Center for Empowered Politics
Center for Empowered Politics (CEP) is an Oakland, California-based public charity that supports people of color-led grassroots movement building and local electoral engagement. It describes its aim as growing community power, resilience, and governing power through strategic partnerships and movement infrastructure.
Key facts about Center for Empowered Politics
In short: Center for Empowered Politics gave $1.4M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $55K), top state Michigan. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 45-3084134
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,421,006
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- Average grant
- $54,654
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $9,561,231
- Primary geography
- Michigan (43% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$9.6M
-1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
Grant Count
26
Avg Grant Size
$55K
How Center for Empowered Politics gives
- Giving grew 673% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
CEP’s 2024 filing describes its mission as specializing in people of color-led grassroots movement-building 501(c)(4) organizations, including organizations involved in C3/C4 innovations, engagement in ethnic communities, campaign consultation, and integrated voter engagement. The filing describes its program as local electoral engagement to build grassroots power among working-class communities.
CEP’s website lists four core elements of its work: helping power-building organizations develop multi-entity hubs and back-office capacity; developing organizers and operations staff through fellowships, mentorship, intergenerational programs, and political education; accompanying organizational leaders through change; and engaging in movement workforce research, funder education, and learning spaces.
Grantees’ own mission descriptions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. NCAAT in Action says it builds political power among Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and allies in North Carolina through voter education, progressive advocacy, and leadership development. The Asian American Advocacy Fund says it works through community organizing, storytelling, electoral organizing, and policy advocacy. Mississippi Votes Action Fund describes work on elections and voting-rights policy. Silicon Valley Rising Action says it campaigns on occupational segregation, income inequality, wages, affordable housing, and the tech economy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, CEP reported 23 grants totaling $1,382,506. Grant amounts ranged from $7,500 to $599,969, with a median grant of $20,000. The filing says CEP executes a grant agreement with each grantee, reviewed and vetted by its department team, that sets out restrictions, conditions, and reporting requirements.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CEP is based in Oakland, California. Its 2024 grants went to organizations in multiple states; the largest shares of grant dollars went to Michigan (44%), Nevada (10%), California (10%), Pennsylvania (9%), and North Carolina (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $10,152,950 | $9,335,040 | $8,069,211 | $1,382,506 across 23 grants |
| 2023 | $9,750,581 | $5,617,584 | $3,348,643 | 0 grants reported |
| 2022 | $9,269,661 | $9,156,012 | $8,098,499 | $934,750 across 25 grants |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,561,231 | $9,750,581 | $9,888,040 |
| Revenue | $9,441,076 | $5,617,584 | $10,449,636 |
| Expenses | $8,239,188 | $3,348,643 | $8,689,594 |
| Net Investment Income | $58,202 | $24,322 | — |
Data update history
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
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 1212 Broadway 700, Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (415) 754-3465
Website: https://empoweredpolitics.org
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 2024 filing describes its mission as specializing in people of color-led grassroots movement-building 501(c)(4) organizations, including organizations involved in C3/C4 innovations, engagement in ethnic communities, campaign consultation, and integrated voter engagement. 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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