irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $567KCulture: People's Forum, Inc. is committed to building, uplifting and promoting a people's culture that celebrates and advances the struggles of the communities in which they serve. They believe that culture is at the heart of the conception of ideas and consciousness, and therefore, culture and the arts are at the center of movement building. They aim to work with culture creators to curate and support events that deepen the consciousness, and that sustain, nourish and move the hearts of their people as they struggle towards social justice. Cultural progamming includes events such as open mics, performance classes, art workshops, film screenings, and more.
- #2 $209KKitchen/Cafe: People's Forum, Inc. has a kitchen and cafe as part of their space that serves to support their educational and cultural progamming by creating a space where food and drink can be shared by the communities that they serve. The kitchen and cafe provides affordable and healthy options to their community. The food and drink reflect the cultural diversity of people around the world.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Cultural Programming
Hosts open mics, performance classes, art workshops, film screenings, and community events that celebrate and advance the struggles of marginalized communities
Library & Bookstore
Maintains the Haydée Santamaría Lending Library and W.E.B. Du Bois Reference Collection, along with 1804 Books, offering literature and political materials rooted in revolutionary and internationalist struggles
Media Laboratory
Supports media creation and dissemination for mass movements, contributing to the "battle of ideas" through People-Centered Media initiatives
People’s Café
Operates a kitchen and café that provides affordable, healthy, and culturally diverse food and drink options, supporting community gathering around educational and cultural events
Political Education
Offers accessible educational programming on history, political economy, racial/gender/LGBTQIA/immigrant justice, and organizing strategies, aimed at building consciousness among activists and organizers
activities · 9 groups
What they do
-
Conflict and Geopolitical Research Analysis 1 activity
- Advocates for internationalist solidarity and electoral integrityPublishes analysis and commentary in defense of Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, warning against foreign-led regime change efforts and advocating for democratic self-determination, while also facilitating public understanding of international justice issues.
-
-
Community Service and Charitable Outreach 1 activity
- Facilitates fundraising for humanitarian reliefOrganizes and facilitates fundraising initiatives for emergency humanitarian relief, such as during the August 1st, 2026 event focused on Venezuela.
-
-
Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Hosts art workshops and open studio sessionsOffers hands-on art workshops—including monoprinting with Gelli plates and embroidery—and hosts open studio sessions where organizers, artists, and cultural workers can access tools and materials to develop print-making and storytelling projects.
-
-
Human Rights & Peace Education Curriculum 1 activity
- Hosts educational and political programmingConducts teach-ins, panel discussions, and educational programming on topics including political economy, social theory, racial/gender/LGBTQIA/immigrant justice, organizing strategies, liberation theology, and internationalist solidarity movements, such as dual teach-ins on the Stolen Land and Mini-Circuits campaigns.
-
-
Specialized Research Library Access 1 activity
- Manages lending library and reference collectionsProvides access to a developing library collection for on-site use, including the Haydée Santamaría Lending Library and the W.E.B. Du Bois Reference Collection, which focus on revolutionary history and support educational programming.
-
-
Used Book and Media Sales for Fundraising 1 activity
- Operates bookstore and café supporting community programmingRuns 1804 Books, a bookstore selling books, literature, artwork, and political merchandise, and operates a kitchen and café that provides affordable, healthy, and culturally diverse food and drink options to support educational and cultural events and community sharing.
-
-
Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Operates movement incubator for marginalized communitiesProvides organizational and strategic support to working-class and marginalized communities to build unity across divisions, functioning as a movement incubator for base-building organizations and collectives focused on communities historically criminalized, exploited, and dispossessed in New York City and beyond.
-
-
Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizes community events with cultural and political componentsHosts integrated events that combine political programming with community engagement, such as a panel discussion with Latino socialist candidates followed by a social event featuring community vendors, food, and drinks, to foster political outreach and community solidarity.
-
-
Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Provides physical and programmatic space for grassroots useOffers facilities including co-working spaces, conference rooms, a theater, media laboratory, lending library, café, and print-making studio with regular public hours (Tuesday–Saturday), available to grassroots organizations, artists, and cultural workers for organizing, creation, and community events.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.08M
Contributions & grants$5.79M82%
Program service revenue$406K6%
Investment income$381K5%
Other revenue$504K
expenses
Total expenses$4.91M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$788K
Grants paid out$130K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$17.56M
Cash$479K
Investments$6.36M
Liabilities$4.68M
Net assets$12.88M
Liquid reserves16.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +427.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layan Fuleihan | Education Director | 40 | $79K |
| David Chung | Organizing Director | 40 | $76K |
| Ryan Hamby | General Manager | 40 | $72K |
board members · 5
- Ben Wilkins — Board Member
- Claudia De la Cruz — Board Member
- Jodene Evans — Secretary, Interim Treasurer
- Kenia Alcocer — Board Member
- William Baptist Jr — Board Chair
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- 1804 Books Partner — Bookstore operated by People's Forum Inc to support educational programming through sale of books, literature, and political materials.
- Black Girls Sew Partner — Collaborates with or references programming from Black Girls Sew through instructor affiliation and volunteer work.
- Code Pink Partner — Jointly named in a Senate Judiciary Committee inquiry regarding potential FARA registration.
- Code Pink Partner — Jointly targeted with The People's Forum in political allegations regarding foreign influence.
- DURUB Partner — Collaborates with PAL-Awda on the Mini-Circuits campaign to address weapons manufacturing.
- Haydée Santamaría Partner — Lending library named in honor of Haydée Santamaría, reflecting her legacy in revolutionary struggle.
- Jamaa Al-Yad Partner — Connects with Beirut-based artists’ collective Jamaa Al-Yad through affiliated artist Daniel Drennan ElAwar for print-making programming.
- Kaili Woop Partner — Artist and instructor who leads monoprinting workshops at The People's Forum.
- LatinoS Socialistas Partner — Co-organized a panel discussion on Latino socialist organizing in New York City.
- NYC-DSA Partner — Co-hosted a panel discussion on Latino socialist politics in NYC.
- New York, NY Government — Located in New York City at 320 West 37th Street.
- One of Many Partner — Collaborates with artist duo Peter and Hamzah of One of Many to co-facilitate print-making open studio sessions.
- PAL-Awda Partner — Co-hosts teach-ins on the Stolen Land and Mini-Circuits campaigns.
- W.E.B. Du Bois Partner — Reference collection named in honor of W.E.B. Du Bois, emphasizing primary documents on revolutionary history.
- base-building organizations and collectives Network — Member organizations and collectives engaged in struggle with historically marginalized communities
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Culture-Centered Movement Buildingmethodology: culture-centered_movement_buildingBy integrating arts, education, and media production, we cultivate collective consciousness and empower grassroots movements, because cultural expression shapes political imagination and sustains long-term organizing.
- Political Education Through Critical Pedagogy and Primary Sourcesmethodology: popular_educationBy using popular education, teach-ins, and revolutionary texts, we enable communities to analyze systemic power and global oppression, because critical understanding of history and politics fosters informed, sustained activism.
- Unity Across Divisions Through Inclusive and Bilingual Programmingmethodology: unity_buildingBy designing multilingual, intergroup educational and cultural programs, we build solidarity among marginalized communities divided by race, language, and nationality, because shared learning and expression disrupts hierarchies and strengthens collective struggle.