Funders › District of Columbia
The Arca Foundation
Washington, DC · EIN 13-2751798. Reported 210 grants totalling $14.2M to 90 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Arca Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $75,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $50,000 and $100,000; the smallest was $1,500 and the largest $230,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tides Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $1,105,000 | 10 | 4 | 2024 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Fund | Washington, DC | $695,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| We the People Mi | Detroit, MI | $525,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Win Without War Education Fund | Washington, DC | $500,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Windward Fund | Washington, DC | $450,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Tides Center | San Francisco, CA | $425,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Neo Philanthropy | New York, NY | $421,000 | 10 | 4 | 2024 |
| Action Center on Race and the Economy Institute | Chicago, IL | $400,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Colorofchangeorg Education Fund | Oakland, CA | $400,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Michigan Voices | Detroit, MI | $400,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United for Respect Education Fund | Brooklyn, NY | $400,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Public Accountability Initiative | Baffalo, NY | $375,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mothering Justice | Detroit, MI | $325,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Advance Decmocracy | Mclean, VA | $300,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Blueprint North Carolina | Durham, NC | $300,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Freedom Inc | Fitchnurg, WI | $300,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Voces De La Frontera | Milwakee, WI | $300,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| We Are Down Home | Greensboro, NC | $300,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Iranian American Council | Washington, DC | $275,000 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| State Voices | Detroit, MI | $275,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alliance for Youth Organizing | Washington, DC | $255,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft | Washington, DC | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Just Future Fund | Washington, DC | $230,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Just Vision Inc | Washington, DC | $225,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Michigan United | Detroit, MI | $225,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United We Dream Network | Washington, DC | $225,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund | Milwaukee, WI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund | Washington, DC | $175,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Congressional Progressive Caucus Center | Washington, DC | $175,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Solidaire Network Inc | Malden, MA | $175,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Blueprint Nc | Durham, NC | $155,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Institute for Policy Studies | Washington, DC | $152,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Citizen Action of Wi Education Fund | Milwaukee, WI | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Social Good Fund Inc | Richmond, CA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| State Power Fund | Kent, OH | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Center for International Policy Inc | Washington, DC | $125,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Democracy for the Arab World Now | Ashburn, VA | $125,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Powerswitch Action (formerly Known As the Partnership for Working Families) | Oakland, CA | $105,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Center for Economic and Policy Research | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Center for Third World Organizing | Oakland, CA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Democracy North Carolina | Morrisville, NC | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Florida Rising Together (formally New Florida Majority Education Fund) | Miami, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Leaders Igniting Transformation Education Fund | Milwaukee, WI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Florida Majority Education Fund | Miami, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New Florida Majority Education Fund (florida Rising Together) | Miami, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New Florida Majority Fund | Miami, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Powerswitch Action | Oakland, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Public Wise Research and Education | Oakland, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Good Nation Foundation | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Neighborhood Funders Group | Oakland, CA | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Watershed Center Inc | Millerton, NY | $80,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Advance Democracy Inc | Mclean, VA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for Popular Democracy Inc | Brooklyn, NY | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Democracy for the Arab World Now | Brooklyn, NY | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Isaiah | Minneapolis, MN | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Michigan Organizing Project | Detroit, MI | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Peoples Action Institute | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Quincy Institute | Washington, DC | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| State Voices | Washington, DC | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United We Dream | Washington, DC | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| CASA Inc | Hyattsville, MD | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Demand Progress | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Demand Progress Eduation | Silver Spring, MD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Democracy Nc | Morrisville, NC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Oil & Gas Action Network | Oakland, CA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc | Calabasas, CA | $30,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Washington Office on Latin America | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Solidaire Network | Oakland, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (acce) Institute | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Comision Ciudadana Para La Auditoria (aditoria Ya) Integral Del Credito Pub | San Juan, PR | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fund for Constitutional Government | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Government Accountability Project | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Haitian Bridge Alliance | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Highlander Research and Education Center | New Market, TN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| If Not Now | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ifnotnow Education Fund | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Illuminative | Tulsa, OK | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Immigration Law Center | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Georgia Project Inc | Atlanta, GA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New York Communities Organizing Fund Inc | Brooklyn, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Public Policy and Education Fund (ppef) of New York | Albany, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Publicwise | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rise Education Fund | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs | Calabasas, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Social and Evironmental Entreprenures Inc | Calabasas, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sustainable Markets Foundation | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Union Theological Seminary | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Women Cross Dmz | Honolulu, HI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
44 of 90 (49%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 69%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Amalgamated Charitable Fund
support for the Just Future Fund - Tides Foundation
Project grant for Center for Working Families Fund - Tides Center
Project grant fo Detroit Action Education Fund - Windward Fund
fiscal sponsor grant for Heartland Fund - Neo Philanthropy
fiscal sponsor grant for Youth Engagement Fund - Public Wise Research and Education
fiscal sponsor grant for Athena Coalition
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 165 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | $2,897,000 | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 53 | $3,884,500 | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 51 | $3,686,500 | $75,000 |
| 2024 | 54 | $3,760,000 | $75,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
30% of its giving went to organizations in District of Columbia. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
Get funders for your state and cause by email
We email you funders that gave to organizations in your state and cause, up to five at a time each week and never the same one twice, from their own IRS filings. Free. The weekly email has not started yet.
Unsubscribe in one click from any email. We never sell or share your address. To match on your organization and typical grant size too, keep a private profile.
Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $75,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in District of Columbia.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Arca Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 1730 Rhode Island Ave Nw 606, Washington, DC, 20036. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 13-2751798 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.