Gates LLP
20184$10,000Sean VitkaPale Blue LLC
20184$530,000Daniel SchumanSixteen Thirty Fund
20183$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20183$60,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, James Walsh, Kathleen Nicholas, Slade Gorton, Tim Peckinpaugh, Dennis Potter, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20183$10,000Sean VitkaPale Blue LLC
20183$150,000Daniel SchumanSixteen Thirty Fund
20182$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20182$60,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, James Walsh, Kathleen Nicholas, John McHugh, Slade Gorton, Amanda Makki, Tim PeckinpaughK&L Gates LLP
20182$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20182$10,000Sean VitkaPale Blue LLC
20181$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20181$40,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, James Walsh, Kathleen Nicholas, Dennis Pooter, John McHughK&L Gates LLP
20181$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20181$10,000Sean VitkaPale Blue LLC
20174$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20174$30,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, James Walsh, Kathleen Nicholas, W. Dennis Stephens, Dennis Potter, John McHugh, Nicholas LeibhamK&L Gates LLP
20174$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20174$10,000Sean VitkaPale Blue LLC
20173$10,000Robert EpplinEpplin Strategic Planning
20173$15,000Richard HealyHealy Consulting Group
20173$30,000Daniel Ritter, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, James Walsh, Tim Peckinpaugh, Kathleen Nicholas, W. Dennis Stephens, Dennis PotterK&L Gates LLP
20173$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20172$10,000Robert EpplinEpplin Strategic Planning
20172$30,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, Slade Gorton, James Walsh, Barton Gordon, Tim Peckinpaugh, Kathleen NicholasK&L Gates LLP
20172$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20171$30,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, Steven Valentine, Slad Gorton, Tim Peckinpaugh, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20171$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20164$20,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20164$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20163$20,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20163$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20162$20,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade Gorton, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20162$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20161$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade Gorton, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20161$10,000Michele WymerKyle House Group
20161$10,000Sean VitkaPale Blue LLC
20154$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade Gorton, W. Dennis StephensK&L Gates LLP
20153$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade GortonK&L Gates LLP
20152$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade Gorton, Dennis PotterK&L Gates LLP
20151$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade GortonK&L Gates LLP
20144$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Sean McGlynn, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, Slade Gorton, W. Dennis Stephens Nicholas LeibhamK&L Gates LLP
20144$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, James Walsh, Steven Valentine, W. Dennis Stephens, Dennis Potter, Ryan SeversonK&L Gates LLP
20143$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Steven Valentine, W. Dennis Stephens, James Walsh, Nicholas Leibham, Sean McGlynn, Emanuel Rouvelas, Barton Gordon, William KirkK&L Gates LLP
20142$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Steven Valentine, W. Dennis Stephens, James Walsh, Dennis Potter, Nicholas Leibham, Barton Gordon, Sean McGlynn, William Kirk, Scott Aliferis, Tricia Markwood, Amy CarnevaleK&L Gates LLP
20141$40,000Daniel Ritter, Paul Stimers, Steven Valentine, W. Dennis Stephens, James WalshK&L Gates LLP
Total:$2,425,000

Funding

Financial Overview

The Sixteen Thirty Fund’s revenues grew 1,547 percent between 2009 and 2017.

Sixteen Thirty Fund: Financial Overview (2009-2018)
Total RevenuesTotal ExpendituresGrants PaidNet Assets
2018$143,837,877$141,396,752$91,386,301$42,513,247
2017$79,559,836$2,441,125$13,336,144$39,872,122
2016$21,258,592$19,660,860$14,584,591$7,205,369
2015$5,617,209$8,660,897$6,768,578$5,607,637
2014$16,523,735$10,880,643$9,719,545$8,651,325
2013$5,269,965$2,721,133$1,322,500$3,008,233
2012$812,500$353,098$152,500$459,401
2011$93,600$93,600--
2010-$447,394$146,569-
2009$4,828,000$4,380,606$3,336,624$447,394
Grand Total:$277,801,314$191,036,108$140,753,352

From 2017 to 2018, the Sixteen Thirty Fund’s revenues increased from $79.6 million to $143.8 million, an increase of 80.8 percent. [42]

From 2016 to 2017, the Sixteen Thirty Fund’s revenues increased from $21.3 million to $79.6 million, an increase of 274 percent. [43]

From 2015 to 2016, the Sixteen Thirty Fund’s revenues increased from $5.6 million to $21.3 million, an increase of 278 percent. [44]

Donors to Sixteen Thirty Fund

As a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, the Sixteen Thirty Fund isn’t required by the IRS to report its donors.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that the Sixteen Thirty Fund received $860,000 from four labor unions in 2015 and 2016, including the AFL-CIO and the National Education Association. [45]

In 2017, the left-leaning group Avaaz Foundation granted $10,000 to Sixteen Thirty for “US Tax March,” likely indicating support for the Sixteen Thirty-run project Tax March, which lobbies for greater taxes on the wealthy. [46]

Sixteen Thirty Fund also received over $4.5 million from the Atlantic Philanthropies, a Bermuda-based philanthropic enterprise that funded left-of-center organizations. [47] Other known funders of Sixteen Thirty include the Tides Foundation. [48]

In 2018, Politico identified a handful of liberal donors to the Fund: [49]

The group does disclose the amount of money of each donation, which shows several strikingly large contributions: One donor gave the group $51,705,000; a second gave $26,747,561 and a third gave $10,000,000. And The Hub Project disclosed three of its donors in 2017: Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer, the union American Federation of Teachers and the Wyss Foundation, founded by businessman and environmentalist Hansjörg Wyss.

