The Arca Foundation
The Arca Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. It supports leaders, organizations, and ideas advancing equity, justice, and human rights, with an emphasis on movement building and campaigns for social and economic justice.
The Arca Foundation at a glance
In short: The Arca Foundation gave $3.8M across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $70K), top state District of Columbia. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,760,000
- +2.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- +5.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $69,630
- -3.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $49,907,067
- +1.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (15 of 48, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (26% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Arca Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Regular-cycle applications are by invitation: applicants are invited in early January for the spring cycle and early August for the fall cycle. The board generally makes decisions in April–June and November–December, with decisions communicated by email. Out-of-cycle and emergency proposals are not considered unless solicited. Rapid response grants are also by invitation.
- Contact
Application contact: Executive Director
Mailing address: 1730 Rhode Island Ave Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 822-9193
Website: https://arcafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Arca Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tides Foundation ($305K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
264 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 114 grants of 264 (43%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Arca’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to organizations in DC (26%), California (21%), New York (12%), Michigan (11%), and Wisconsin (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Arca Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 48 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $62K; repeat grants $86K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 198% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $2.9M (2021) to $4.0M (2020). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Just Future Fund Washington, DC | general support | $230,000 |
| Tides Foundation San Francisco, CA | fiscal sponsor grant for Center for Working Families Fund | $200,000 |
| Blueprint NC Durham, NC | general support | $150,000 |
| We the People MI Detroit, MI | general support | $150,000 |
| Action Center on Race and the Economy Institute Chicago, IL | general support | $100,000 |
| Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund Milwaukee, WI | general support | $100,000 |
| ColorofChangeorg Education Fund Oakland, CA | general support | $100,000 |
| New Florida Majority Fund Miami, FL | general support | $100,000 |
| Leaders Igniting Transformation Education Fund Milwaukee, WI | general support | $100,000 |
| Michigan Voices Detroit, MI | general support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Arca Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,907,067 | $2,799,189 | $4,946,266 | $3,760,000 | 54 | $4,683,678 | $2,434,171 | $2,366,804 |
| 2023 | $48,990,282 | $986,645 | $4,978,079 | $3,686,500 | 51 | $4,674,131 | $909,355 | $2,258,843 |
| 2022 | $46,409,213 | $3,030,669 | $5,163,891 | $3,884,500 | 53 | $4,794,319 | $1,526,712 | $2,332,247 |
| 2021 | $59,419,812 | $4,649,668 | $4,030,623 | $2,897,000 | 52 | $3,632,216 | $4,327,681 | $2,785,503 |
| 2020 | $55,899,375 | $3,467,592 | $5,072,498 | $3,977,500 | 54 | — | $3,189,739 | $2,447,326 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Arca Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Arca supports grassroots movements and bold campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. Its stated approach emphasizes community-rooted organizing, building trust, developing leaders, adapting to changes in the media environment, and making short-term progress that sustains longer-term power.
Examples of supported organizations describe work that includes organizing and civic engagement. We the People MI says it organizes, trains, and educates Michigan communities to promote racial and economic justice and strengthen democratic practices. Michigan Voices says it builds civic engagement capacity in progressive nonprofits led by and engaging Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Tides Foundation describes its work as advancing equity by partnering with funders and changemakers to shift resources and power to communities historically denied both.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Arca made 54 grants totaling $3,760,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $230,000, with a median grant of $75,000. The foundation accepts general support, project support, and fiscally sponsored project requests.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $230,000 to Just Future Fund for general support; $200,000 to Tides Foundation as a fiscal sponsor grant for Center for Working Families Fund; and $150,000 each to Blueprint NC and We the People MI for general support. Other grants of $100,000 included support to Action Center on Race and the Economy Institute, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund, ColorofChangeorg Education Fund, New Florida Majority Fund, Leaders Igniting Transformation Education Fund, Michigan Voices, and Mothering Justice. Arca also gave Tides Foundation $100,000 as a fiscal sponsor grant for Black Leaders Organizing Communities.
Arca also makes invitation-only rapid response grants, typically ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The application calls for a brief proposal explaining the use and timeliness of the funds and how the request relates to the organization’s broader work and Arca’s priorities. Required attachments include a project or program budget, a fiscal sponsor letter when applicable, and IRS documentation confirming domestic public charity status for the applicant or its fiscal sponsor.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nicole Bagley as President; Margery Tabankin as Vice President; Janet Shenk as Treasurer; Mike Lux as Secretary; Mary King as Secretary/Emerita; and Nancy Bagley, Joseph Eldridge, Austin Thompson, Amaha Kassa, and Vaughan Bagley as directors.
The Arca Foundation is led by Nicole Bagley, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 10 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nicole Bagley
President
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Jennifer Pae
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$63K (2023) → $195K (2024)
Amaha Kassa
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Austin Thompson
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Joseph Eldridge
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Nancy Bagley
Director
Treasurer → Board Member, 2022
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Cristina Jimenez Moreta
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vaughan Bagley
Director
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Shenk
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Margery Tabankin
Vice President
President → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Mary E King
Secretary & Emerita
Secretary → Secretary & Emerita, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Mike Lux
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $10K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anna Lefer Kuhn (2020–2023) — Executive Director
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 $195K, to Jennifer Pae (Executive Director). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Arca Foundation
How much does The Arca Foundation give each year?
The Arca Foundation gave $3.8M across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.7M across 51 grants.
What is The Arca Foundation's typical grant size?
The Arca Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $69,630, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Arca Foundation that year got $62K on average.
Where does The Arca Foundation give grants?
The Arca Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (21%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (14 grants), San Francisco, CA (6 grants), Detroit, MI (4 grants) and Oakland, CA (4 grants).
Does The Arca Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 59% of The Arca Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Rapid Response Grant" (7 grants).
Who are The Arca Foundation's largest grantees?
The Arca Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tides Foundation ($305,000 across 3 grants), Just Future Fund ($230,000) and Blueprint NC ($155,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Arca Foundation?
The Arca Foundation reported $49.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Arca Foundation fund?
Arca supports grassroots movements and bold campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Arca Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Arca Foundation's EIN?
The Arca Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2751798. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Arca Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Arca Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Arca Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-arca-foundation-morg_95cfffea1ab44c3988ec38eabd160aae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132751798_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Arca Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-arca-foundation-morg_95cfffea1ab44c3988ec38eabd160aae},
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 The Arca Foundation'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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