Action Now Inc
Action Now Inc is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization based in Houston, Texas, designated as a civic league and local association created to promote community welfare. The organization operates as a non-partisan advocacy network supporting evidence-based policy reform at the state and federal levels. Donations to this organization are not tax-deductible.
Key facts about Action Now Inc
- EIN
- 45-4083809
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,877,253
- Grants made (2024)
- 42
- Average grant
- $258,982
- Median grant
- $137,500
- Total assets
- $3,303,803
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Action Now Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Action Now Inc's 42 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (33%), New York (25%) and Virginia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (15 grants), Denver, CO (5 grants), Arlington, VA (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants). 17% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How Action Now Inc gives
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
+2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.9M
+209.1% YoY
Grant Count
42
+121.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$259K
+39.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Action Now Inc's philanthropic work tackles pressing problems in the United States by focusing on correcting systemic failures through evidence-based solutions. The organization invests in sustainable change built from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence to drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy.
Primary focus areas include:
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Health Care Reform
- Transparency and Accountability in Higher Education
- Community & Civic Engagement
- Community Health
- Local Government Grants
The organization seeks to maximize opportunity and minimize injustice through its advocacy and grantmaking activities.
Grantmaking
Action Now Inc functions as a grantmaking foundation with total giving of $3,519,330 based on the most recent filing. Typical grant awards range from $16,000 to $3,000,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary grantmaking regions include:
- District of Columbia
- Montana
- Maryland
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 42 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $3,577,720
- Total Expenses: $3,738,775
- Net Income: -$161,055
- Total Assets: $3,237,181
- Total Liabilities: $0
2022 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $13,562,786
- Total Expenses: $10,414,516
- Total Assets: $3,398,236
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,303,803 | $3,237,181 | $3,398,236 |
| Revenue | $11,013,735 | $3,577,720 | $13,562,786 |
| Expenses | $10,947,113 | $3,738,775 | $10,414,516 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $63,735 | $77,720 | $22,786 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Welcoming Neighbors Network ($2,519,000), Families USA Action ($1,100,000 across 2 grants), Committee to Protect Health Care ($656,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WELCOMING NEIGHBORS NETWORK NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT GRANTEE'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO REMOVE REGULATORY BARRIERS TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY OF HOUSING ACROSS A DIVERSE ARRAY OF STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES. | $2,519,000 |
| FAMILIES USA ACTION WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT GRANTEE'S EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN AROUND ENACTING HOSPITAL SITE NEUTRAL PAYMENT POLICIES, INCLUDING CRACKING DOWN ON ABUSIVE FACILITY FEES. | $700,000 |
| COMMITTEE TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE DETROIT, MI | TO SUPPORT GRANTEE'S EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ON SITE-NEUTRAL POLICY REFORM. | $656,250 |
| THE MARKET INSTITUTE LLC BURKE, VA | TO SUPPORT GRANTEE'S EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY SURROUNDING SITE-NEUTRAL PRICING POLICIES. | $600,000 |
| FARELLA BRAUN MARTEL LLP SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON ANTICOMPETITIVE CONDUCT IN THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY. | $500,608 |
| DUE PROCESS INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | TO SUPPORT GRANTEE'S EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY SURROUNDING SENTENCING AND PRISON REFORM. | $500,000 |
| FAIRVOTE ACTION FUND TAKOMA PARK, MD | TO PROVIDE GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $400,000 |
| FAMILIES USA ACTION WASHINGTON, DC | TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AND PROTECT EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEDERAL SURPRISE BILLING LAW. | $400,000 |
| MARYLAND CITIZENS HEALTH INITIATIVE INC BALTIMORE, MD | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AND ISSUE ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY INITIATIVE. | $337,500 |
| OTHRAM INC THE WOODLANDS, TX | TO CONDUCT A PILOT STUDY TO DETERMINE IF FOCUSED COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SUBSIDIZED DNA TESTING FOR UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA CAN INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF GENETIC GENEALOGY DATABASES, THEREBY IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FORENSIC GENETIC INVESTIGATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. | $290,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
CEO/Principal Officer: Kelli Rhee
Founders: John Arnold and Laura Arnold
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelli Rhee | President and CEO | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Banks | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| John Arnold | Director | 1 | — |
| Laura Arnold | Director | 1 | — |
| Roxanne Almaraz | Secretary | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Action Now Inc has expanded its commitment to protecting historically Black churches, announcing $13.5 million in new grants through the Action Fund for this initiative.
Action Fund Expands Commitment to Protect Historically Black Churches withSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Action Now Inc fund?
Action Now Inc's philanthropic work tackles pressing problems in the United States by focusing on correcting systemic failures through evidence-based solutions. The organization invests in sustainable change built from the ground up based on research, deep thinking, and a strong foundation of evidence to drive public conversation, craft policy, and inspire action through education and advocacy. Primary focus areas include: • Criminal Justice Reform • Health Care Reform • Transparency and Accoun…
How do I apply for a grant from Action Now Inc?
Action Now Inc functions as a grantmaking foundation with total giving of $3,519,330 based on the most recent filing. Typical grant awards range from $16,000 to $3,000,000. The organization's grant-making focuses on Human Services, Health Care, and Community Improvement & Capacity Building, with primary geographic emphasis on the District of Columbia, Montana, and Maryland.
Where does Action Now Inc make grants?
Primary grantmaking regions include: • District of Columbia • Montana • Maryland
What size grants does Action Now Inc award?
In 2024, Action Now Inc awarded 42 grants totaling $10.9M — an average of about $259K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Action Now Inc's EIN?
Action Now Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4083809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Action Now Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.