Civic Participation Action Fund records

The Civic Participation Action Fund (CPAF) was created to address the growing racial and economic disparities that leave too many people on the sidelines in American democracy. Created in 2015 by a $50 million grant from the Atlantic Advocacy Fund, the 501(c)4 arm of The Atlantic Philanthropies, CPAF was a non-partisan, limited life funder that supported high-impact civic engagement efforts addressing racial and economic disparity. CPAF’s mission was to promote progressive policy change to improve the lives of low-income people of color through advocacy and civic engagement. In short, the goal was to make sure the electorate looks like America, and that the U.S. democracy is representative of all the people. CPAF’s overarching goal was to see more people voting and engaging in Democracy—particularly low-income people of color.

CPAF’s objectives: 1. Improve the policy environment in selected states to improve the lives of low-income people of color 2. Foster full civic engagement among communities of color and those disadvantaged by low income, ethnicity, or age 3. Build power that ensures local progressive groups and their constituents have a strong voice in shaping public policies affecting their lives 4. Increase the availability and efficient use of philanthropic resources available for advocacy on issues central to the mission of this fund

A limited life foundation, CPAF closed its doors in June 2020.