NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc logo

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc

501(c)(4) organization New York, NY EIN: 80-0444461 Website

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc is based in New York, NY, and is listed as a public charity. Established in 2009, it supports social welfare, social justice, and policy advocacy through grantmaking, direct advocacy, public organizing and training, and support for advocacy organizations.

Key facts about NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc

In short: NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc gave $10.2M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $182K), top state New York. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
80-0444461
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$10,179,345
Grants made (2024)
56
Average grant
$181,774
Median grant
$90,000
New grantees (estimate)
46% first-time grantees (26 of 56, 2024)
Total assets
$11,051,158
Primary geography
New York (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$11.1M

-20.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$10.2M

+223.3% YoY

Grant Count

56

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$182K

+142.5% YoY

Is NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc open to new grantees?

46%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 26 of 56 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $83K; repeat grants $267K. How we count

Medians: $55K first-time, $100K repeat.

  • 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

NEO Action Fund’s mission is to promote social welfare and the common good, advance social justice, and advocate for policy reform to improve quality of life.

Its immigration program aims to strengthen the grassroots immigrant-justice movement’s capacity for policy advocacy and accountability work. Its civic-engagement program uses grantmaking, funder alignment, and voter education to support movement-building and advocacy at state, local, and national levels, with particular attention to young people, people of color, and underrepresented communities. Its climate program supports education about climate change and clean energy, and grants addressing climate change and promoting clean energy.

The 2024 grantees illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Make the Road Action describes its work as grassroots organizing and leadership development with working-class Latino communities. Asian American Advocacy Fund describes community organizing, storytelling, electoral organizing, and policy advocacy in Georgia. Voces De La Frontera Action describes work on immigrant and low-wage worker rights, youth leadership, organizing, and advocacy. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, NEO Action Fund reported 56 grants totaling $10,179,345. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $3,250,000, with a median of $90,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares went to New York (41%), California (13%), and North Carolina (7%); Virginia and Arizona each accounted for 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

28states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonDurhamRaleighPhoenixColumbiaNew YorkAustinChicagoBrooklynCharlestonSan FranciscoAtlantaGreensboroNorcrossDenverGreenvilleLansingMiamiMilwaukeeMorganton

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M48 grants2020 44 grants2021 77 grants2022 42 grants2023 56 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2023) to $19.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $10.2M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Neo Philanthropy Inc: $3.3MNeo Philanthropy Inc$3.3MAsian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus: $1.0MAsian Americans AdvancingJustice-Asian Law Caucus$1.0MMake The Road Action Inc: $510KMake The Road Action Inc$510KNAKASEC Action Fund: $400KNAKASEC Action Fund$400KSheriffs for Trusting Communities: $350KSheriffs for TrustingCommunities$350KNew Yorkers for Equal Rights: $301KNew Yorkers for Equal Rights$301KVoces De La Frontera Action Inc: $200KVoces De La Frontera ActionInc$200KAsian American Advocacy Fund Inc: $200KAsian American Advocacy FundInc$200KAmerican Business Immigration Coalition Action: $200KAmerican Business ImmigrationCoalition Action$200KAnnie's List Training and Engagement Fund: $200KAnnie's List Training andEngagement Fund$200K

The largest 2024 recipient was Neo Philanthropy Inc ($3.3M). Together the top 10 received $6.6M.