The second donor noted above is likely the New Venture Fund, since it shows a $26,747,561 grant to the Sixteen Thirty Fund for “capacity building.” [50]

The following are all known grants and donors to the Sixteen Thirty Fund from 2010 to 2018 (excluding the Arabella-run nonprofits Hopewell Fund and New Venture Fund): [51]

DonorAmountYearDescription
AFSCME$120,0002018General Support
Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation$60,0002018Net Neutrality
Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO CLC)$50,0002018General Support
Denver Area Educational Telecommunications Consortium$11,0002018Demand Progress
Grove Action Fund$25,0002018All Above All
Instructional Telecommunications Foundation$90,0002018Net Neutrality
Planned Parenthood Action Fund$250,0002018To support public affairs programs
Tides Advocacy$195,0002018Equality and Human Rights
AFL-CIO$10,0002017General Contribution
Avaaz Foundation$10,0002017US Tax March
Center for Community Change Action$50,0002017Childcare Jobs
Center for Empowered Politics$30,0002017General Support
Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation$20,0002017Net Neutrality
Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO CLC)$25,0002017General Support
Demand Progress Action$626,2982017The Fund's purpose is to engage in activism to promote civil liberties, privacy and open government
Democracy Fund Voice$100,0002017Support for Demand Progress Action
Groundswell Action Fund$50,0002017-
Instructional Telecommunications Foundation$50,0002017Voter Registration
Majority Forward$116,0002017General Support
National Education Association$800,0002017Financial Assistance
Public Citizen Foundation$5,0002017Programatic Support
Tioga Fund$15,0002017General support
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East$15,0002016Solidarity Contribution
All Hands on Deck Network$7,5002016-
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)$30,0002016Related Organization Program
AFL-CIO$200,0002016Organizational Support
AFSCME$300,0002016General Support
Center for Community Change Action$150,0002016Childcare Jobs
Demand Progress Action$672,2922016The Fund's purpose is to engage in activism to promote civil liberties, privacy and open government
National Education Association$550,0002016Financial Assistance
American Unity Fund$310,0002015Promote freedom for LGBT Americans
National Education Association$50,0002015Financial Assistance
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union$10,0002015General support
AFL-CIO$200,0002014General Contribution
AFSCME$460,0002014General Support
National Education Association$75,0002014Financial Assistance
Western Conservation Action$15,0002014Conservation Outreach
AFSCME$120,0002013General Support
AFSCME$50,0002012General Support
Progressive Future$12,5002010Program Support
Total:$5,935,590

Grants from Sixteen Thirty Fund

While the Sixteen Thirty Fund primarily provides incubation (or fiscal sponsorship) services, it also pays out millions of dollars in grants each year.

In 2018, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid $91 million in grants: [52]

Sixteen Thirty Fund Grantees (2018)Amount
America Votes$27,150,000
League of Conservation Voters$8,000,000
Nevadans for Secure Elections$6,250,000
Count MI Vote$6,000,000
Raise up Missouri$4,241,000
Save Our Neighborhoods$3,500,000
Stop Deceptive Amendments$3,500,000
Change Now Inc.$2,822,500
Floridians for a Fair Democracy$2,650,000
Coloradans for Fairness$2,500,000
Coloradans to Stop Predatory Payday Loans$2,075,000
Michigan Time to Come$1,760,000
Fund for a Better Future Inc.$1,750,000
Arkansas for a Fair Wage$1,346,000
Environmental Defense Action Fund$1,000,000
Forward Majority Action$1,000,000
Good Jobs Colorado$920,000
State Engagement Fund$787,918
New Venture Fund$778,000
Alliance for Youth Action$750,000
Center for Popular Democracy$701,500
The Fairness Project$697,000
Justice Colorado$600,000
No Cuts to Care PAC$600,000
Coloradans Creating Opportunities$545,000
Center for American Progress$500,000
Ohio Safe and Healthy Communities Campaign$500,000
Our Colorado Values$500,000
Florida for All, Inc.$480,000
North Carolina Citizens for Protecting our Schools$400,000
Environment America$357,300
Progress North Carolina Action$355,000
Progress Now$335,688
Kansas Values Institute$325,000
Maine People's Alliance$250,713
Color of Change Education Fund$250,000
Michigan League or Responsible Voters$250,000
Promote the Vote$250,000
Progress Michigan$240,000
Network$225,000
Make North Carolina First$223,000
American Bridge 21st Century$200,000
The Arena$200,000
ProgressNow Colorado$191,700
One PA$188,000
Vote No on Amendment 1, Inc.$150,000
Common Cause$125,000
Plan Action Fund$125,000
Casa In Action$100,000
Raise up Massachusetts$100,000
Secure Democracy$95,000
Arizona Wins$93,300
People's Action Institute$93,062
Battle Born Progress$90,000
Green Tech Action Fund$75,000
Momsrising together$75,000
Stand Up for Ohio$75,000
State Innovation Exchange$75,000
Working People of Colorado$75,000
State Employers Association of North Carolina$73,700
Florida Alliance for Civic Engagement$70,000
NC Justice Center$70,000
The Hopewell Fund$68,112
Fair Maps Colorado$68,000
West Virginia Citizen Action Group$55,000
Chirlaction Fund$50,000
Colorado People's Action$50,000
Community Voices Heard Power Inc.$50,000
Faith in Public Life Action Fund$50,000
hiladelphia Unemployment Project$50,000
Kingdom Mission Society$50,000
National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund$50,000
Promise Arizona in Action$50,000
The Movement Cooperative$46,250
Alaska Conservation Voters$43,500
Citizen Action of New York$40,000
Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates Inc.$40,000
Run For Something Action Fund$40,000
The Arc of the United States$40,000
American Cancer Society$30,000
The Advocacy Fund$27,000
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center$25,000
Care in Action, Inc.$25,000
PICO Action Fund$25,000
Stand Up America PAC$25,000
Women's Foundation of California$25,000
Citizen Action Illinois$20,000
ProgressOhio.org Inc.$20,000
Colorado Fiscal Institute$17,750
Jannus Inc.$17,750
Montana udget and Policy Center$17,750
ACT Indiana, Inc.$15,000
Social Good Fund$15,000
We the People of Florida, Inc.$15,000
Women's March, Inc.$15,000
Black Youth Project 100$12,500
Chicago International Social Change Film Festival$12,500
Tides Center$12,500
Urban Affairs Coalition$12,500
The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Foundation$12,000
Citizen Action of New Jersey$10,500
Blue Institute Enterprises, Inc.$10,000
Collective Future$10,000
New Era Colorado Action Fund$10,000
Organize Now Inc.$10,000
Save the Children Action Network Inc.$10,000
Texas Organizing Project$10,000
Win Colorado$10,000
TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund$9,450
215 People's Alliance$8,500
Economic Policy Institute$6,000
40 Friends (We Care)$5,000
Action NC$5,000
Latino Victory Project$5,000
Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action$5,000
Pennsylvania Health Access Fund$,5000
Total:$91,072,943

