Center for American Progress

Basic facts
Location:| Washington, D.C.
Type:| 501(c)(3)
Affiliation:| Nonpartisan
Top official:| Neera Tanden
Founder(s):| John Podesta
Year founded:| 2003
Website:| Official website
Budget
2013:| $40,013,311
2012:| $39,201,517
2011:| $34,647,763

## Contents

* 1 Mission
* 2 History
* 3 Work
* 4 Policy scope
* 4.1 Climate change
* 5 Leadership
* 5.1 Executive Committee
* 5.2 Board of Directors
* 6 Finances
* 7 Recent news
* 8 See also
* 9 External links
* 10 Footnotes

The Center for American Progress (CAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.[1] Political strategist John Podesta founded the policy institute in 2003 to promote “progressive ideas” for what he deems to be a “strong, just and free America.”[1] Through the development of public information and communication networks, the center attempts to move its agenda into the national policy debate. CAP is also partnered with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a 501(c)(4).[2] The Washington Post has referred to the organization as “the preeminent liberal think tank in Washington.”[3]

## Mission[edit]

The mission of CAP, as stated on its website, reads as follows:[1]

“  | To improve the lives of all Americans, through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action.[4] | ”

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The goal of this organization is “not just to change the conversation, but to change the country.”[1]

## History[edit]

CAP was founded in 2003 by John Podesta.[5] According to an article in The New York Times, the center was “intended to be a liberal counterweight to the heavyweight policy centers of the right, like the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute.”[6] In addition to  Podesta’s past positions as advisor to  President Bill Clinton and  President Barack Obama, he is the campaign manager for  Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign.[3] Also, according to The Washington Post, current CAP president Neera Tanden “is a longtime Clinton confidante and adviser.”[3]

## Work[edit]

Researchers and analysts at the Center for American Progress work on 10 distinct projects. These investigations and advocacy programs are listed below:

* Doctors for America

This project advocates for affordable, accessible healthcare. The organized effort consists of doctors and medical students across the country.[7]

* Enough

Enough focuses on ending genocide and promoting peace, especially in Sudan, Chad, eastern Congo and northern Uganda.[8]

* Fair Shot Campaign

CAP—joined by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, American Women and Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—created this campaign as a “plan for women and families to get ahead.”[8] According to the CAP website, this project focuses on the topics of "economic security", "reproductive rights", "healthcare" and "opportunities for leadership".[8]

* Generation Progress

Generation Progress seeks to encourage young people and to empower “new progressive leaders.”[8] This program aims to assist young adults with the means to make their voices heard through “an online magazine and campus journalism projects, public events, multimedia projects, and grassroots issue campaigns.”[8]

* Leadership Institute

This venture is dedicated to increasing the number of minorities involved in policy planning at every level of government, in  nonprofit organizations and in public policy influencer groups.[8]

* Legal Process

The purposes of Legal Process are to confirm more progressive judges, reduce the number of corporate courts in the judicial system and engage the American public in the Constitution and judicial branch of government.[8]

* Progress 2050

This self-proclaimed “progressive” plan looks forward to the year 2050 when “the United States will become a nation with no clear racial or ethnic majority.”[8] Researchers and analysts within this area of study are developing new ideas for the transition.

* Progressive Studies Program

The goal of the Progressive Studies Program is to inform the public on the history, ideas and intellectual foundations of progressivism.[8] CAP educates public officials and policy makers through various platforms, including seminars and public events.[8]

* Reel Progress

This progressive film series hosts free events in Washington, D.C., and across the country to connect “the arts to campaigns for social change and progressive public policy.”[8]

* Women’s Initiative

The Women’s Initiative believes women deserve social justice and national representation to adapt to “America’s changing society.”[8] Additionally, the conductors of this study want to place women “at the center of [the] national policy debate” to directly improve their lives.[8]

## Policy scope[edit]

To learn more about immigration policy
in the United States,
see this article.

