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Cities Forward Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 93-1383745 Website

CITIES FORWARD IS A NONPARTISAN EFFORT FOCUSED ON HELPING CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY MAKE PARTICIPATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS A PRIORITY. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.

Key facts about Cities Forward Inc

EIN
93-1383745
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$3,671,850
Grants made (2024)
10
Average grant
$367,185
Median grant
$175,000
Total assets
$213,307
Primary geography
Michigan (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026.

Who Cities Forward Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Cities Forward Inc's 10 itemized 2024 grants were Michigan (42%), Wisconsin (28%) and Oregon (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (2 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants). None of its 10 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Mission Support" (10 grants).

Next steps with Cities Forward Inc

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$213K

-75.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.7M

Grant Count

10

Avg Grant Size

$367K

About Cities Forward Inc

Based on IRS filings

Cities Forward Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Public, Societal Benefit, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2023 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $213K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 10 grants totaling $3.7M.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of all 10 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

MilwaukeePhiladelphiaLansingMesaPortlandScottsdaleSellsTempe

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20232024
Metric20242023
Total Assets$213,307$853,420
Revenue$6,204,000$1,002,000
Expenses$6,854,575$156,179
Qualifying Distributions——
Net Investment Income——
Distributable Amount——

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$918K$2M$3M$4M0 grants202310 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Count Mi Vote Education Fund: $1.6MCount Mi Vote Education Fund$1.6MCity of Milwaukee Election Commission: $787KCity of Milwaukee ElectionCommission$787KPizza to the Polls: $525KPizza to the Polls$525KCommittee of Seventy: $285KCommittee of Seventy$285KMunicipal Department of the City of Milwaukee: $250KMunicipal Department of theCity of Milwaukee$250KArizona State University Foundation for a New American University: $100KArizona State UniversityFoundation for a New American…$100KPa Alliance Foundation: $100KPa Alliance Foundation$100KSalt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community: $25KSalt River Pima-MaricopaIndian Community$25KTohono O Odham Nation: $25KTohono O Odham Nation$25KUnited National Indian Tribal Youth Inc DBA Unity Inc: $25KUnited National Indian TribalYouth Inc DBA Unity Inc$25K

Grant Size Distribution

10 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K2$250–500K2$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Count Mi Vote Education Fund ($1,550,000), City of Milwaukee Election Commission ($786,850), Pizza to the Polls ($525,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
COUNT MI VOTE EDUCATION FUND Lansing, MIMISSION SUPPORT$1,550,000
CITY OF MILWAUKEE ELECTION COMMISSION Milwaukee, WIMISSION SUPPORT$786,850
PIZZA TO THE POLLS Portland, ORMISSION SUPPORT$525,000
COMMITTEE OF SEVENTY Philadelphia, PAMISSION SUPPORT$285,000
MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE Milwaukee, WIMISSION SUPPORT$250,000
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION FOR A NEW AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Tempe, AZMISSION SUPPORT$100,000
PA ALLIANCE FOUNDATION Philadelphia, PAMISSION SUPPORT$100,000
SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY Scottsdale, AZMISSION SUPPORT$25,000
TOHONO O ODHAM NATION Sells, AZMISSION SUPPORT$25,000
UNITED NATIONAL INDIAN TRIBAL YOUTH INC DBA UNITY INC Mesa, AZMISSION SUPPORT$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Trevor Ostbye — Assist. Treasurer: $35KTrevor OstbyeAssist. Treasurer$35K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Michael TanglisSecretary1—
Nina ZenniTreasurer1—
Sam Oliker-FriedlandChair Assistant Treasurer1—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cities Forward Inc?

Cities Forward Inc is a nonprofit organization focused on Public, Societal Benefit, based in Washington, DC. It holds $213K in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Cities Forward Inc?

As of 2024, Cities Forward Inc holds $213K in total assets with $6.2M in annual revenue. It awarded 10 grants totaling $3.7M in 2024.

Where does Cities Forward Inc operate?

Cities Forward Inc has awarded grants in Arizona, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin.

What size grants does Cities Forward Inc award?

In 2024, Cities Forward Inc awarded 10 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $367K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Cities Forward Inc's EIN?

Cities Forward Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1383745. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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