The People’s Forum is a socialist organization that acts as project incubator. From its location in New York City, the Forum hosts events, readings, operates a cafe and a library, and publishes various cultural works and media. ¹ It has collaborated with a number of radical-left and Marxist philosophers and activists.

Despite being a socialist organization that prides itself on its supposed working class, anti-capitalist orientations, The People’s Forum has been the recipient of over $18 million through donor-advised fund provider Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund. ^{2 3 4}

Activities

The People’s Forum operates a cafe out of its New York headquarters, promising “affordable food for all” and encouraging political meetings and “dialogue” at its “space” in hopes that such discussions will advance “community building.” ⁵

The Forum offers left-wing and socialist organizations the opportunity for membership so that they can collaborate on political, economic, and social activism projects. ⁶ It also offers groups and movements that are aligned with the Forum’s “values and mission” and are not promoting “racism, sexism, or capitalism/imperialism” the option of requesting a room at its headquarters to host discussions or meetings. ⁷

The People’s Forum regularly hosts talks and speeches from prominent socialist activists, Marxist academics, and left-wing journalists. It has notably hosted Vijay Prashad, a Marxist-Leninist journalist and historian who has, using the Forum’s platform, praised the Chinese Communist Party, discussed the alleged crimes of the United States and its democratic allies during the Cold War for fighting the totalitarian Soviet Union, and the history of socialist movements and what they can teach contemporary activists fighting “climate change,” “austerity,” and “the arms industry.” ^{8 9 10}

Funding

The People’s Forum has fundraised and mobilized its supporters through the Action Network, an online tool for left-of-center groups and activism such as Women’s March, March for Our Lives, and environmentalist protests against the Keystone XL pipeline. ¹¹

In fiscal year 2019, The People’s Forum reported total revenue of $15,026,419, total expenses of $3,660,180, and $17,421,642 in net assets. ¹²

In 2019, The People’s Forum received $12 million through the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, a donor-advised fund provider. ¹³ This was not the first time the Forum received a hefty sum in this manner: it was given $4,400,000 in 2018 and $2,500,000 in 2017 through the Philanthropy Fund. ^{14 15}

Leadership

Claudia De La Cruz and Manolo De Los Santos are the co-executive directors of The People’s Forum. Claudia co-founded Da Urban Butterflies Youth Leadership Development Project (D.U.B.) in 2014 and provided culture and education programming to The Rebel Diaz Arts Collective (RDAC-BX). Manolo created and operated “solidarity and education programs” in Latin America prior to becoming involved at the Forum. ¹⁶ Many of its staffers have attended private colleges and worked at various nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations. ¹⁷

1. “About.” The People’s Forum. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/about/#mission.
2. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, 2019. Accessed 11 July 2022.
3. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, 2018. Accessed 11 July 2022.
4. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, 2017. Accessed 11 July 2022.
5. “The People’s Café.” The People’s Forum. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/about/cafe/.
6. “Membership.” The People’s Forum. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/about/membership/.
7. “Request a Room.” Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/roomrequest/.
8. “VIJAY PRASHAD – What’s the Left to Do in a World on Fire? | China and the Left.” The People’s Forum NYC – YouTube. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://youtu.be/vd8w3ONjv6Y.
9. “In Conversation: Vincent Bevins and Vijay Prashad.” The People’s Forum, 29 May 2020. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/events/in-conversation-vincent-bevins-and-vijay-prashad/.
10. “Book Talk: Struggle Makes Us Human With Vijay Prashad and Andrew Hsiao.” The People’s Forum, 6 August 2022. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/events/book-talk-struggle-makes-us-human-with-vijay-prashad-and-andrew-hsiao/.
11.  “In Conversation: Vincent Bevins and Vijay Prashad.” The People’s Forum, 29 May 2020. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/events/in-conversation-vincent-bevins-and-vijay-prashad/.
12. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. People’s Forum Inc, 2019. Accessed 11 July 2022.
13. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, 2019. Accessed 11 July 2022.
14. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, 2018. Accessed 11 July 2022.
15. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, 2017. Accessed 11 July 2022.
16. “Staff.” The People’s Forum. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/about/staff/.
17. “Staff.” The People’s Forum. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/about/staff/. Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20220711204510/https://peoplesforum.org/about/staff/.