Center for American Progress Action Fund
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS ACTION FUND'S (THE ACTION FUND) MISSION IS TO IMPACT THE NATIONAL DEBATE AND TRANSFORM PROGRESSIVE IDEAS INTO POLICY THROUGH RAPID RESPONSE COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION AND ADVOCACY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN CITIZENS, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH POLICYMAKERS AND PROGRESSIVE LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
- Income
- $22.4 million
- Spending
- $20.6 million
- Employees
- 266
- Volunteers
- 5
- Highest pay
- $253,715, president & executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $14.4 million spent. OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY: THE OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT LED THE EFFORT TO BUILD POSITIVE BRANDING TO EDUCATE POLICY MAKERS, ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON MAJOR POLICY PRIORITIES INCLUDING ECONOMIC AND DOMESTIC POLICY, NATIONAL SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE MESSAGE RESEARCH, CREATED DIGITAL CONTENT, AND WORKED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PARTNERS (ORGANIZATIONS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS) TO ALIGN ON BRANDING AND CORE MESSAGING.
- $2.2 million spent. POLICY PROGRAMS: PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED ACROSS POLICY AREAS INCLUDING: ECONOMIC AND DOMESTIC POLICY, NATIONAL SECURITY, HEALTH CARE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS INCLUDED GENERATING AND PUBLISHING IDEAS AND POLICIES THAT INFORMED KEY LEGISLATION.
- $821,268 spent. COMMUNICATIONS: ADVANCED PROGRESSIVE IDEAS AND MESSAGES THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS AND EXPANDED USE OF DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL NEWS MEDIA. ADDRESSED TIMELY PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICAL ISSUES THROUGH RAPID RESPONSE AND ANALYSIS. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED SHAPING THE MESSAGING AROUND A PROGRESSIVE ECONOMIC AGENDA, TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND RESTORING VOTING RIGHTS.
- $1.2 million spent. OTHER PPROGRAM EXPENSES
- (Expenses $ 1,189,390 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) OTHER PPROGRAM EXPENSES
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(4) social welfare organization as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.