In 2017, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid $13 million in grants: [53]

Sixteen Thirty Fund Grantees (2017)Amount
League of Conservation Voters$3,850,000
Partnership Project Action Fund$1,160,000
Environment America$1,100,000
Mainers for Health Care $800,000
Natural Resource Defense Council Action Fund$750,000
Raise Up Missouri$500,000
Michigan Time to Care$400,000
New Venture Fund $313,722
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network$310,846
Virginia New Majority $285,196
BlackPAC$225,463
Progress Now$221,500
New Jersey Working Families Alliance$215,000
Maine People's Alliance$215,000
Black Progressive Action Coalition$200,000
MoveOn.org Civiv Action$170,000
ColorOfChange.org$150,000
New Florida Majority $150,000
Organizing for Action$150,000
Black Leadership Organizing Collaborative $150,000
Raise Up Massachusetts $110,000
Center for American Progress Action Fund$110,000
Kingdom Mission Society$105,000
Fair Share$100,000
Our Revolution$100,000
National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund$100,000
Faith in Public Life Action Fund$98,000
Working Families Organization$90,000
California Calls Action Fund$75,000
Center for Gender and Racial Equity$75,000
Citizen Action of New York$65,000
Citizen Action of New Jersey$65,000
MomsRising Together$65,000
Mijente $50,000
America Votes$50,000
Advance North carolina Inc. $50,000
West Virginia Citizen Action Group$50,000
NEO Philanthropy Action$41,907
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada Action Fund$40,000
Promise Arizona in Action$40,000
Arizona Wins$30,196
Citizen Action of Wisconsin $30,000
Center for Community Change Action$28,000
Texas Organizing Project$25,000
Action NC$25,000
Citizen Action Illinois$25,000
Missouri Jobs With Justice Voter Action$25,000
Arkansas Community Organizations$25,000
TakeAction Minnesota $25,000
Rights and Democracy Project $25,000
Organize Now Inc. $25,000
Washington Community Action Network Education and Research Fund$25,000
Delawareans for Social and Economic Justice$25,000
Bread for the World$25,000
Freedman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias and Ward PA$24,225
Arizonans for Fair Wage and Healthy Families$20,000
Missouri Impact Inc.$15,000
Pennsylvania Health Access Fund$15,000
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Inc.$15,000
Tennessee Citizen Alliance$15,000
ProgressNow Education$15,000
South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce$10,500
Network$10,000
US Black Chambers Inc. $8,000
The Hopewell Fund$6,549
Battle Born Progress$5,714
Sum$13,319,818

In 2016, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid $14 million in grants: [54]

Sixteen Thirty Fund Grantees (2016)Amount
350.org Action Fund$100,000
Advance North Carolina Inc. $100,000
Alaska Conservation Voters $47,500
All Hands on Deck Nework Inc. $18,000
America Votes $400,000
Americans United for Change $98,860
Arizonans for Fair Wage and Healthy Families $190,000
Black Leadership Organizing Collaborative $100,000
Bus Federation Civic Fund$25,000
Business Council of Alabama $30,000
Center for American Progress Action Fund $12,5000
Center for Community Change Action $975,000
Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund $37,000
Center for Racial and Gender Equity $50,000
Citizen Action of Wisconsin Inc. $20,000
Civic Participation Action Fund $1,100,000
Colorado Families for a Fair Wage$22,4500
colorofchange.org$100,000
Community Organizations in Action$25,917
Democratic Governors Association$20,000
Emerge Wisconsin $35,000
Environement America$1,100,000
Environmental Advocates of New York$10,000
Environmental Defense Action Fund$1,500,000
Every Voice $990,000
Fight for the Future Education Fund$5,000
For Our Future Action Fund $600,000
Free Press Action Fund $20,000
Freeman Boyd Hollander Goldberg Urias and Ward PA$22,500
Freedom for all Americans $37,326
Greater Wisconsin Committee Inc. $207,750
House Majority PAC$25,000
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law $25,000
LCV Political Engagement Fund$50,000
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights$49,000
League of Conservation Voters$1,300,000
Living United for Change in Arizona $20,000
Maine People's Alliance$10,000
Majority Forward $500,000
Make North Carolina First $50,000
Media Matters Action Network$429,000
New Florida Majority Action Fund $100,000
New Futures Fund $25,000
New Venture Fund $379,964
NILC Immigrant Justice Fund$25,000
No On U$6,000
Ohio Organizing Campaign$50,000
One Wisconsin Now Inc. $14,000
Organize Now Inc. $116,900
Partnership Project Action Fund $1,120,000
People for the American Way$11,073
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsn Inc. $20,000
Progressive Agenda Committee $48,500
ProgressNow $15,000
Raise Up Washington$10,000
Represent.Us$150,000
Sierra Club$1,000,000
South Dakota for Responsible Lending$9,800
State Engagement Fund$250,000
US Global Leadership Campaign$25,000
Virginia New Majority$120,000
Voter Access Institute $50,000
We Are Wisconsin Inc. $14,000
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters$20,000
Wisconsin Progress$100,000
Woring Families Organization $20,000
Working Families Party National Independent Expenditure Committee$10,000
Sum$14,482,590

