California Revoked Arc of Justice Foundation Registration
Regulators pulled the foundation's charitable status following a history of missed filings.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Philanthropy
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California regulators revoked the charitable registration of the Arc of Justice foundation due to repeated failure to submit required filings. The foundation previously reported $54.6 million in assets and issued nearly 1,500 grants over two decades.
Why it matters
The revocation highlights regulatory oversight of private foundations and the scrutiny surrounding the distribution of funds to high-profile activist organizations. The foundation's past grants included $3.2 million to CodePink and $124,000 to Jewish Voice for Peace.
The Arc of Justice foundation reported $54.6 million in assets while distributing $24.6 million across 1,500 grants. CodePink received $3,195,280 between 2009 and 2024, while Jewish Voice for Peace received $124,000.
The players
Arc of Justice
This foundation, formerly known as The Benjamin Fund, managed an endowment built through estate contributions and investment gains.
CodePink
Founded in 2002, this organization is a prominent activist group that received over $3 million in funding from the foundation.
Medea Benjamin
A well-known activist who served on the board of the foundation before stepping down from her leadership position.
Maya Danaher
She currently holds a leadership role at the Arc of Justice foundation.
Jewish Voice for Peace
This organization received $124,000 in grant funding from the foundation over the two-decade period.
The details
Formerly known as The Benjamin Fund, the foundation distributed funds primarily through annual grants as reported in IRS Form 990-PF filings. While California regulators have revoked its local registration, no criminal charges have been filed against the foundation or Medea Benjamin, who has since stepped down from the board.
Timeline
2002: CodePink was founded.
2009: The foundation began donating to CodePink.
September 2026: Medea Benjamin was escorted from a House hearing.
Market Landscape
The foundation's regulatory troubles mirror the broader trend of increased state-level oversight regarding the financial transparency of private grant-making institutions. This shift forces foundations to modernize their compliance departments to avoid losing their operational status.
For supporters and partners of the organizations that received grants, this news signals a major change in the financial stability of their funding source. Donors and the public may see shifts in how these activist groups source their operational capital in the future.
The takeaway
This development underscores the necessity for nonprofits to maintain rigorous administrative compliance to protect their long-term viability. Organizations relying on grant funding should monitor the administrative health of their benefactors to ensure stable operations.
What happens next
The foundation has indicated that future grant activity is expected to shift toward domestic childhood programs.
Further reading
Learn more about oversight standards in the California Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vinnews.
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