Medea Benjamin's Family Foundation Provided Millions to Left-Wing Activist Groups

The family foundation of CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin has been a significant financial backer of left-wing activist organizations for over two decades, disbursing nearly $3.2 million to CodePink and millions more to other protest groups, legal advocacy organizations, and progressive nonprofits. The foundation, now known as Arc of Justice, was formerly called The Benjamin Fund.

A review of its IRS filings reveals that Arc of Justice, with a total of $54.6 million in assets, has made approximately 1,500 grants totaling about $24.6 million. These grants have supported organizations involved in anti-war activism, progressive policy, legal advocacy, and campaigns concerning China, Cuba, and the Israel-Hamas war.

Among the largest recipients were CodePink, Global Exchange, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Grassroots International, and Social Good Fund. CodePink received more than twice the amount it obtained from a funding network linked to Shanghai-based tycoon Neville Roy Singham, which previously directed at least $278 million into organizations promoting pro-China messaging.

Arc of Justice has faced scrutiny after California revoked its charitable registration due to years of financial compliance failures. However, the foundation has been working to regain its standing with California regulators.

Medea Benjamin, who co-founded CodePink with Jodie Evans, Singham's wife, has been a prominent figure in anti-war activism. She was recently escorted from a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing after disrupting proceedings. Benjamin has since stepped down from Arc of Justice's board, and new leadership is reportedly charting a different course for the foundation's charitable giving.

Grant Distribution

Arc of Justice began funding CodePink in 2009, providing grants across 15 tax years through 2024, totaling $3,195,280. CodePink was the foundation's largest activist beneficiary.

Since 2009, the foundation and its predecessor also directed approximately $2.05 million to Global Exchange, an anti-war and social justice group co-founded by Benjamin. Other significant grants included about $2.24 million to Grassroots International, $1.61 million to Social Good Fund, $1.29 million to the Center for Constitutional Rights, and $114,000 to Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ).

AFGJ has previously faced scrutiny for its fiscal sponsorship of Samidoun, a pro-Palestinian group later sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury. Benjamin stated that Arc's final grant to AFGJ was $10,000 in 2022 and that the foundation was unaware of any specific groups fiscally sponsored by AFGJ at the time of its grants.

Additional grants since 2009 include approximately $492,000 to World Beyond War, $255,000 to the Institute for Policy Studies, $124,000 to Jewish Voice for Peace, $110,000 to Grassroots Global Justice, $90,000 to the Center for Popular Democracy, and $65,500 to Democracy Now!, where Benjamin has frequently appeared as a guest.

Foundation Origins and Growth

Arc of Justice, originally The Benjamin Fund, Inc., saw its initial financial backing from Medea Benjamin's father, real estate developer Alvin Benjamin. In 2003, he contributed a partnership interest valued at $683,715. Later, substantial contributions came from the estates of Medea Benjamin's mother, Rose Benjamin, and Alvin Benjamin, totaling over $25 million between 2010 and 2019. Medea Benjamin herself contributed $1 million in 2022.

The foundation's assets have grown from $39.63 million at the end of 2020 to $54.64 million in 2024, despite distributing millions in grants annually. Its income is largely derived from its investment portfolio, which generates dividends, interest, and capital gains.

Recent Changes and Future Direction

Following California's revocation of its registration, a new Florida nonprofit using the Arc of Justice name was incorporated at the Miami home of Benjamin's partner, Tighe Barry. This raised questions about a potential relocation of assets. However, attorneys for the foundation stated the Florida corporation was a temporary placeholder and that no assets were transferred.

The foundation is currently seeking to reinstate its California registration by filing overdue reports and paying fees. The petition for reinstatement cited an administrative misunderstanding regarding its registration status after an alleged belief that the foundation had relocated to Florida.

Benjamin has resigned from the board, and the foundation's new management intends to shift its grantmaking priorities. According to their attorney, future funding will focus on domestic childhood enrichment programs and organizations supporting the well-being of children, families, and individuals in need within the U.S.

Benjamin and CodePink have consistently denied taking direction from foreign governments. Singham and associated organizations have also denied acting under the direction of the Chinese government. Neither Singham, Benjamin, nor the organizations have been charged with wrongdoing.