Center for Empowered Politics
Center for Empowered Politics (CEP) is a Form 990 (a public charity) based in Oakland, California. It supports people of color-led grassroots and community-based organizations through movement infrastructure, leadership development, strategic partnerships, and field building, with an emphasis on grassroots organizing and electoral power building.
Center for Empowered Politics at a glance
In short: Center for Empowered Politics gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $55K), top state Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,421,006
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- Average grant
- $54,654
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $9,561,231
- -1.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Michigan (43% 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
- Contact
Mailing address: 1212 Broadway 700, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (415) 754-3465
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 funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rising Voices Action Fund ($600K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 88 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CEP’s 2024 grant dollars were distributed across recipient states, with 43% going to Michigan, 13% to California, 10% to Nevada, and 8% each to Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Center for Empowered Politics gives
- Giving grew 673% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $184K (2021) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rising Voices Action Fund Lansing, MI | Political Purpose Regrant | $599,969 |
| One Apia Nevada Las Vegas, NV | Organizational Capacity Building Grant and General Operating Funds | $140,000 |
| Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance Philadelphia, PA | Organizational Capacity Building Grant/Research | $120,000 |
| Ncaat in Action Raleigh, NC | Primary and Political Purpose Regrant | $115,000 |
| Asian American Advocacy Fund Norcross, GA | Organizational Capacity Building Grant | $50,000 |
| Mississippi Votes Action Fund Jackson, MS | Black Policy Initiative Grant | $42,500 |
| AZ Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Advocates Phoenix, AZ | Organizational Capacity Building Grant | $40,000 |
| Silicon Valley Rising Action San Jose, CA | Primary Purpose General Operating Grant | $37,500 |
| Our Future Is Black Pac Oakland, CA | Political Purpose Regrant | $27,687 |
| Force for Change Oakland, CA | Contribution to Primary Purpose Voter Guide | $26,850 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
CEP’s 2024 filing reports a management agreement with related organization Resilient Strategies for worksite employees and administrative services. Managed services totaled $629,594 for the year; the filing states that $134,833 of this amount was paid to Timmy Ku, whom it identifies as CEP’s CEO.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,561,231 | $9,441,076 | $8,239,188 | $1,421,006 | 26 | $58,202 |
| 2023 | $9,750,581 | $5,617,584 | $3,348,643 | — | — | $24,322 |
| 2022 | $9,888,040 | $10,449,636 | $8,689,594 | $924,750 | 23 | — |
| 2021 | $6,213,411 | $6,365,668 | $2,818,676 | $183,750 | 6 | — |
| 2020 | $1,967,318 | $3,659,034 | $2,569,422 | $591,006 | 33 | $10 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CEP’s website describes four areas of work: helping power-building organizations develop multi-entity hubs and consolidated back-office services; developing movement organizers and operations staff through fellowships, mentorship, intergenerational programs, and political education; accompanying organizational leaders through strategic change; and supporting field building through workforce research, funder education, and learning spaces.
In its 2024 filing, CEP states that it executes a grant agreement with each grantee. The agreement is reviewed and vetted by its department team and sets out restrictions, conditions, and reporting requirements.
Examples of grantee missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. NCAAT in Action describes its work as building political power among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and allies in North Carolina through voter education, progressive advocacy, and leadership development. Asian American Advocacy Fund describes its work as amplifying the collective power of Georgia’s Asian American communities through organizing, storytelling, electoral organizing, and policy advocacy. Mississippi Votes Action Fund describes work promoting social welfare through election- and voting-rights policy advocacy and public engagement.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, CEP reported 26 grants totaling $1,421,006. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $599,969, with a median of $20,000.
The largest reported grant was $599,969 to Rising Voices Action Fund for a political-purpose regrant. Other large grants included $140,000 to One APIA Nevada for organizational capacity building and general operating funds; $120,000 to Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance for organizational capacity building and research; and $115,000 to NCAAT in Action for a primary and political-purpose regrant. CEP also reported grants of $50,000 to Asian American Advocacy Fund for organizational capacity building, $42,500 to Mississippi Votes Action Fund for a Black Policy Initiative grant, and $40,000 to AZ Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Advocates for organizational capacity building.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Timmy Lu as CEO and chair, Lin Shao Chin as treasurer, Vivian Huang as secretary, Alex Tom as executive director, and Hines Vidal as managing director.
Center for Empowered Politics is led by Timmy Lu, CEO & Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timmy Lu
CEO & Chair
CEO & Chair → Chief Executive Officer & Chair, 2023
Chief Executive Officer & Chair → CEO & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Tom
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hines Vidal
Managing Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lin Shao Chin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vivian Huang
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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
How much does Center for Empowered Politics give each year?
Center for Empowered Politics gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990.
What is Center for Empowered Politics's typical grant size?
Center for Empowered Politics's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $54,654, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Center for Empowered Politics give grants?
Center for Empowered Politics's top state is Michigan, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (13%) and Nevada (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (6 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does Center for Empowered Politics give general operating support?
Yes: 15% of Center for Empowered Politics's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Organizational Capacity Building Grant" (6 grants), "Black Policy Initiative Grant" (4 grants) and "Regrant for Advanced Accelerator Cohort" (3 grants).
Who are Center for Empowered Politics's largest grantees?
Center for Empowered Politics's largest 2024 grantees include Rising Voices Action Fund ($599,969), One Apia Nevada ($140,000) and Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance ($120,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Empowered Politics?
Center for Empowered Politics reported $9.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.4M.
What does Center for Empowered Politics fund?
CEP’s website describes four areas of work: helping power-building organizations develop multi-entity hubs and consolidated back-office services; developing movement organizers and operations staff through fellowships, mentorship, intergenerational programs, and political education; accompanying organizational leaders through strategic change; and supporting field building through workforce research, funder education, and learning spaces. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Empowered Politics?
Center for Empowered Politics 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's EIN?
Center for Empowered Politics's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3084134. 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
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Center for Empowered Politics funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Center for Empowered Politics's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Center for Empowered Politics funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-empowered-politics-morg_2586136ea2b7477c9424823fc13bf5d6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_453084134_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Center for Empowered Politics funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-empowered-politics-morg_2586136ea2b7477c9424823fc13bf5d6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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'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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