Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund (CEPEF) is a public charity based in Oakland, California. Formed in 2019, it supports grassroots, community-based organizations through civic education and engagement, political organizing, leadership development, research, and organizational capacity-building.
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund at a glance
In short: Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund gave $1.6M across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $53K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,575,208
- +127.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- +150.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $52,507
- -9.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $30,616,733
- +33.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 1212 Broadway Ste 700, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 644-0885
Website: https://empoweredpolitics.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Watering Hole Media Action ($495K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 55 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CEPEF’s stated mission refers to communities throughout the United States. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares were in DC (35%), California (30%), Pennsylvania (13%), Georgia (7%), and Tennessee (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $121K (2021) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Watering Hole Media Action Washington, DC | Community Education and Outreach | $495,000 |
| Chinese Progressive Association Oakland, CA | Grant to chinese narrative hub project and general support | $303,379 |
| Cair-Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Civic Engagement and Capacity Building | $55,000 |
| Community Aid and Development Decatur, GA | General support for its fiscally sponsored project ejerie labs | $55,000 |
| Asian Americans United Philadelphia, PA | Civic Engagement and Capacity Building | $53,000 |
| Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta Norcross, GA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Highlander Research and Education Center New Market, TN | General Support | $50,000 |
| Houston in Action Houston, TX | General Support | $50,000 |
| State Democracy Project Brooklyn, NY | General support for its fiscally sponsored projects the frontline election defenders | $50,000 |
| State Voices Washington, DC | General Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reports $1,426,058 in managed services from related organization Resilient Strategies. It states that $133,475 of that amount was paid to Alex A Tom, CEPEF’s president.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,616,733 | $24,355,029 | $16,769,094 | $1,575,208 | 30 | $335,300 |
| 2023 | $22,918,683 | $14,094,602 | $7,362,851 | $693,718 | 12 | $51,115 |
| 2022 | $10,401,851 | $10,333,850 | $4,703,075 | $879,248 | 10 | $893 |
| 2021 | $3,989,428 | $4,198,048 | $1,465,626 | $121,448 | 3 | — |
| 2020 | $386,549 | $311,549 | $4,218 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CEPEF states that it promotes civic education and engagement; conducts research on the effects of policies on poverty and racial inequity; trains and develops leaders for racial justice; builds capacity for community organizations; and empowers low-income and working-class communities throughout the United States. Its stated program areas include building progressive political power through mass-based electoral organizing, base-building and policy advocacy, and providing capacity-building and organizational development support for social, racial, and economic justice organizations.
Its 2024 grants included support for civic engagement, community education, general operations, and organizational capacity. Grantees’ own mission statements describe work such as organizing low-income and working-class immigrant Chinese communities (Chinese Progressive Association), protecting civil liberties and empowering American Muslims (CAIR-Pennsylvania), and supporting grassroots organizing and movement building in Appalachia and the South (Highlander Research & Education Center).
Grantmaking
In 2024, CEPEF reported 30 grants totaling $1,575,208. Grants ranged from $6,366 to $495,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $495,000 to Watering Hole Media Action for community education and outreach, and $303,379 to Chinese Progressive Association for the Chinese Narrative Hub project and general support.
Other notable 2024 grants included $55,000 to CAIR-Philadelphia for civic engagement and capacity building; $55,000 to Community Aid and Development for general support of its fiscally sponsored project Ejerie Labs; $53,000 to Asian Americans United for civic engagement and capacity building; and $50,000 each to Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, Highlander Research and Education Center, Houston in Action, State Democracy Project, and State Voices. The filing describes the latter awards as general support, except for State Democracy Project, whose grant supported its fiscally sponsored projects, The Frontline Election Defenders. Other listed grants included $43,000 to NAKASEC for civic engagement program support and $36,563 to Raizes Collective for general support.
The filing states that CEPEF executes grant agreements with grantees and requires program and financial reports at the end of the grant period. No application instructions or unsolicited-request policy are provided.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tim Duy Ly as treasurer, Alex A Tom as president, and Mao Chi Liu as secretary.
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund is led by Alex T. Tom, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alex T. Tom
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mao Chi Liu
Secretary
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Duy Ly
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund
How much does Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund give each year?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund gave $1.6M across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $694K across 12 grants.
What is Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's typical grant size?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $52,507, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund give grants?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's top state is District of Columbia, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (30%) and Pennsylvania (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 43% of Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Civic Engagement and Capacity Building" (5 grants).
Who are Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's largest grantees?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Watering Hole Media Action ($495,000), Chinese Progressive Association ($303,379) and Cair-Philadelphia ($55,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund reported $30.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $24.4M.
What does Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund fund?
CEPEF states that it promotes civic education and engagement; conducts research on the effects of policies on poverty and racial inequity; trains and develops leaders for racial justice; builds capacity for community organizations; and empowers low-income and working-class communities throughout the United States. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check empoweredpolitics.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's EIN?
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3636499. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-empowered-politics-education-fund-morg_da3d1d3104cc4dd793e3fc00290aeeb8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_843636499_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-empowered-politics-education-fund-morg_da3d1d3104cc4dd793e3fc00290aeeb8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Empowered Politics Education Fund'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.
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