In 2015, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid $6 million in grants: [55]

Sixteen Thirty Fund Grantees (2015)Amount
350.org Action$75,000
Americans for Tax Fairness$100,000
Bread for the World$12,500
Center for Community Change (CCC) Action$610,000
Center for Rights in Action$50,000
Church World Service$12,500
Citizen Action of Wisconsin$14,000
Color of Change$40,000
Color of Change Education Fund$75,000
Demand Progress Action (fiscally sponsored by Sixteen Thirty Fund)$55,000
Earth Day Network$50,000
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)$675,000
Fair Share$550,000
Free Press Action Fund$125,000
Freedom for All Americans$75,000
League of Conservation Voters (LCV)$1,925,000
Louisiana Federation for Children PAC$70,000
New Progressive Network$13,000
Northwest Health Foundation$10,000
One Nation Forward$5,000
Pineros Campesinos Unidos Del$20,000
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin$14,000
Presente Action$20,000
Stand for Children$80,000
Sumofus$25,000
Partnership Project Action Fund$1,450,000
The Public Investigator$28,578
United Working Families$75,000
US Global Leadership Campaign$25,000
Sum$6,279,578

Consulting and Management Fees

Between 2009 and 2018, Sixteen Thirty Fund paid $39.3 million in contracting and management fees. [56]

Sixteen Thirty Fund Contractors
ContractorTotal (2009-2018)
SKDKnickerbocker$10,618,536
Arabella Advisors$7,122,923
Buying Time LLC$6,693,226
Targeted Platform Media$5,396,502
Blueprint Interactive$2,887,800
Ethica Media LLC$1,739,975
Revolution Messaging LLC$1,287,619
Block By Block Inc$527,950
K&L Gates$450,740
Precision Strategies$435,141
Democracy Alliance$400,000
Information Staffing Services$339,548
US Action$264,500
Freedman Consulting LLC$235,000
Arabella Philanthropic Investment$162,604
Community Organizations in Action$151,500
Americans for Democratic Action$132,500
Jochum Shore & Trossevin PC$126,000
Seligman Consulting$108,350
The Konkurrenz Group$108,000
The Atlas Project$107,250
Sum$39,295,664

In 2018, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid its highest contractor, Targeted Platform Media, $5.4 million in consulting fees. Other major contractors paid that year include Arabella Advisors at $3.5 million; SKDKickerbocker at $3.3 million; Buying Time LLC at $3 million; and Blueprint Interactive at $2.9 million. [57]

In 2017, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid its highest contractor, SKDKnickerbocker, $7.1 million in consulting fees. The other highest contractors for that year include Buying Time LLC, which received $3.7 million; Arabella Advisors, for $2.1 million; Ethica Media, for $1.7 million; and Revolution Messaging, for $1.3 million. [58]

In 2016, the Sixteen Thirty Fund paid $400,000 in consulting fees to the left-wing Democracy Alliance. [59] It also hired Arabella Advisors, which was paid $789,891 in consulting fees; SKDKnickerbocker for $268,944; Block By Block, Inc. for $527,950; and Precision Strategies for $435,141. [60]

Financial Documents

The Sixteen Thirty Fund’s Application for Recognition of Exemption (Form 1024) was filed with the IRS on August 31, 2009, and is available here.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund’s IRS Form 990 filings for 2016, 2017, and 2018 were obtained by the Capital Research Center and are available here:

The Sixteen Thirty Fund’s lobbying disclosure (LD-2) form is available here.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund’s IRS 1024 application for recognition of tax exempt status by the IRS is available here; the file also includes:

  • a description of Sixteen Thirty Fund’s charitable activities as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, including a “public communications program,” limited lobbying activity, “organizational coalition building,” “community leadership development,” and “grassroots lobbying and non-partisan civic engagement”;
  • the nonprofit’s founding board of directors (Eric Kessler, Brian Kathman, and Molly McUsic), as well as their “qualifications”;
  • a list of the Fund’s initial grantees: Americans United for Change, USAction, Working America, ACORN, and the Sierra Club;
  • Sixteen Thirty Fund’s articles of incorporation filed with the District of Columbia on February 19, 2009;
  • the nonprofit’s bylaws; and
  • an administrative agreement between the Sixteen Thirty Fund and Arabella Advisors, authorizing the latter to provide paid management services to the former.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund received recognition of its tax exempt status from the IRS on August 31, 2009; the letter is available here.