CAP covers a broad range of topics to promote what it refers to as “a land of boundless opportunity.”[1] These topics include:[1]

* Civil liberties
* Early childhood
* Economy
* Education
* Energy and environment
* Federal budget
* Foreign policy and security
* Guns and crime
* Healthcare
* Higher education
* Housing
* Immigration
* Labor and work
* LGBT
* Media
* Open government
* Poverty
* Progressive movement
* Public opinion
* Race and ethnicity
* Regulation and markets
* Religion and values
* Tax reform
* Technology and science
* Women

### Climate change[edit]

John Podesta with President Bill Clinton and John DeGioia in 2006.

John Podesta's stance on climate change has played a large role in the activities of the Center for American Progress (CAP); Podesta has spoken at Sen. Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) annual energy conference.[9]

The chairman of CAP is former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), while former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is on the board of directors along with Tom Steyer, former EPA Director Carol Browner and former Clinton advisor Glenn Hutchins, among others.[10]

## Leadership[edit]

The top officials at CAP are split into the executive committee and board of directors. President Neera Tanden serves on both panels. Additionally, founder John Podesta is an active member on the board of directors. In June 2015 the CAP leaders were the following individuals:[11]

### Executive Committee[edit]

* Neera Tanden
* Carmel Martin
* Winnie Stachelberg
* Carol Browner
* Torey Carter
* Arkadi Gerney
* Daniella Gibbs Léger
* Lindsay Hamilton

### Board of Directors[edit]

* Sen. Tom Daschle (Chair)
* Neera Tanden (President)
* Secretary Madeleine Albright
* Carol Browner
* Glenn Hutchins
* Richard Leone

* John Podesta
* Susan Sandler
* Tom Steyer
* Donald Sussman
* Jose Villarreal
* Hansjörg Wyss

## Finances[edit]

Under the CAP supporters report for 2014, the organization specifies:[12]

“  | The Center for American Progress receives more than 90 percent of its charitable contributions from individuals and foundations. Corporate funding comprises less than 6 percent of the budget and foreign government funding comprises less than 3 percent.[4] | ”

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Some of CAP’s major donors include Apple Inc., Embassy of United Arab Emirates, Google, Microsoft Corporation, National Education Association, Open Society Foundations and  Rockefeller Foundation.[12]

Among the individuals and foundations who have donated over $1,000,000 to the organization are the Ford Foundation, The Hutchins Family Foundation, Sandler Foundation, and TomKat Charitable Trust.[12]

CAP’s financial records for 2011 to 2013 are listed below:

Annual revenue and expenses for the Center for American Progress, 2011-2013

Tax Year  | Total Revenue  | Total Expenses
2013[13] | $40,013,311 | $38,013,551
2012[13] | $39,201,517 | $34,156,778
2011[13] | $34,647,763 | $34,115,219

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Center for American Progress. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Center for American Progress - Google News

## See also[edit]

* John Podesta
* 501(c)(3)
* 501(c)(4)
* Democracy Alliance

## External links[edit]

* Center for American Progress website
* Center for American Progress Action Fund website
* Doctors for America website
* Enough website
* Fair Shot Campaign website
* Generation Progress website
* Center for American Progress social media
* Facebook
* Twitter
* YouTube

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Center for American Progress, “About Us,” accessed June 25, 2015
2. ↑ Center for American Progress Action Fund, "About," accessed June 30, 2015
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The Washington Post, “Center for American Progress, poised to wield influence over 2016, reveals its top donors,” accessed June 26, 2015
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
5. ↑ LinkedIn, “Center for American Progress,” accessed June 26, 2015
6. ↑ The New York Times, “Self-made Philanthropists,” accessed June 29, 2015
7. ↑ Doctors for America, “About Us,” accessed June 25, 2015
8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 Center for American Progress, “Our Projects,” accessed June 25, 2015
9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Audacity`
10. ↑ Center for American Progress, "CAP Board of Directors," accessed June 19, 2015
11. ↑ Center for American Progress, “Staff,” accessed June 29, 2015
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Center for American Progress, “Our Supporters,” accessed June 26, 2015
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Pro Publica, "Center for American Progress," accessed June 26, 2015

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