Grant Size Distribution

267 grants across all recorded years

88<$50K62$50–100K87$100–250K16$250–500K2$500K–1M11$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 267 (33%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Neo Philanthropy Inc New York, NYProgram Grant$3,250,000
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus San Francisco, CAProgram Grant$1,026,000
Make The Road Action Inc Brooklyn, NYProgram Grant$510,000
NAKASEC Action Fund Centreville, VAProgram Grant$400,000
Sheriffs for Trusting Communities Durham, NCProgram Grant$350,000
New Yorkers for Equal Rights Albany, NYProgram Grant$300,738
Voces De La Frontera Action Inc Milwaukee, WIProgram Grant$200,000
Asian American Advocacy Fund Inc Norcross, GAProgram Grant$200,000
American Business Immigration Coalition Action Chicago, ILProgram Grant$200,000
Annie's List Training and Engagement Fund Austin, TXProgram Grant$200,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $11,051,158 $9,483,466 $13,434,770 $10,179,345
2023 $13,831,195 $9,101,710 $6,111,295 $3,148,100
2022 $12,346,003 $10,358,810 $9,003,292 $6,700,607
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$11,051,158$13,831,195$12,346,003
Revenue$9,483,466$9,101,710$10,358,810
Expenses$13,434,770$6,111,295$9,003,292
Net Investment Income$92,643$98,237$29,264

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 28, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists John Gilroy, ESQ, as Chairperson; Sara Jameel Hadad as Secretary/Treasurer; and Rovika Rajkishun as a Board Member. It also lists Erin Ballard as COO and Executive VP; Margarita Rubalcava as Chief Program Officer; Michele Lord as President; Su Lim as CFO and VP of Infrastructure; Rini Chakraborty as Vice President, FFF; and Rutledge Simmons as Vice President and General Counsel.

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc is led by Michele Lord, President on every filing since 2020; 6 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Michele Lord

    President

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    $4K (2020) → $4K (2024)

  • John Gilroy Esq.

    Chairperson

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erin Ballard

    COO & Executive Vice President

    Chief Operating Officer → COO & Executive Vice President, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    0.4 hrs/week

    $5K (2020) → $3K (2024)

  • Rini Chakraborty

    Vice President & Fff

    Senior Program Officer → Vice President & Fff, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1.9 hrs/week

    $6K (2020) → $13K (2024)

  • Su Lim

    CFO & Vice President of Infrastructure

    Chief Financial Officer → CFO & Vice President of Infrastructure, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    4.4 hrs/week

    $18K (2020) → $27K (2024)

  • Margarita Rubalcava

    Chief Program Officer

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.1 hrs/week

    $446 (2024)

  • Rutledge Simmons

    Vice President & General Counsel

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.1 hrs/week

    $994 (2024)

  • Rovika Rajkishun

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sara Jameel Hadad

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Susan Stamler (2020–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Sara Le Brusq (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
  • Former: Anita Khashu (2020) — Program Director
  • Former: Michael G. Caudell-Feagan (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Su Lim — CFO and VP of Infrastructure: $27KSu LimCFO and VP of Infrastructure$27KRini Chakraborty — Vice President, FFF: $13KRini ChakrabortyVice President, FFF$13KMichele Lord — President: $4KMichele LordPresident$4KErin Ballard — COO and Executive VP: $3KErin BallardCOO and Executive VP$3KRutledge Simmons — Vice President and General Counsel: $994Rutledge SimmonsVice President and General…$994Margarita Rubalcava — Chief Program Officer: $446Margarita RubalcavaChief Program Officer$446

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $27K, to Su Lim (CFO and VP of Infrastructure). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 1001 Ave Of The Americas 12Fl, New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 378-2800
Website: https://neoactionfund.org

Frequently asked questions about NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc

How much does NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc give each year?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc gave $10.2M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 42 grants.

What is NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's typical grant size?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $90,000, and its average grant was $181,774, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc that year got $83K on average.

Where does NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc give grants?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's top state is New York, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (13%) and North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants), Austin, TX (3 grants), Portland, OR (3 grants) and Raleigh, NC (3 grants).

Does NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 56 grants with a stated purpose on NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Grant" (56 grants).

Who are NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's largest grantees?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Neo Philanthropy Inc ($3,250,000), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus ($1,026,000) and Make The Road Action Inc ($510,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc reported $11.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.5M.

What does NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc fund?

NEO Action Fund’s mission is to promote social welfare and the common good, advance social justice, and advocate for policy reform to improve quality of life. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check neoactionfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's EIN?

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 80-0444461. 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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