References

  1. “Sixteen Thirty Fund.” Sixteen Thirty Fund. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://sixteenthirtyfund.org/. ^
  2. Form 1024 Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a). Sixteen Thirty Fund. Archived here: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/11/Sixteen-Thirty-Fund-Form-1024-Applicaton-for-Recognition-of-Exemption-Under-501a.pdf ^
  3. Markay, Lachan. “Over 100 Left-Wing Groups Sourced to DC Dark Money Outfit.” Washington Free Beacon. October 22, 2015. Accessed February 18, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/over-100-left-wing-groups-sourced-to-d-c-dark-money-outfit/ ^
  4. Bland, Scott. “Liberal Secret-money Network Hammers House GOP.” Politico. July 29, 2018. Accessed January 08, 2019. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/29/democrats-dark-money-midterms-house-745145. ^
  5. Scott Bland and Maggie Severns. “Documents reveal massive ‘dark-money’ group boosted Democrats in 2018.” Politico. November 19, 2019. Accessed November 21, 2019. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/dark-money-democrats-midterm-071725 ^
  6. See page 113 out of 146 of https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/11/New-Venture-Fund-2018-Form-990.pdf ^
  7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2018. Schedule O.

    See page 59 out of 62: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/11/Sixteen-Thirty-Fund-2018-Form-990.pdf ^

  8. Daniel Pozen. “The Tax-Code Shift That’s Changing Liberal Activism.” The Atlantic. November 27, 2018. Accessed May 28, 2019. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/11/501c3-501c4-activists-and-tax-code/576364/ ^
  9. Hayden R. Ludwig. “Big Money in Dark Shadows: Arabella Advisors’ Half-billion-dollar ‘Dark Money’ Network.” Capital Research Center (DarkMoneyATM.org). https://darkmoneyatm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CRC_Arabella-Advisors-Dark-Money_small.pdf ^
  10. Scott Bland, Maggie Severns. “Documents reveal massive ‘dark-money’ group boosted Democrats in 2018.” Politico. November 19, 2019. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/dark-money-democrats-midterm-071725 ^
  11. Washington Post Editorial Board. “Big campaign donors have exploited a loophole. Congress must change the law.” Washington Post. November 21, 2019. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/big-campaign-donors-have-exploited-a-loophole-congress-must-change-the-law/2019/11/21/ab31cf3a-0bd6-11ea-bd9d-c628fd48b3a0_story.html ^
  12. Scott Walter. “Letter to the Editor: This organization traced the supposed ‘dark money’s’ origins.” Washington Post. November 24, 2019. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-organization-traced-the-supposed-dark-moneys-origins/2019/11/24/07d88e78-0d48-11ea-8054-289aef6e38a3_story.html ^
  13. Form 1024 Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a). Sixteen Thirty Fund. Archived here: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/11/Sixteen-Thirty-Fund-Form-1024-Applicaton-for-Recognition-of-Exemption-Under-501a.pdf ^
  14. Fenton, Jacob. “Liberal dark money group eyeing Iowa TV ads.” Sunlight Foundation. April 14, 2015. Accessed January 10, 2017. https://sunlightfoundation.com/2015/04/14/liberal-dark-money-group-eyeing-iowa-tv-ads/ ^
  15. See the AFL-CIO and AFSCME Department of Labor Annual Reports (Forms LM-2) from FY 2015. ^
  16. Hiram Lee. “Activist group ACORN collapses following witch-hunt.” World Socialist Web Site. March 25, 2010. Accessed November 26, 2019. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/03/acor-m25.html ^
  17. Pollack, Harold. “The Group that Got Health Care Reform Passed is Declaring Victory and Going Home.” The Washington Post. January 5, 2014. Accessed June 20, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/01/05/the-group-that-got-health-reform-passed-is-declaring-victory-and-going-home/?utm_term=.51d24ddda249. ^
  18. Hayden Ludwig. “Out of Darkness, Cash: Sixteen Thirty in Action.” Capital Research Center. April 17, 2019. Accessed November 26, 2019. https://capitalresearch.org/article/out-of-darkness-cash-part-3/ ^
  19. Eidelson, Josh. “On the Road With Working America.” The Nation. October 10, 2012. Accessed April 27, 2017. https://www.thenation.com/article/road-working-america/ ^
  20. Roper, Peter. “Outside money helps Giron.” Pueblo Chieftain. June 10, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/outside-money-helps-giron/article_f4f2d9ce-ccd2-11e2-82a3-001a4bcf887a.html#user-comment-area. ^
  21. Bunch, Joey. “Angela Giron ousted in Colorado recall election, thanks supporters in Pueblo.” The Denver Post. April 28, 2016. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://www.denverpost.com/2013/09/10/angela-giron-ousted-in-colorado-recall-election-thanks-supporters-in-pueblo/. ^
  22. Gardner, Aaron . “Sen. Morse Claims to Fight Outside Interest Groups While Outside Interest Groups Fund Pro Morse Campaign.” Media Trackers. June 17, 2013. Accessed April 19, 2017. http://mediatrackers.org/colorado/2013/06/05/sen-morse-claims-to-fight-outside-interest-groups-while-outside-interest-groups-fund-pro-morse-campaign. ^
  23. Lee, Kurtis . “Sen. John Morse ousted in historic vote, vows to “continue to fight”.” The Denver Post. April 28, 2016. Accessed April 19, 2017. http://www.denverpost.com/2013/09/10/sen-john-morse-ousted-in-historic-vote-vows-to-continue-to-fight/. ^
  24. Markay, Lachlan . “Left-Wing Front Groups Make Anti-Trump Money Untraceable.” Washington Free Beacon. February 22, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/left-wing-front-groups-make-anti-trump-money-untraceable/ . ^
  25. Gattoni-Celli, Luca. “National Tax March Planners Lean Left as April 15 Events Near.” Tax Analysts. April 11, 2017. Accessed April 19, 2017. http://www.taxanalysts.org/content/national-tax-march-planners-lean-left-april-15-events-near. ^
  26. Scott Bland and Maggie Severns. “Documents reveal massive ‘dark-money’ group boosted Democrats in 2018.” Politico. November 19, 2019. Accessed November 21, 2019. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/dark-money-democrats-midterm-071725 ^
  27. Sixteen Thirty Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2015, Schedule I Part II ^
  28. Hancock, Jason. “Dark Money Group Drops $3 Million into Missouri Minimum Wage Campaign.” Kansascity. September 4, 2018. Accessed September 06, 2018. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article217783975.html. ^
  29. “Sixteen Thirty Fund Outside Spending Summary 2018.” Center for Responsive Politics. Accessed March 22, 2019. https://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2018&cmte=Sixteen%20Thirty%20Fund ^
  30. Meyer, Theodoric. “KGL Investment Adds Another Lobbying Firm.” POLITICO, November 20, 2019. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2019/11/20/kgl-investment-adds-another-lobbying-firm-782790. ^
  31. Sarbanes, and John P. “Text – H.R.1 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): For the People Act of 2019.” Congress.gov, March 14, 2019. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1/text. ^
  32. Hayden R. Ludwig. “Big Money in Dark Shadows: Arabella Advisors’ Half-billion-dollar ‘Dark Money’ Network.” Capital Research Center (DarkMoneyATM.org). https://darkmoneyatm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CRC_Arabella-Advisors-Dark-Money_small.pdf ^
  33. Scott Bland, Maggie Severns. “Documents reveal massive ‘dark-money’ group boosted Democrats in 2018.” Politico. November 19, 2019. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/dark-money-democrats-midterm-071725 ^
  34. Washington Post Editorial Board. “Big campaign donors have exploited a loophole. Congress must change the law.” Washington Post. November 21, 2019. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/big-campaign-donors-have-exploited-a-loophole-congress-must-change-the-law/2019/11/21/ab31cf3a-0bd6-11ea-bd9d-c628fd48b3a0_story.html ^
  35. Scott Walter. “Letter to the Editor: This organization traced the supposed ‘dark money’s’ origins.” Washington Post. November 24, 2019. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-organization-traced-the-supposed-dark-moneys-origins/2019/11/24/07d88e78-0d48-11ea-8054-289aef6e38a3_story.html ^
  36. “Our People.” Arabella Advisors. Accessed April 20, 2017. https://www.arabellaadvisors.com/company/our-people/ ^
  37. “Board of Directors.” New Venture Fund. Accessed April 20, 2017. http://www.newventurefund.org/about-nvf/board-of-directors/. ^
  38. Markay, Lachlan. “Over 100 Left-Wing Groups Sourced to DC Dark Money Outfit.” Washington Free Beacon. October 22, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/over-100-left-wing-groups-sourced-to-d-c-dark-money-outfit/. ^
  39. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990) (multiple). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2016, 2017, 2018. Part VII, Section A. ^
  40. See page 59 out of 62 of https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/11/Sixteen-Thirty-Fund-2018-Form-990.pdf ^
  41. Data gathered from lobbying disclosures, U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act Database. Sixteen Thirty Fund. Search conducted December 2019. https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=selectfields

