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National Priorities Project (NPP)

Website:

www.nationalpriorities.org/
Location:

NORTHAMPTON, MA
Type:

Federal Budget Advocacy Organization
Status:

Project of the Institute for Policy Studies
Formation:

1983
Program Director:

Lindsay Koshgarian

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National Priorities Project (NPP) is a project of the left-of-center Institute for Policy Studies 1 2 that researches and analyzes the U.S. federal budget. 3 NPP advocates for the reduction of the U.S. military 4 and defense budgets 5 6 and repurposing that funding to left-of-center domestic-policy programs. 7

NPP executive director Linsay Koshgarian has called the U.S. federal budget “racist” and described the left-of-center Movement for Black Lives policy platform to change federal spending as “stunning” and “visionary.” 8

NPP’s blog host posts that support defunding the police, 9 the far-left Black Lives Matter movement, 10 11 and the left-wing UndocuBlack Network. 12 NPP opposes the detention of illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border 13  and has organized retreats focused on the critical race theory-influenced concepts of economic and racial justice. 14

History and Leadership

National Priorities Project (NPP) was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1983 by Greg Speeter, Brenda Loew, Ricky Fogel, and Alwin Schmidt. The group immediately began advocating against Cold War-focused defense spending to members of Congress. 15

NPP was an independent nonprofit organization 16 until it joined the left-of-center Institute for Policy Studies on October 1, 2017. 17 18

In 2012, NPP organized a post-election retreat that focused on the critical race theory-influenced concepts of economic and racial justice. 19

Lindsay Koshgarian is National Priorities Project’s program director. Previously, she worked as a clinic worker and organizer at abortion advocacy organization Planned Parenthood in central and suburban Philadelphia. 20

Koshgarian has claimed former President Donald Trump “hates the poor,” 21 called the construction of a wall on the southern border between the United States and Mexico a “waste,” 22 and supports cuts to the military budget to fund the government-run healthcare system Medicare-for-All. 23 She has also appeared on left-wing advocacy group Code Pink’s podcast to discuss cutting military spending. 24

Nora Ranney was NPP’s executive director until 2017. Prior to joining NPP, she held roles with George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, the Progressive States Network, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), former U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, and left-of-center United for a Fair Economy. 25

Activities and Funding

National Priorities Project is a project of the left-of-center Institute for Policy Studies. 26 NPP focuses its efforts on researching and analyzing the U.S. federal budget. The organization issues reports and analysis 27 of the federal budget and advocates for the reduction of the U.S. military 28 and defense budget 29 30 with the objective of channeling that funding to left-of-center domestic policy priorities. 31

NPP executive director Linsey Koshgarian has called the U.S. federal budget “racist” and called the left-of-center Movement for Black Lives policy platform to change federal spending habits “stunning” and “visionary.” 32

NPP’s blog publishes posts that support defunding the police, 33 the far-left Black Lives Matter movement, 34 35 and the left-wing UndocuBlack Network of Black illegal immigrants. 36 NPP also opposes the detention of illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and supports cuts in funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol government agencies. 37

NPP has hosted guest articles on its website that suggest Israel is committing crimes against humanity 38 and has suggested a changing climate is the “biggest threat to U.S. national security” in the 21st century. 39

In recognition of its 30th anniversary, NPP gave the “Democracy Champions” award to 30 individuals it identified as leaders and left-of-center activists in 2013. Awardees included then-Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), left-of-center political commentator Van Jones, Ai-jen Poo of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Clinton administration Secretary of Labor Robert Reich. Other awardees included senior leaders of left-of-center and left-wing groups such as Progressive Democrats of America, Institute for Policy Studies, TurboVote, MoveOn.org, New Media Ventures, Grassroots Global Justice, Jobs with Justice, Peace Action, Dream Defenders, Center for Effective Government, Demos, 350.org, Sunlight Foundation, Partnership for Working Families, Upworthy, MomsRising, Resource Generation, and the Coalition on Human Needs. 40 41

NPP is a member of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition 42 and listed on left-of-center fundraising and organizing website Action Network. 43

Funding

National Priorities Project is a project of the left-of-center Institute for Policy Studies. 44

