People for the American Way
Mobilize members and activists to fight for public policies that reflect the values of freedom, fairness, and equal opportunity.
People for the American Way at a glance
In short: People for the American Way gave $125K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $125,000
- +2172.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- Average grant
- $20,833
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $6,513,749
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (40% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who People for the American Way funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Woke Vote ($50K). Together the top 5 received $125K.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 17 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How People for the American Way gives
- Giving fell 23% 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2024) to $163K (2022). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $125K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Woke Vote Birmingham, AL | In support of its 2024 nonpartisan get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activities which involve nonpartisan digital advertisements | $50,000 |
| Journey Faith Group Detroit, MI | In support of its 2024 nonpartisan get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activities which involve nonpartisan digital advertisements | $15,000 |
| East Valley Arizona NAACP Mesa, AZ | Gotv Outreach to Black Voters | $15,000 |
| Pure Justice Houston, TX | Nonpartisan Voter Engagement and Gotv for 2024 Election | $15,000 |
| Black Voters Matter Fund Atlanta, GA | Pa Gotv Outreach Grant | $15,000 |
| Black Voters Matter Fund Atlanta, GA | NC Gotv Outreach Grant | $15,000 |
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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 | $6,513,749 | $7,580,232 | $6,422,619 | $125,000 | 6 | $53 |
| 2024 | $6,325,184 | $6,285,256 | $5,619,180 | $5,500 | Total only | $19 |
| 2023 | $6,747,834 | $6,498,941 | $9,046,897 | $37,000 | 5 | $434 |
| 2022 | $2,209,562 | $9,383,292 | $11,149,632 | $162,725 | 6 | — |
| 2020 | $3,604,520 | $11,574,725 | $10,449,495 | — | — | $2,354 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About People for the American Way
Based on IRS filings
People for the American Way is a public charity, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $125K. Net investment income was $53.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
People for the American Way is led by Svante Myrick, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 8 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Svante Myrick
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
20 hrs/week
$61K (2023) → $163K (2025)
Laurie Kinney
Senior Editorial Director
Director of Communications → Senior Editorial Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
35.2 hrs/week
$98K (2020) → $139K (2025)
Michael Keegan
Director
President → President & CEO, 2022
President & CEO → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$183K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Alec Baldwin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bertis Downs
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carole Shields
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dolores Huerta
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Klein
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Sapan
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lois Stainman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reg Weaver
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Seth Macfarlane
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Milano
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Bluhm-Kaul
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carrie Mae Weems
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Bowen
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Saperstein
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamal Bryant
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Lovelace
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marge Tabankin
Director
On filings since 2022
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Haroon Saleem
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Horacio Trujillo
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diane Laviolette
General Counsel, COO & Secretary
General Counsel & Secretary → COO & General Counsel, 2022
COO & General Counsel → General Counsel, COO & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$94K (2020) → $99K (2025)
Margery F. Baker
Executive Vice President
Executive Vice President Policy & Program → Executive Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
25.2 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $160K (2025)
Roger Carlton Vann
Chief Strategy Officer
Chief Strategy Officer → Chief Advancement Officer, 2023
Chief Advancement Officer → Chief Strategy Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
24.4 hrs/week
$86K (2022) → $129K (2025)
Raquel Jones
Vice President of Campaigns & Programs
On filings since 2023
12 hrs/week
$29K (2023) → $62K (2025)
Na Eng
Chief Communications Officer
On filings since 2024
17.2 hrs/week
$95K (2024) → $97K (2025)
Gayraud Townsend
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
6.8 hrs/week
$26K (2025)
David E. Altschul
Co-Treasurer
Director → Co-Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Frezados
Co-Treasurer
Treasurer → Co-Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lara Bergthold
Co-Chair
Chair → Co-Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim McDonald
Co-Chair
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Kristen Leigh Smith (2020–2024) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Robert Santiago (2024) — Director - Major Gifts
- Former: Benjamin A. Betz (2020–2023) — Senior Director of Digital & Org
- Former: Cristela Alonzo (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Deborah Rappaport (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Norman Lear (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Yolanda Cookie Parker (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Elise Convy (2022–2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Joel Madden (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Mitch Kamin (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Ben Jealous (2023) — Former President
- Former: Arthur J. Bellinzoni (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Benjamin Jealous (2020–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: David Perlman (2020–2022) — CFO
- Former: Khizr Khan (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Frances Berry (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ayeola Alexander (2022) — Director of Hr & Inclusion
- Former: Clara Shin (2022) — Director
- Former: Joan Harris (2022) — Director
- Former: Kathleen Turner (2022) — Director
- Former: Kevin Killer (2022) — Director
- Former: Rene Spellman (2022) — Director
- Former: Will Halm (2022) — Director
- Former: Dominic Ucci (2020) — Executive Vice President & COO
- Former: James A. Autry (2020) — Director
- Former: James C. Hormel (2020) — Director
- Former: Margery Tabankin (2020) — Director
- Former: Maria Lizet Ocampo (2020) — Political Director
- Former: Timothy McDonald III (2020) — Director
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 $163K, to Svante Myrick (President & CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about People for the American Way
How much does People for the American Way give each year?
People for the American Way gave $125K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it reported $6K in grants paid.
What is People for the American Way's typical grant size?
People for the American Way's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $20,833, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does People for the American Way give grants?
People for the American Way's top state is Alabama, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Georgia (24%) and Michigan (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does People for the American Way give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on People for the American Way's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are People for the American Way's largest grantees?
People for the American Way's largest 2025 grantees include Woke Vote ($50,000), Black Voters Matter Fund ($30,000 across 2 grants) and Journey Faith Group ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is People for the American Way?
People for the American Way reported $6.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.6M.
What is People for the American Way's EIN?
People for the American Way's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1366721. 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
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 9, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 23, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 11, 2025)
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