Center for American Progress

The Center for American Progress is a policy institute at 1333 H Street NW in Washington, DC. The IRS ruling recognising its 501(c)(3) exemption is dated February 2003 (EIN 30-0126510). For the 2023 tax year it reported total revenue of $46.1 million and total assets of$99.3 million.

Stated mission

CAP describes itself as “an independent, nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action,” adding that its aim “is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country.” It states that it develops policy ideas, “challenge[s] the media to cover the issues that truly matter,” and shapes the national debate, and that as a 501(c)(3) educational institute it “does not support or oppose candidates or political parties.”

Two-entity structure

CAP is paired with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a separate 501(c)(4) entity (EIN 30-0192708) that files its own return. As with other think tanks organised this way, the (c)(3) carries the research and education work and the (c)(4) carries advocacy that a charitable entity may not.

ThinkProgress

The Action Fund published ThinkProgress, a political news and commentary site whose footer credits the Center for American Progress Action Fund. The site is still reachable but is no longer updated: its most recent stories are dated 2019. It is a concrete example of a Washington policy organization operating a daily-publication newsroom rather than only issuing reports — and of that model not being sustained.