Vision and Goals

The Partnership Action Fund is focused on building state-based independent political power centering communities that the systemic inequalities in our country have most impacted.

We invest in member-led organizations and networks as the critical vehicles to ensure that these communities have the power to define the problems, set an agenda, win it, implement and maintain it. Our grantees are committed and accountable to multi-racial and multi-class bases and center on the leadership and experience of directly impacted communities, including, but not limited to, Black women, immigrants, women of color, and LGBTQ people.

TPAF operates with a co-creation approach centering on collaborative innovation where ideas are shared and improved together. We create a space for funders and state organizational leaders to build shared strategies and set the course of our work.

Our funding is grounded in our values of trust, in our grantees and in the work of rooted state leaders, and we demonstrate that trust through flexible general operating support. 

TPAF provides opportunities for individuals and institutions to invest resources in community leaders who are working hard to transform conditions in their states. 

The Partnership Action Fund Long-Term Goals

Transforming Philanthropy

TPAF seeks to end the cycle of boom or bust funding that presents many challenges to state-level organizations by focusing on building power year-round in communities instead of simply winning elections. We provide flexible general operating support to our frontline partners early in the year, allowing them to develop strategies they know will result in wins for their states. Our commitment is to organize others in philanthropy to adopt similar practices.

Resilience and Independence

TPAF recognizes that Philanthropy alone is insufficient to meet the needs of the current crisis in democracy. Our movement requires new opportunities to generate income outside of traditional methods. Towards this goal, we provide resources for organizations, helping them to take the time and space needed to think creatively and test new methods of Independent Resource Generation.

Learning and Adaptation

TPAF incorporates a learning culture in our work across various structures to better understand the operating conditions that support Independent Political Organizations in their liberatory work towards co-governance. To achieve liberation, we must study the interconnections among democracy, the economy, and culture.

The Partnership Action Fund’s Long-Term Metrics of Success

  • Transform Grantmaking: TPAF seeks to end the cycle of boom or bust funding that presents many challenges to state-level organizations by investing in year-round power-building efforts instead of simply electoral efforts. We provide flexible general operating support to our frontline grantees early in the year allowing them the space needed to develop strategies they know will result in wins for their states. Our commitment is to organize others in philanthropy to adopt similar practices.

  • Cultivate Resilience and Independence: TPAF recognizes that philanthropy alone is insufficient to meet the needs of the current crisis in our democracy. Our movement requires new opportunities to generate income outside of traditional methods. Towards this goal, we provide resources for organizations, helping them to take the time and space needed to think creatively and test new methods of independent resource generation.

  • Facilitate Learning and Adaptation: TPAF incorporates a learning culture in our work across various structures to better understand the operating conditions that support independent political organizations in their liberatory work towards co-governance. To achieve liberation, we must study the interconnections among democracy, the economy, and culture. TPAF provides space for learning and shares best practices for adaptation.