Center for Transformative Action
To establish and conduct programs for the understanding and promotionof transformative action and its relation to social change.
Center for Transformative Action at a glance
In short: Center for Transformative Action gave $137K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $137,488
- +154.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,372
- +27.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,868
- Total assets
- $3,274,600
- +13.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Center for Transformative Action
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Center for Transformative Action
Who Center for Transformative Action funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rootwork Herbals ($58K). Together the top 4 received $137K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 14 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Center for Transformative Action gives
- Giving grew 139% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2023) to $137K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $137K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rootwork Herbals Ithaca, NY | Re-Granting of Funds | $58,000 |
| Choice Matters Inc White Plains, NY | Re-Granting of Funds | $35,376 |
| Seattle University School of Law Seattle, WA | Re-Granting of Funds | $26,360 |
| Finger Lakes Reuse Inc Ithaca, NY | Re-Granting of Funds | $17,752 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,274,600 | $4,036,573 | $3,677,651 | $137,488 | 4 | $92,601 |
| 2024 | $2,876,738 | $3,285,907 | $3,824,990 | $53,941 | 2 | $86,516 |
| 2023 | $3,567,040 | $3,883,156 | $3,503,664 | $22,315 | 2 | $24,085 |
| 2022 | $2,999,391 | $3,192,621 | $2,760,675 | $57,480 | 2 | $-11,785 |
| 2021 | $2,503,278 | $2,819,291 | $2,283,207 | $90,320 | 4 | $1,459 |
| 2020 | $2,223,495 | $2,558,572 | $2,441,213 | $135,800 | 3 | $19,449 |
About Center for Transformative Action
Based on IRS filings
Center for Transformative Action is a public charity focused on Philanthropy, based in Ithaca, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $137K. Net investment income was $93K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Center for Transformative Action is led by Anke Wessels, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anke Wessels
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$41K (2020) → $47K (2025)
Michelle Thevenin
President
Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Ann Marsella
Director of Operations
Operations Manager → Director of Operations, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $83K (2025)
Denise Ramzy
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glen Dowell
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Larson
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Sribarra
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Foote
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelli Graves
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Garnese
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Fleming
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Nadig
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Dhyana Kuhl Gonzalez (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Dominick Recckio (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Heather Kolakowski (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Martha Williams (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Robert Klein (2024) — Director
- Former: Cathy A. Enz (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Hayley Harris (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Stephen Messmer (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth Sullivan (2023) — Director
- Former: Steven Holzbaur (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Andrew Yale (2020–2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $83K, to Lisa Marsella (Director of Operations). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Center for Transformative Action
How much does Center for Transformative Action give each year?
Center for Transformative Action gave $137K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $54K across 2 grants.
What is Center for Transformative Action's typical grant size?
Center for Transformative Action's median grant in 2025 was $30,868, and its average grant was $34,372, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Center for Transformative Action give grants?
Center for Transformative Action gives mostly in New York: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ithaca, NY (2 grants).
Does Center for Transformative Action give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Center for Transformative Action's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Re-Granting of Funds" (4 grants).
How large is Center for Transformative Action?
Center for Transformative Action reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.0M.
What is Center for Transformative Action?
Center for Transformative Action is a public charity focused on Philanthropy, based in Ithaca, NY. It holds $3.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Center for Transformative Action's EIN?
Center for Transformative Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-0990318. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Center for Transformative Action's focus areas in our free grants database
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