Pa Alliance Action
PA Alliance Action is a public charity based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 2017. It supports democracy-focused work in Pennsylvania through grassroots activities and grants to like-minded organizations, with an emphasis in its stated mission on historically marginalized and underserved communities.
Pa Alliance Action at a glance
In short: Pa Alliance Action gave $10.6M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $559K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,621,000
- +610.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- +111.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $559,000
- +236.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $275,000
- Total assets
- $635,430
- -5.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (7 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Pa Alliance Action
- Contact
Mailing address: 121 S Broad Street Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (267) 935-4080
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pa Alliance Action funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Project 26 Pennsylvania ($4.7M). Together the top 10 received $9.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
135 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 57 grants of 135 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated programs focus on Pennsylvania. In 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 8% to New York, 3% to Washington, DC, and 2% to Maryland; the reported share for Virginia was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Pa Alliance Action open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 19 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $826K; repeat grants $403K. How we count
Medians: $120K first-time, $310K repeat.
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2023) to $10.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $10.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Project 26 Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Support for general operations. | $4,726,000 |
| Commonwealth Communications Philadelphia, PA | General Operating Support, support for 2024 PA Issue Advocacy & Accountability Work, and support for Megaphone Program. | $1,286,000 |
| Project Keystone Philadelphia, PA | General operating support, support for research, and online journal extension. | $847,800 |
| Working Families Organization Brooklyn, NY | Support for Philadelphia GOTV, voter mobilization and issue advocacy & accountability work. | $538,781 |
| PA United Pittsburgh, PA | General operating support, support for voter education & mobilization programming, and support for statewide phones to black voters. | $500,000 |
| The Voter Project Philadelphia, PA | Support for early vote by mail mailer, vote by mail programming and voter education. | $450,000 |
| Make the Road Action Inc Brooklyn, NY | General operating support and support for voter registration, voter education & mobilization, GOTV bilingual phones and program expansion. | $355,200 |
| Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance Philadelphia, PA | General operating support along with support for voter education & mobilization programming. | $340,000 |
| New Pennsylvania Project West Chester, PA | General operating support, primary purpose voter registration, and GOTV programming. | $280,000 |
| For Our Future Action Fund Washington, DC | Support for voter Education & Engagement and GOTV programs. | $275,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $635,430 | $17,770,748 | $17,807,661 | $10,621,000 | 19 |
| 2023 | $672,343 | $3,639,376 | $3,379,353 | $1,495,500 | 9 |
| 2022 | $412,320 | $10,362,145 | $13,513,365 | $9,781,000 | 56 |
| 2021 | $3,563,540 | $6,052,076 | $2,567,279 | $2,041,750 | 17 |
| 2020 | $78,743 | $8,966,110 | $10,167,009 | $5,248,900 | 34 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
PA Alliance Action’s stated mission is to advocate at the state level for democracy reform through grassroots activities and support of like-minded organizations, on behalf of all Pennsylvanians—particularly historically marginalized and underserved communities, including communities of color, impoverished communities, and young people.
Its 2024 program descriptions cover pro-democracy work, campus and youth voter education and engagement, and vote-by-mail recruitment, voter education, and direct voter contact. The organization also describes providing program services through grants to organizations conducting research relevant to its mission.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations it supported. Commonwealth Communications says it promotes legislative and public action in support of non-partisan progressive values in Pennsylvania. The Voter Project describes its work as helping Pennsylvania voters cast ballots safely, securely, and conveniently. Make the Road Action says it organizes and develops leadership alongside working-class Latino communities, while CASA in Action describes building power and improving quality of life in working-class Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendant, Indigenous, and immigrant communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, PA Alliance Action reported 19 grants totaling $10,621,000. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $4,726,000, with a median of $275,000.
The largest reported grants included $4,726,000 to Project 26 Pennsylvania for general operations; $1,286,000 to Commonwealth Communications for general operating support and Pennsylvania issue advocacy and accountability work; and $847,800 to Project Keystone for general operating support, research, and an online journal extension. Other notable grants included $538,781 to Working Families Organization for Philadelphia voter mobilization and issue advocacy work, and $500,000 to PA United for general operating support and voter education and mobilization programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brittany Smith as Executive Director; Charles Hadley as Chair; Avram Hornik as Vice Chair and Treasurer; and Bruce Shook and Joe Hill as members or directors.
Pa Alliance Action is led by Brittany Smith, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brittany Smith
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$171K (2024)
Charles Hadley
Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Hill
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Avram Hornik
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Vc & Treasurer → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Shook
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Clarissa Griebel (2020–2023) — Secretary
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $171K, to Brittany Smith (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Pa Alliance Action
How much does Pa Alliance Action give each year?
Pa Alliance Action gave $10.6M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 9 grants.
What is Pa Alliance Action's typical grant size?
Pa Alliance Action's median grant in 2024 was $275,000, and its average grant was $559,000, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pa Alliance Action that year got $826K on average.
Where does Pa Alliance Action give grants?
Pa Alliance Action gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (9 grants), Brooklyn, NY (2 grants), Pittsburgh, PA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Pa Alliance Action give general operating support?
Yes: 53% of Pa Alliance Action's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Pa Alliance Action's largest grantees?
Pa Alliance Action's largest 2024 grantees include Project 26 Pennsylvania ($4,726,000), Commonwealth Communications ($1,286,000) and Project Keystone ($847,800), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Pa Alliance Action?
Pa Alliance Action reported $635K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.8M.
What does Pa Alliance Action fund?
PA Alliance Action’s stated mission is to advocate at the state level for democracy reform through grassroots activities and support of like-minded organizations, on behalf of all Pennsylvanians—particularly historically marginalized and underserved communities, including communities of color, impoverished communities, and young people. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pa Alliance Action?
Pa Alliance Action has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Pa Alliance Action's EIN?
Pa Alliance Action's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3537729. 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.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pa Alliance Action's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Commonwealth Communications
Philadelphia, PA
Commonwealth Communications funds voter access and education, democracy and public-interest advocacy, and communications and organizing work aligned with its progressive values, primarily in Pennsylvania. In 2024, its 11 grants ranged from $15,000 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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Center for Community Change Action
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The Center for Community Change Action funds grassroots organizing, voter engagement, leadership development, and policy and advocacy work focused on low-income people, especially people of color, and economic, racial, and immigrant justice. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $100,000, and supported organizations in several states, including Washington, DC, New York, Oregon, California, and Minnesota. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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—
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Service Employees International Joint Council 45
Harrisburg, PA
Statewide arm of the service employees' international union (SEIU) in Pennsylvania. Serves as the voice for all SEIU locals in Pennsylvania. The organization's affiliates' members work in four sectors of the economy: building service, public sector, health systems and long-term care. The organization is based in harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with affiliates' members from all races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pa Alliance Action funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pa-alliance-action-morg_bf138052751149d3ad59222f7d6cf23a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823537729_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pa Alliance Action funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pa-alliance-action-morg_bf138052751149d3ad59222f7d6cf23a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Pa Alliance Action'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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