Non-profit

The People’s Forum

Website:

peoplesforum.org/

Location:

New York, NY

Tax ID:

61-1844780

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $4,428,869
Expenses: $3,813,224
Assets: $18,591,181

Co-Executive Directors (2022):

Claudia De La Cruz

Manolo De Los Santos

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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

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks against the State of Israel, The People’s Forum released a statement calling for an end to “US aid to the Zionist occupation.” The People’s Forum organized a protest the next day on October 8, 2023, and via social media encouraged attendees to go “all out for Palestine,” and called for supporters to stand with the people of the Palestinian Territories “who have the right to resist apartheid, occupation & oppression.” 11

Following a November 2023 pro-Israel March for Israel demonstration in Washington DC, The People’s Forum executive director Manolo De Los Sar accused the demonstration as a “Pro-Genocide March,” and accused speakers at the demonstration of being “racists” and “fake progressives.” 11

In April 2024, more than 100 activists from ongoing anti-Israeli protests on Columbia University’s campus met with members of the People’s Forum in their Manhattan office hours before campus protesters temporarily occupied Columbia’s Hamilton Hall. At the “Volunteer Meeting,” the Washington Free Beacon claims that People’s Forum co-executive director Manolo De Los Santos told the activists present to, “give Joe Biden a hot summer” and to make it “untenable for the politics of usual to take place in this country.” Los Santos apparently praised the protesters for, “decid[ing] that resistance is more important than negotiations,” while urging other participants at the meeting to “support our students so that the encampments can go for as long as they can.” 12 In addition, the Free Beacon claims that during the meeting Los Santos criticized the “Zionist” Columbia University administrators that he believed “want to be more like their masters in Israel.” 12 When an affiliate of the People’s Forum was asked by the Free Beacon if the group would bail out protesters, she said it would not have to because, “they’re just booked and released.” 12

On May 6, 2024, The People’s Forum was one of roughly 100 organizations that signed a letter sent to U.S Senate Finance Committee chairman Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R., Idaho) seeking to block the passage of H.R.6408 /S.4136. that would strip the tax-exempt status of any nonprofits identified as supporting terrorist organizations. The signatories claim that such a bill is motivated by “anti-Palestinian bias” and will “undermine our nation’s democratic freedoms and principles” if passed. 13 Other groups that signed include American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Samidoun, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). 14 15

As of January 2025, The People’s Forum has been listed as one of several initial endorsers for We Fight Back 2025, a series of a planned demonstrations within Washington D.C and in cities across the United States on January 20, 2025, or Inauguration Day, to protest the swearing-in of president-elect Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. 16

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. 9

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. 17

In 2019, The People’s Forum received $12 million through the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, a donor-advised fund provider. 2 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. 3 4

Since 2017, The People’s Forum has reportedly been primarily funded by self-described socialist Neville Roy Singham and his wife Jodie Evans, the co-founder of advocacy group CODEPINK. In December 2021, the group released a post on their X (formerly Twitter) account claiming, “A few years ago we met Roy Singham, a Marxist comrade who sold his company & donated most of his wealth to non-profits that focus on political education, culture & internationalism.” 18 11

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. 19 Many of its staffers have attended private colleges and worked at various nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations. 20

References

  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. Revell, Eric. “American multimillionaire couple funds Marxist group coordinating anti-Israel protests.” November 15, 2023. Accessed December 18, 2023. https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/american-multimillionaire-couple-fund-marxist-group-coordinating-anti-israel-protests.
  12. Simonson, Joseph. “Anti-Israel Group Encouraged Columbia Protesters To Re-Create ‘The Summer of 2020’ Hours Before Students Stormed a Building.” The Washington Free Beacon, May 1, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/campus/anti-israel-group-encouraged-columbia-protesters-to-recreate-the-summer-of-2020-hours-before-students-stormed-a-building/
  13. Simonson, Joseph. “Left-Wing Groups and Islamic Organizations Lobby Against Anti-Terrorism Bill.” The Washington Free Beacon, May 9, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/national-security/left-wing-groups-and-islamic-organizations-lobby-against-anti-terrorism-bill/
  14. Simonson, Joseph. “Left-Wing Groups and Islamic Organizations Lobby Against Anti-Terrorism Bill.” The Washington Free Beacon, May 9, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/national-security/left-wing-groups-and-islamic-organizations-lobby-against-anti-terrorism-bill/
  15. “RE: Protect Nonprofits. Uphold Due Process. Oppose H.R. 6408 / S. 4136.” May 6, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Group-Letter-to-Oppose-HR6408-S4136-5-6-24-Final-1.pdf
  16. We Fight Back 2025, Accessed January 3, 2025. https://wefightback2025.org/
  17. Return of Tax-Exempt Organization. People’s Forum Inc, 2019. Accessed 11 July 2022.
  18. “The People’s Forum (@PeoplesForumNYC). “For months we’ve been the target of a campaign that alleges our funding comes from “dark money.” A few years ago we met Roy Singham, a Marxist comrade who sold his company & donated most of his wealth to non-profits that focus on political education, culture & internationalism.” X, December 21, 2021. https://x.com/PeoplesForumNYC/status/1473312812944531457
  19. “Staff.” The People’s Forum. Accessed 11 July 2022. https://peoplesforum.org/about/staff/.
  20. “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/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 2017

  • 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
    2022 Dec Form 990 $4,428,869 $3,813,224 $18,591,181 $7,014,024 N $4,012,601 $331,306 $190,335 $65,588 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $486,926 $2,971,846 $13,654,672 $1,023,158 N $292,922 $60,321 $119,610 $64,042
    2020 Dec Form 990 $88,234 $2,769,940 $15,642,046 $902,619 N $10,502 $17,334 $57,136 $64,300
    2019 Dec Form 990 $15,320,016 $3,660,180 $18,137,180 $715,538 N $15,026,419 $155,933 $134,893 $62,620 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $4,437,168 $2,023,582 $6,452,492 $690,686 N $4,411,800 $30,740 $873 $86,875 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $3,975,858 $627,638 $3,667,383 $319,163 N $3,975,734 $0 $124 $625 PDF

    The People’s Forum

    320 West 37th St
    New York, NY 10018