Prior to joining the Institute for Policy studies in 2017, NPP received grants and funding from various organizations including liberal billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, the Bauman Family Foundation, 45 Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, Colombe Peace Foundation of the Proetus Fund, 46 47 the radical-left anti-war Cultures of Resistance Network Foundation, the Educational Foundation of America, Ford Foundation, Google Foundation, HKH Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Solidago Foundation, Sunlight Foundation, Susan A. and Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation, Stewart R. Mott Foundation, and the Wellspring Fund of the Peace Development Fund. 48 49

References

  1. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Announcing our new partnership with the Institute for Policy Studies: A Letter to NPP Supporters from Executive Director Nora Ranney.” National Priorities Project. August 29, 2017. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2017/08/29/announcing-our-new-partnership-institute-policy-studies-letter-npp-supporters-executive-director-nora-ranney/.
  2. “Home.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/.
  3. “About NPP.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/about/.
  4. “Budget Deal Prioritizes War and Militarization Over Critical Needs, Again.” National Priorities Project. March 9, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2022/budget-deal-prioritizes-war-and-militarization-over-critical-needs-again/.
  5. Koshigarian, Lindsay. “Democrats Are Making a Devil’s Bargain on Pentagon Funding. It’s Not Paying Off.” National Priorities Project. December 23, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/pressroom/articles/2022/12/23/Dems-Making-A-Devils-Bargain-on-Pentagon-Spending/.
  6. “National Priorities Project at the Insitutte for Policy Studies Condems Passage of a $778 Billion Pentagon bill, Celebrates Lawmakers Who Opposed.” National Priorities Project. December 8, 2021. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2021/national-priorities-project-institute-policy-studies-condemns-passage-768-billio/.
  7. “FY 2023 Budget Deal Rewards Military at Expense of Domestic Needs.” National Priorities Project. December 20, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2022/budget-deal-rewards-military-expense-domestic-needs/
  8. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Is the Federal Budget Racist? The Movement for Black Lives and the Federal Budget.” National Priorities Project. August 18, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2016/08/18/federal-budget-racist-movement-black-lives-and-federal-budget/.
  9. Makin, Ken. “Defund the Police, Invest in Communities.” National Priorities Project. June 12, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2020/06/12/defund-police-invest-communities/.
  10. Rogers, Tracey L. “Palestinian Lives Matter.” National Priorities Project. May 20, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2021/05/20/palestinian-lives-matter/.
  11. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Defund the Police, Defund Militarization.” National Priorities Project. June 25, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2020/06/25/end-racism-militarism-us-now/.
  12. “Tweet.” National Priorities Project Twitter Page. Posted September 17, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://twitter.com/natpriorities/status/1306677669334061056.
  13.  “Tweet.” National Priorities Project Twitter. Posted December 11, 2019. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://twitter.com/natpriorities/status/1204824342779088897/.
  14. [1] “2014 Nobel Prize Nomination.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/news/nobel-peace-prize/nomination/
  15. “Our History.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/about/history/.
  16. “National Priorities Project Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2015. Accessed February 3, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43070112/201701299349301385/full.
  17. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Announcing our new partnership with the Institute for Policy Studies: A Letter to NPP Supporters from Executive Director Nora Ranney.” National Priorities Project. August 29, 2017. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2017/08/29/announcing-our-new-partnership-institute-policy-studies-letter-npp-supporters-executive-director-nora-ranney/.
  18. “Home.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/.
  19. “2014 Nobel Prize Nomination.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/news/nobel-peace-prize/nomination/
  20. “About Lindsay Koshgarian.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/about/team/lkoshgarian/.
  21. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Trump Hates the Poor.” U.S. News and Report. Fe ebruary 15, 2018. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2018-02-15/president-trumps-budget-proposal-is-devastating-to-the-poor.
  22. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Trump’s $5 Billion Wall Is a Waste.” Institute for Policy Studies. January 9, 2019. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://ips-dc.org/trumps-5-billion-wall-is-a-waste/.