    Also see PDF spreadsheet with the list of bills and issues lobbied for here: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2020/01/Sixteen-Thirty-Fund-Lobbying-Totals.pdf ^

  42. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund.2017-2018. Part I, Line 12. ^
  43. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2016-2017. Part I, Line 12. ^
  44. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2015-2016. Part I, Line 12. ^
  45. Markay, Lachlan. “Left-Wing Front Groups Make Anti-Trump Money Untraceable.” Washington Free Beacon. February 22, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/left-wing-front-groups-make-anti-trump-money-untraceable/ ^
  46. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Avaaz Foundation. 2017. Schedule I. ^
  47. Maghami, Neil. “A Donor Can Stand Up: Battling over donor intent at the Atlantic Philanthropies.” Capital Research Center. April 13, 2015. Accessed April 20, 2017. https://capitalresearch.org/article/a-donor-can-stand-up-battling-over-donor-intent-at-the-atlantic-philanthropies/ ^
  48. Tides Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Schedule I ^
  49. Scott Bland and Maggie Severns. “Documents reveal massive ‘dark-money’ group boosted Democrats in 2018.” Politico. November 19, 2019. Accessed November 21, 2019. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/19/dark-money-democrats-midterm-071725 ^
  50. See page 113 out of 146 of https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2019/11/New-Venture-Fund-2018-Form-990.pdf ^
  51. Data gathered from various Form 990 filings obtained via ProPublica Advanced Search: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=%22sixteen+thirty+fund%22 ^
  52. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2018. Schedule I, Part II (Grants) ^
  53. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2017. Schedule I, Part II (Grants) ^
  54. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2016. Schedule I, Part II (Grants) ^
  55. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2015. Schedule I, Part II (Grants) ^
  56. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund (2009 – 2018). Part VII, Section B (Independent Contractors). ^
  57. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2018. Schedule A, Part 1, Lines 12, 18, 22. ^
  58. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sixteen Thirty Fund. 2017. Schedule A, Part 1, Lines 12, 18, 22. ^
  59. Sixteen Thirty Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, 2016, Schedule B, Part VII, Section B. ^
  60. Sixteen Thirty Fund, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, 2016, Schedule B, Part VII, Section B. ^

