Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY ACTION (CPDA) AND ITS AFFILIATES KNOW THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD. WE UPEND BUSINESS AND POLITICS AS USUAL TO FORGE A REPRESENTATIVE, MULTIRACIAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY WHERE WE ALL THRIVE, NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Income
- $2.8 million
- Spending
- $3.1 million
- Employees
- 104
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $38,285, co-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 (6)
- $1.2 million spent. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: IN 2024 CPDA ALSO DESIGNED A STRATEGY FOR INJECTING HOUSING INTO THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE AND COMMUNICATING WITH RENTERS ABOUT WHAT WAS AT STAKE IN THE ELECTION AND WHERE CANDIDATES STOOD ON ISSUES THAT IMPACTED RENTERS SPECIFICALLY. THESE TARGETED INTERVENTIONS BY PDIA, ITS AFFILIATES, AND COUNTLESS OTHER PARTNERS AND TENANT-LED ORGANIZATIONS, DIRECTLY LED TO THE CENTERING OF THE HOUSING CRISIS IN THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. PDIA COLLABORATED WITH AFFILIATES, PROVIDING SUPPORT THROUGH MONTHLY STRATEGY CALLS, POLICY ANALYSIS, BASE-BUILDING INTEGRATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND POPULAR EDUCATION TRAINING, WHILE ALSO PLANNING NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OPPORTUNITIES TO UNIFY POLICY PLATFORMS AND NARRATIVE STRATEGIES.
- $644,135 spent. CANVASS NETWORK: CPDA'S CANVASS LLC PROVIDES DIRECT FIELD CAPACITY TO OUR NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND HELPS THEM BUILD THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP. CPDA'S ORGANIZERS AND TRAINERS WORK ALONGSIDE AFFILIATE LEADERS TO ACHIEVE OUR COLLECTIVE GOALS OF GROWING OUR SHARED BASE, DEVELOPING THE LEADERSHIP OF IMPACTED PEOPLE, AND INCREASING THE MOVEMENT'S RESILIENCE AND IMPACT OVER TIME. IN 2024, THE CANVASS LLC CALLED 1,275 VOTERS IN KEY STATES ON VOTER PROTECTIONS AND HOUSING ISSUES.
- $309,034 spent. DATA: IN 2024 CPDA EXPANDED THE LOUISE JEFFERSON INITIATIVE (LJI), A SERIES OF STATE HEAT MAPS THAT USE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FROM THE VOTER FILE (RACE, REGISTRATION STATUS, ISSUE SCORING, ETC.) TO VISUALIZE OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE MAPS INCLUDE DISTRICT BOUNDARY LINES FOR THE US HOUSE, UPPER AND LOWER CHAMBERS OF STATE LEGISLATURES, AND VOTING PRECINCTS ALONGSIDE OTHER DENSITY MAPS THAT CAN HELP US DEVELOP CAMPAIGNS AND CRAFT MESSAGING. WE HAVE COMPLETED MAPS FOR 15 STATES AND HAVE TRAINED AFFILIATES IN THOSE AREAS TO USE THE MAP EFFECTIVELY. OUR DATA TEAM ALSO PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO OUR AFFILIATES AND ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL DATA TOOLS.
- $255,363 spent. BASEBUILDING
- $182,486 spent. CAMPAIGNS
- $97,284 spent. EXECUTIVE OFFICE PROGRAMS
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 7, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.