We the Action Foundation
We the Action Foundation (WTAF) is a charitable organization that promotes pro bono work by lawyers on behalf of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits and other organizations carrying out charitable and educational work. A 2017 aba study found 81% of attorneys believe pro bono service is important, but only 45% said they were likely to do it themselves. Meanwhile, charitable and educational organizations pursuing critical missions struggle to find legal support. Traditional tools for connecting lawyers to nonprofits are outdated and fail to fully serve evolving needs of nonprofits and the lawyers who might serve them. WTAF bridges this gap by supporting, through its own work and restricted grantmaking, the use of technology to match volunteer lawyers with charitable and educational organizations and by promoting pro bono service by lawyers.
We the Action Foundation at a glance
In short: We the Action Foundation gave $2.0M across 2 grants in 2021 (avg $997K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $1,994,274
- +95.2% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $997,137
- -2.4% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $997,137
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who We the Action Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Civic Nation ($1.6M). Together the top 2 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 2 grants of 3 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2020) to $2.0M (2021). In 2021 it made 2 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Nation Washington, DC | Acquisition | $1,634,274 |
| Wetheaction Washington, DC | The grant funds are to be used by wta to promote and support pro bono and volunteer work by lawyers on behalf of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and other organizations carrying out charitable and educational work. | $360,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $1,598,610 | $2,143,129 | $1,994,274 | 2 |
| 2020 | $287,879 | $1,425,295 | $1,166,852 | $1,021,415 | 1 |
About We the Action Foundation
Based on IRS filings
We the Action Foundation is a public charity, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 2 grants totaling $2.0M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
We the Action Foundation is led by Sarah Baker, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Sarah Baker
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacek Pruski
Managing Director & General Counsel
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Addisu Demissie
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marshall Fitz
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marc Elias (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about We the Action Foundation
How much does We the Action Foundation give each year?
We the Action Foundation gave $2.0M across 2 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990. In 2020 it gave $1.0M across 1 grant.
Where does We the Action Foundation operate?
We the Action Foundation has awarded grants in District of Columbia.
What is We the Action Foundation's EIN?
We the Action Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3593053. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Live grants for the work We the Action Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in We the Action Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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