Directors, Employees & Supporters

  1. Wilbur Priester
    Chief Financial Officer and Board Member
  2. Andrew Schulz
    General Counsel and Board Member
  3. Michael Madnick
    Former Treasurer
  4. Molly McUsic
    Former Treasurer
  5. Eric Kessler
    President and Board Member
  6. Cristobal Alex
    Former Board Member
  7. Lee Bodner
    Former Project Manager (Arabella Advisors)
  8. Nick Hanauer
    Key Donor

Child Organizations

  1. All Above All Action Fund (AAAAF) (Non-profit)
  2. Allied Progress Action (Non-profit)
  3. Americans for Affordable Birth Control Action Fund (Non-profit)
  4. Arizonans United for Health Care (Non-profit)
  5. Black Civic Engagement Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  6. Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform (Non-profit)
  7. Civic Action Fund (Non-profit)
  8. Colorado United for Families (Non-profit)
  9. Constitutional Responsibility Project (Non-profit)
  10. Defend American Democracy (Non-profit)
  11. Demand Justice (Non-profit)
  12. Climate Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  13. Democracy Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  14. Economic Security Project Action (Non-profit)
  15. Equity Forward Action (Equity Fwd Action) (Non-profit)
  16. Floridians for a Fair Shake (Non-profit)
  17. For Our Families (Non-profit)
  18. Health Care Facts (Non-profit)
  19. Health Care FAQs (Non-profit)
  20. Health Care Voter (Non-profit)
  21. Health Care Voters of Nevada (Non-profit)
  22. Health Care for America Now (HCAN) (Non-profit)
  23. Inclusive Economy Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  24. Justice March (Non-profit)
  25. Kansans for Secure Elections (Non-profit)
  26. Keep Iowa Healthy (Non-profit)
  27. Abortion Access Force (Lady Parts Justice) (Non-profit)
  28. Latino Engagement Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  29. Mainers Against Health Care Cuts (Non-profit)
  30. Make It Work Action (Non-profit)
  31. March for America (Non-profit)
  32. Media Democracy Action Fund (Non-profit)
  33. Michigan Families for Economic Prosperity (Non-profit)
  34. Michigan Families for Opportunity (Non-profit)
  35. Navigator Research (Non-profit)
  36. New American Majority Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  37. New Jersey for a Better Future (Non-profit)
  38. North Carolinians for a Fair Economy (Non-profit)
  39. Not One Penny (Non-profit)
  40. Ohio Committee for Safe and Secure Elections (Non-profit)
  41. Ohioans for Economic Opportunity (Non-profit)
  42. Our Lives on the Line (Non-profit)
  43. PA Progress (Non-profit)
  44. Protect Our Care (Non-profit)
  45. Protect PA Voters (Non-profit)
  46. Protect The Investigation (Non-profit)
  47. Respect Workers, Respect Voters (Non-profit)
  48. Restore Trust Action (Non-profit)
  49. Secure Michigan Elections (Non-profit)
  50. SoCal Healthcare Coalition (Non-profit)
  51. Speak Out Central New York (Non-profit)
  52. State Engagement Initiative (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)
  53. Stop Payday Predators (Non-profit)
  54. Survey America Project (Non-profit)
  55. Tax March (Non-profit)
  56. Tax Plan Answers (Non-profit)
  57. The Love Vote (Non-profit)
  58. Western Values Project Action (Non-profit)
  59. Youth Engagement Action Fund (Democracy Alliance) (Non-profit)

