Center for Economic Democracy Inc
Center for Economic Democracy Inc. is a Boston-based public charity that organizes coalitions, develops community-led economic models, and moves resources to grassroots organizations and social movements. Its work centers on democratizing economic power and building a solidarity economy.
Center for Economic Democracy Inc at a glance
In short: Center for Economic Democracy Inc gave $696K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $54K), mostly in Massachusetts. 54% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $696,200
- +44.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +44.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $53,554
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $28,000
- Total assets
- $9,593,066
- -41.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (7 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Center for Economic Democracy Inc
- Review Cycle
- The published 2025 incubator application deadline was December 6, 2025.
- Deadline
- The published 2025 incubator application deadline was December 6, 2025.
- Contact
Mailing address: 769 Centre Street 143, Boston, MA 02130
Phone: (877) 829-5500
Website: https://economicdemocracy.us
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Center for Economic Democracy Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chinatown Community Land Trust ($196K). Together the top 10 received $649K.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 111 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CED is based in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2024, 83% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 10% to California, and 6% to Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Center for Economic Democracy Inc open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 13 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $75K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $45K first-time, $26K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $360K (2019) to $1.7M (2020). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $696K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chinatown Community Land Trust Boston, MA | SEI Grant to Chinatown Community Land Trust | $196,000 |
| Center for Cooperative Development & Solidarity East Boston, MA | Grant Award Letter for Solidarity Economy Headquarters Project | $160,000 |
| Uptogether Concord, CA | Grant Award for Beautiful Seed Fund | $70,000 |
| Amauta LLC Salt Lake City, UT | Fiscal Sponsorship Grant | $45,000 |
| Urban Revival DBA City Lifevida Urban Jamaicaplain, MA | Grant for malden community land trust and general operating expenses | $40,000 |
| Alternatives for Community & Environment Roxbury, MA | Grant for General Operating Expenses | $40,000 |
| Chinatown People Progressive Association Boston, MA | Food, swag production (tshirts, bags... ) and general operating expenses | $28,000 |
| Resist-V Jamaica Plain, MA | Food, Banner, Childcare and General Operating Expenses | $24,500 |
| Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative Roxbury, MA | Food, Interpretation, Childcare, Comms/Logo and General Operating Expenses | $23,000 |
| Brazilian Women's Group Allston, MA | Grant for coop development & solidarity advanced training and general operating expenses | $22,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,593,066 | $6,465,280 | $4,206,570 | $696,200 | 13 | $49,605 |
| 2023 | $16,276,551 | $4,944,735 | $4,536,716 | $481,745 | 9 | $21,415 |
| 2022 | $15,917,380 | $7,517,905 | $3,002,532 | $396,000 | 9 | — |
| 2021 | $11,558,653 | $3,979,312 | $2,734,017 | $537,430 | 28 | — |
| 2020 | $9,063,197 | $6,158,264 | $3,394,024 | $1,686,860 | 52 | — |
| 2019 | $4,228,535 | $3,287,837 | $1,419,174 | $359,524 | 18 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CED’s stated mission is to grow community capacity to transform American capitalism into a more just, sustainable, and democratic economy. Its website describes work that includes organizing local coalitions, advancing policy, educating community organizers, and partnering with funders and investors to direct resources to frontline groups.
Its 2024 grants included support for community land trusts, neighborhood initiatives, and other organizations. For example, Chinatown Community Land Trust says it works for community control of land, permanently affordable housing, and development without displacement. Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative says it works to empower residents to organize, plan for, create, and control their neighborhood. Brazilian Women’s Group says its mission is to promote political and cultural awareness in the Brazilian community and contribute to its development. Ayni Institute says it builds trainings and community around understandings and technologies for a more balanced, reciprocal world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, CED reported 13 grants totaling $696,200. Grants ranged from $7,200 to $196,000, with a median grant of $28,000. The largest awards included $196,000 to Chinatown Community Land Trust, $160,000 to Center for Cooperative Development & Solidarity for its Solidarity Economy Headquarters project, and $70,000 to UpTogether for the Beautiful Seed Fund. Other listed grants included $45,000 to Amauta LLC for fiscal sponsorship; $40,000 each to Urban Revival dba City Life/Vida Urbana and Alternatives for Community & Environment; and $28,000 to Chinatown People Progressive Association.
CED’s website describes the Solidarity Economy Fund as a pooled grantmaking vehicle governed by grassroots leaders. It also describes a Solidarity Economy Incubator cohort for projects developing community-led, regenerative economic models. The website’s stated application period for the 2025 incubator cohort was September 20 through December 6; it is a past cycle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Penn Loh as president; Sarah Jimenez as treasurer; Farhad Ebrahimi, Tiffany Brown, and Khalida Smalls as directors; and Shari Davis as co-executive director, a role she held beginning in August 2024. It lists Aaron Tanaka as director beginning in August 2024 and executive director through July 2024. Other listed staff were Martin Familia, senior director of finance and HR; Maria Christina Blanco, board clerk/operation manager; and Amrita Wassan, senior director of national programs.
Center for Economic Democracy Inc is led by Aaron Tanaka, Director Since Aug ' Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 5 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aaron Tanaka
Director Since Aug ' Executive Director
Executive Director → Director Since Aug ' Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$79K (2019) → $54K (2024)
Shari Davis
Co-Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$53K (2024)
Penn Loh
President
Clerk → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martin Familia
Senior Director of Finance
Director of Finance → Senior Director of Finance, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$72K (2019) → $114K (2024)
Amrita Wassan
Senior Director of National Programs
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$112K (2024)
Khalida Smalls
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Farhad Ebrahimi
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Brown
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Christina Blanco
Board Clerk & Operation Manager
Board Clerk & Operation Manager → Board Clerk & Operation Mana, 2023
Board Clerk & Operation Mana → Board Clerk & Operation Manager, 2024
On filings since 2021
42 hrs/week
$54K (2021) → $64K (2024)
Sarah Jimenez
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Yichen Feng (2023) — Managing Director & Capital Strategies
- Former: Ariel Brooks (2019–2021) — Director of Capacity & Operations
- Former: Elena Letona (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Kalila Barnett (2019–2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $114K, to Martin Familia (Sr. Director of Finance & HR). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Center for Economic Democracy Inc
How much does Center for Economic Democracy Inc give each year?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc gave $696K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $482K across 9 grants.
What is Center for Economic Democracy Inc's typical grant size?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc's median grant in 2024 was $28,000, and its average grant was $53,554, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Center for Economic Democracy Inc that year got $75K on average.
Where does Center for Economic Democracy Inc give grants?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (10%) and Utah (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants), Jamaicaplain, MA (2 grants) and Roxbury, MA (2 grants).
Does Center for Economic Democracy Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 62% of Center for Economic Democracy Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Center for Economic Democracy Inc's largest grantees?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Chinatown Community Land Trust ($196,000), Center for Cooperative Development & Solidarity ($160,000) and Uptogether ($70,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Economic Democracy Inc?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc reported $9.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.5M.
What does Center for Economic Democracy Inc fund?
CED’s stated mission is to grow community capacity to transform American capitalism into a more just, sustainable, and democratic economy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Economic Democracy Inc?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check economicdemocracy.us for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Center for Economic Democracy Inc's EIN?
Center for Economic Democracy Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-3589804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 5, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Center for Economic Democracy Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Center for Economic Democracy Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-economic-democracy-inc-morg_f3cd73a47f68499e940257daa989a26f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_473589804_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Center for Economic Democracy Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-economic-democracy-inc-morg_f3cd73a47f68499e940257daa989a26f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Center for Economic Democracy Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Center for Economic Democracy Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?