Hardworking America is a left-of-center political advocacy group operated by the North Fund, part of the multi-billion-dollar nonprofit network created and administered by Arabella Advisors and closely tied to the Arabella-run nonprofit group Sixteen Thirty Fund. Hardworking America is listed as a trade name of the North Fund on its business filings with the District of Columbia, and appears to be an effort centered around opposing an increased state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap. A website belonging to Hardworking America urges individuals to call their members of U.S. Congress to register opposition to raising the SALT deduction cap in the 2025 omnibus tax proposal. 1 2 3
Background
Hardworking America is a trade name registered under the 501(c)(4) “Dark Money” group the North Fund, an umbrella funding group that is part of the multi-billion-dollar nonprofit network created and administered by Arabella Advisors and closely tied to the Arabella-run 501(c)(4) group Sixteen Thirty Fund. Like Arabella’s other managed nonprofits, the North Fund operates as an umbrella group for various left-of-center advocacy organizations and has spent millions to promote causes including expanding the number of seats on the U.S. Supreme Court (known as “packing the court”), abolishing the Electoral College, legalizing recreational marijuana, opposing a 22-week abortion ban, expanding Medicaid, and making Washington, D.C. a state. The North Fund has been characterized as a leading “dark money” nonprofit for its significant ballot-measure funding, which totaled $34 million in the 2020 elections. 4 3 5
According to the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, the North Fund operates several different entities including Just Democracy, an organization that promotes left-of-center policy on racial issues. Just Democracy also endorses giving D.C. statehood, abolishing the Electoral College, “packing” the U.S. Supreme Court with “progressive” justices, and ending the Senate’s filibuster. The group also sponsors 51 for 51, a group that solely advocates for D.C. statehood. 6 7
Activity
Little information is available online regarding specific activities of Hardworking America. A Facebook page exists under the group’s name, which directs to a website, HardworkingUSA.com, and has no activity other than a stock cover photo and logo, but states “Congress is considering a plan to give rich people in places like California and New York a massive tax cut by raising the SALT deduction cap. Who benefits? The top 1%. Who pays for it? The rest of us. Rich coastal elites don’t need help.” 8
Hardworking America’s website, HardworkingUSA.com, notes that the site is paid for by Hardworking America, and consists of one page that uses the same anti-SALT-deduction talking points with the headline, “Do Rich Coastal Elites Really Need a Tax Break?” and further states that “We’re talking about helping rich coastal elites buy more mansions, golf clubs, and wine cellars, paid for by people trying to pay rent and buy groceries.” The site also urges individuals to call their members of U.S. Congress to “Tell Congress: Vote no on giving handouts to rich coastal elites.” 9
The state and local tax (SALT) deduction was previously unlimited before being capped at $10,000 in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, major tax reform legislation passed under the first Trump administration. In 2025, House Republicans advanced legislation raising the cap to $40,000 in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which encompassed several priorities of the second Trump administration. 10 11
References
- “Do Rich Coastal Elites Really Need a Tax Break?” Hardworking USA. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://hardworkingusa.com/
- “Business Entity Details for Hardworking USA.” District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=4231080
- Parker Thayer, Hayden Ludwig. “Breaking: Arabella’s Left-wing Activist Network Raked in $1.7 Billion in 2020—a ‘Dark Money’ Blowout.” Capital Research Center. Nov. 22, 2021. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/breaking-arabellas-left-wing-activist-network-raked-in-1-7-billion-in-2020-a-dark-money-blowout/
- Kelly, Matthew. “Dark Money Accounts for Roughly a Quarter of pro-Medicaid Expansion Committee’s Funds,” July 13, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article244192572.html
- Hayden Ludwig. “What’s the North Fund and How Did It Muck Up the 2020 Election?” Capital Research Center. Dec. 17, 2021. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://capitalresearch.org/article/whats-the-north-fund-and-how-did-it-muck-up-the-2020-election/
- Slanger, Addi. “Progressive Leaning D.C.-Nonprofit Spends Nearly $5 Million for Marijuana Legalization.” Bozeman Daily Chronicle. October 26, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/progressive-leaning-d-c-nonprofit-spends-nearly-5-million-for-marijuana-legalization/article_90fded5b-1e86-5ea8-a98e-3e6949430993.html
- Kerma, Roge. “To Achieve Racial Justice America’s Broken Democracy Must be Fixed.” Vox. September 21, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://www.vox.com/21446880/just-democracy-reform-gun-violence-police-brutality-climate-change/
- “Hardworking USA.” Facebook. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576250221037
- “Home.” Hardworking America, Accessed May 26, 2025. https://hardworkingusa.com/
- “Democrats’ SALT Cap Tax Proposal Faces Scrutiny.” Politico, May 20, 2025. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/05/20/congress/democrats-salt-cap-tax-dave-min-megabill-00360348
- “SALT Tax Deduction Debate Heats Up in Congress.” The New York Times, May 15, 2025. Accessed May 26, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/nyregion/salt-tax-deduction.html