Donation Recipients

  1. 350 Action (Non-profit)
  2. A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) (Non-profit)
  3. Action NC (Non-profit)
  4. Advance North Carolina (Non-profit)
  5. Advancement Project (Non-profit)
  6. Alaska Center (Non-profit)
  7. Alliance For Youth Action (Non-profit)
  8. America Votes (Non-profit)
  9. American Bridge 21st Century Foundation (Non-profit)
  10. American Wind Energy Association (Non-profit)
  11. Americans for Tax Fairness (Non-profit)
  12. Americans United for Change (AUFC) (Non-profit)
  13. Arizona Wins (Non-profit)
  14. Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (Non-profit)
  15. Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation (Non-profit)
  16. Battle Born Progress (Non-profit)
  17. Black Progressive Action Coalition (BPAC) (Political Party/527)
  18. Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100) (Non-profit)
  19. Blueprint NC (Non-profit)
  20. Bread for the World (Non-profit)
  21. Alliance for Youth Organizing (Non-profit)
  22. Bus Project (Non-profit)
  23. California Calls Action Fund (Non-profit)
  24. California League of Conservation Voters (Non-profit)
  25. CASA in Action (Non-profit)
  26. Center for American Progress (CAP) (Non-profit)
  27. Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAP Action) (Non-profit)
  28. Center for Community Change (CCC) (Non-profit)
  29. Center for Community Change (CCC) Action (Non-profit)
  30. Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) (Non-profit)
  31. Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) Action Fund (Non-profit)
  32. Center for Rights in Action (Other Group)
  33. Church World Service (Non-profit)
  34. Citizen Action Illinois (Non-profit)
  35. Citizen Action of New Jersey (Non-profit)
  36. Citizen Action of New York (Non-profit)
  37. Citizen Action of Wisconsin (Non-profit)
  38. Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund (Non-profit)
  39. Civic Participation Action Fund (CPAF) (Non-profit)
  40. Color of Change (Non-profit)
  41. Colorado Families for a Fair Wage (For-profit)
  42. Colorado Fiscal Institute (Non-profit)
  43. Colorofchange.org Education Fund (Non-profit)
  44. Common Cause (Non-profit)
  45. Community Voices Heard Power (Non-profit)
  46. Count MI Vote (Non-profit)
  47. Demand Progress Action (DPA) (Non-profit)
  48. Democratic Governors Association (DGA) (Political Party/527)
  49. Earth Day Network (Non-profit)
  50. Economic Policy Institute (EPI) (Non-profit)
  51. Environment America (Non-profit)
  52. Environment America Action Fund (Political Party/527)
  53. Environmental Advocates of New York (Non-profit)
  54. Environmental Defense Action Fund (Non-profit)
  55. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) (Non-profit)
  56. Every Voice (Non-profit)
  57. Every Voice Action (Non-profit)
  58. Fair Share Action (Political Party/527)
  59. Fair Share (Non-profit)
  60. Faith in Public Life (Non-profit)
  61. Faith in Public Life Action Fund (Non-profit)
  62. Fight for the Future (Non-profit)
  63. Fight for the Future Education Fund (Non-profit)
  64. Florida For All (Political Party/527)
  65. For Our Future Action Fund (Political Party/527)
  66. Forward Majority Action (Political Party/527)
  67. Free Press Action Fund (Non-profit)
  68. Freedom for All Americans (Non-profit)
  69. Fund for a Better Future (Non-profit)
  70. Greater Wisconsin Committee (Political Party/527)
  71. Green Tech Action Fund (Non-profit)
  72. Higher Heights (Non-profit)
  73. Hopewell Fund (Non-profit)
  74. House Majority PAC (Political Party/527)
  75. Iowa Citizen Action Network (Non-profit)
  76. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (Non-profit)
  77. Latino Victory Project (Non-profit)
  78. Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Non-profit)
  79. League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund (Political Party/527)
  80. Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR) (Non-profit)
  81. League of Conservation Voters (LCV) (Non-profit)
  82. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) (Non-profit)
  83. Maine People’s Alliance (Non-profit)
  84. Majority Forward (Non-profit)
  85. Make North Carolina First (Non-profit)
  86. Media Matters Action Network (Non-profit)
  87. Mi Familia Vota (Non-profit)
  88. Mijente (Non-profit)
  89. MomsRising (Non-profit)
  90. Montana Budget and Policy Center (Non-profit)
  91. MoveOn Civic Action (MoveOn.org) (Non-profit)
  92. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (Non-profit)
  93. National Action Network (NAN) (Non-profit)
  94. NEO Philanthropy (Non-profit)
  95. Nevadans for Secure Elections (Non-profit)
  96. New Era Colorado (Non-profit)
  97. New Florida Majority (Non-profit)
  98. New Florida Majority Education Fund (Non-profit)
  99. New Futures Fund (Non-profit)
  100. New Venture Fund (NVF) (Non-profit)
  101. New Virginia Majority (Non-profit)
  102. NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (Non-profit)
  103. North Carolina Citizens for Protecting Our Schools (Non-profit)
  104. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Action Fund (Non-profit)
  105. Ohio Organizing Collaborative (Non-profit)
  106. Organize Now Inc (Non-profit)
  107. Organizing for Action (OFA) (Non-profit)
  108. Our Revolution (Non-profit)
  109. Partnership Project (Non-profit)
  110. Partnership Project Action Fund (Non-profit)
  111. Patriot Majority USA (Non-profit)
  112. People for the American Way (PFAW) (Non-profit)
  113. People’s Action Institute (Non-profit)
  114. PowerPAC (Non-profit)
  115. Presente.org (Presente ACTION) (Non-profit)
  116. Progress Michigan (Non-profit)
  117. Progress North Carolina Action (Progress NC Action) (Non-profit)
  118. Progressive Agenda Committee (Non-profit)
  119. ProgressNow (Non-profit)
  120. Progressnow Colorado (Non-profit)
  121. Raise Up Missouri (Non-profit)
  122. Represent.Us (Non-profit)
  123. Sierra Club (Non-profit)
  124. Sierra Club Foundation (Non-profit)
  125. Social Good Fund (Non-profit)
  126. State Engagement Fund (Non-profit)
  127. State Innovation Exchange (SIX) (Non-profit)
  128. State Voices (Non-profit)
  129. SumofUs (Non-profit)
  130. TakeAction Minnesota (Non-profit)
  131. TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund (Non-profit)
  132. Texas Organizing Project (Non-profit)
  133. Texas Organizing Project PAC (Political Party/527)
  134. The Arena (Non-profit)
  135. Funders Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP) (Non-profit)
  136. Tides Center (Non-profit)
  137. U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US-PIRG) (Non-profit)
  138. UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza) Action Fund (Non-profit)
  139. United Working Families (Other Group)
  140. Voter Registration Project (Non-profit)
  141. Voters Not Politicians (VNP) (Non-profit)
  142. Washington Community Action Network Education and Research Fund (Non-profit)
  143. West Virginia Citizen Action Group (Non-profit)
  144. Wisconsin Voices (Non-profit)
  145. Women’s Foundation of California (Non-profit)
  146. Working Families Organization (WFO) (Non-profit)
  147. Working Families Party (WFP) (Political Party/527)
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 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
    2016 Dec Form 990 $21,258,592 $19,660,860 $7,840,711 $635,342 N $21,155,860 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $5,617,209 $8,660,897 $6,667,545 $1,059,908 N $5,577,209 $40,000 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $16,523,735 $10,880,643 $9,157,873 $506,548 N $16,523,735 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $5,269,965 $2,721,133 $3,158,689 $150,456 N $5,269,965 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $812,500 $353,098 $485,907 $26,506 N $812,500 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $93,600 $93,600 $0 $0 N $93,600 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Map image for Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund)

    Sixteen Thirty Fund (1630 Fund)

    1201 CONNECTICUT AVE NW STE 300
    WASHINGTON, DC 20036-2656