  23. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “How to Fund ‘Medicare for All’: Slash the Military.” Institute for Policy Studies. October 17. 2019. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://ips-dc.org/how-fund-medicare-for-all-slash-military/.
  24. “Episode 34: In Conversation with National Priorities Project and Just World Educational.” Code Pink. April 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.codepink.org/episode_34.
  25.  “Nora Ranney named new Executive Director of National Priorities Project.” National Priorities Project. 2016. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/whats-new/2016/3/14/nora-ranney-named-new-executive-director-national-/.
  26. “Home.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/.
  27. “Latest News.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/.
  28. “Budget Deal Prioritizes War and Militarization Over Critical Needs, Again.” National Priorities Project. March 9, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2022/budget-deal-prioritizes-war-and-militarization-over-critical-needs-again/.
  29. Koshigarian, Lindsay. “Democrats Are Making a Devil’s Bargain on Pentagon Funding. It’s Not Paying Off.” National Priorities Project. December 23, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/pressroom/articles/2022/12/23/Dems-Making-A-Devils-Bargain-on-Pentagon-Spending/.
  30. “National Priorities Project at the Insitutte for Policy Studies Condems Passage of a $778 Billion Pentagon bill, Celebrates Lawmakers Who Opposed.” National Priorities Project. December 8, 2021. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2021/national-priorities-project-institute-policy-studies-condemns-passage-768-billio/.
  31.  [1] “FY 2023 Budget Deal Rewards Military at Expense of Domestic Needs.” National Priorities Project. December 20, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2022/budget-deal-rewards-military-expense-domestic-needs/.
  32. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Is the Federal Budget Racist? The Movement for Black Lives and the Federal Budget.” National Priorities Project. August 18, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2016/08/18/federal-budget-racist-movement-black-lives-and-federal-budget/.
  33. Makin, Ken. “Defund the Police, Invest in Communities.” National Priorities Project. June 12, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2020/06/12/defund-police-invest-communities/.
  34. Rogers, Tracey L. “Palestinian Lives Matter.” National Priorities Project. May 20, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2021/05/20/palestinian-lives-matter/.
  35. Koshgarian, Lindsay. “Defund the Police, Defund Militarization.” National Priorities Project. June 25, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2020/06/25/end-racism-militarism-us-now/.
  36. “Tweet.” National Priorities Project Twitter Page. Posted September 17, 2020. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://twitter.com/natpriorities/status/1306677669334061056.
  37. “Tweet.” National Priorities Project Twitter. Posted December 11, 2019. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://twitter.com/natpriorities/status/1204824342779088897/.
  38. Rogers, Tracey L. “Palestinian Lives Matter.” National Priorities Project. May 20, 2021. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2021/05/20/palestinian-lives-matter/.
  39. Lindsay Koshgarian and Ashik Siddique. “FACT SHEET: No National Security without Climate Security.” National Priorities Project. September 29, 2022. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://ips-dc.org/fact-sheet-no-national-security-without-climate-security/.
  40. “Democracy Champions.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 4, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/about/npp-turns-30/democracy-champions/.
  41. “National Priorities Project’s 30th Anniversary.” National Priorities Project. Pg. 9. October 2013. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://static.nationalpriorities.org/about/reports/30th-anniversary.pdf.
  42. [1] “Home.” Declaration for American Democracy. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/.
  43. “National Priorities Project at the Institute for Policy Studies.” Action Network. Accessed February 2, 2023.
  44. “Home.” National Priorities Project. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/.
  45. “National Priorities Project.” The Bauman Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.baumanfoundation.org/grantee/194.
  46. “National Priorities Project’s 30th Anniversary.” National Priorities Project. Pg. 2. October 2013. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://static.nationalpriorities.org/about/reports/30th-anniversary.pdf.
  47. “Key Past Programs.” Proteus Fund. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.proteusfund.org/history-and-impact/.
  48. “National Priorities Project’s 30th Anniversary.” National Priorities Project. Pg. 2. October 2013. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://static.nationalpriorities.org/about/reports/30th-anniversary.pdf.
  49. “Foundation Support.” National Priorities Project. 2011. Accessed February 2, 2023. https://www.nationalpriorities.org/about/annual-reports/2011/foundation-donors/.
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National Priorities Project (NPP)

351 Pleasant Street, Suite B No. 442
NORTHAMPTON, MA