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National Priorities Project

Also Known As: NPP

17 New South St
Ste 302
Northampton, MA 01060

www.nationalpriorities.org

Mission and Programs

Mission

The mission of the National Priorities Project (NPP) is to provide citizens, community groups and elected officials with the tools and resources to shape federal budget and policy priorities that promote social and economic justice. By providing federal spending policy information at the town, city, county, state and national levels, NPP makes federal spending policies widely accessible to the public.

Programs

NPP best achieves its goal of bringing the federal budget home through our collaborations with national organizations with local chapters and getting information to the general public through the media. Below are some of our tools and programs: 1. NPP's reports and publications provide clear, timely information. After the President releases the budget, we produce two-page state publications showing the impact of the President's budget on each state along with other general budget information. Our annual Tax Day Report in April breaks down where the money goes nationally and by state as people prepare to file their income taxes. And over the last few years, we have shown state by state, and city by city, the cost of the War in Iraq though fact sheets and charts. These publications are released to the media and national organizations and available to the public at www.nationalpriorities.org. 2. The NPP Database is unique in that it is an interactive database designed for grassroots groups. It has the potential to empower community groups and national organizations by providing graphic information on needs and federal expenditures for every state and county in the country. Groups can create tailored reports on how the federal budget impacts their communities on an array of social issues ranging from hunger and poverty to military spending. Go to nationalpriorities.org and click on NPP Database. 3. The NPP Bulletin provides updates on current spending and tax proposals. It is sent to over 5,000 grassroots groups and citizens. To subscribe to the NPP Bulletin, send an e-mail to "info at nationalpriorities.org" and type "subscribe" in the subject line. 4. NPP provides workshops on the federal budget and tax policies, focusing on the impacts on local communities.

Additional Comments from the Organization

We have become a vital source of information for both the media and national organizations. Our website is award-winning for its innovativeness concerning the cost of the Iraq War and every month over 200,000 unique visitors come to www.nationalpriorities.org.

Who We Are

The National Priorities Project helps people understand and participate in the federal decisions that affect their daily lives.

NTEE Code

Goals and Results


Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

  1. COST OF THE IRAQ WAR & NATIONAL SECURITY: In 2007, NPP expanded its reach as the source for local information on the financial costs of the war in Iraq. We now provide information at the state, county, town and congressional district levels. We were the source of information about military recruitment and who is being recruited to serve. Data has consistently shown that wealthier neighborhoods remain under-represented while low- and middle-income neighborhoods remain over-represented. NPP also continued to expand its expertise in issues of national security.
  2. POVERTY: NPP released a report on poverty and food stamps and found that, nationwide, half of low-income people do not receive Food Stamps. Our study features the distribution of Food Stamps by county, and the number of low income in each county that do not receive Food Stamps.
  3. OUTREACH: NPP brings the federal budget home by collaborating with national organizations and local groups before we conduct research and publish our materials. Our materials were used in organizing and political action including demonstrations and meetings with candidates and elected officials. We reached hundreds of thousands of activists. We reached the general public though our website (6,000 daily visitors) and the media. CNN, MSNBC, PBS, Business Week, and the New York Times featured our data in 2007.

Objectives for Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2008

  1. Expand NPP's tools on national security, and military spending and its impact on social needs. We will also collaborate with national organizations to shift current military spending to "smart security" options. (The main elements of smart security include reducing Cold War weapons, increasing money to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and providing adequate security for our ports, water supplies, and nuclear power plants).
  2. NPP began a Budget Priorities and Poverty Series which will provide data and statistics for every county in the U.S. The Series will focus on two areas: anti-poverty social programs and education. Our first report was issued in August 2007, and examined food stamps. See http://nationalpriorities.org/foodstamps2007.
  3. Launch a new initiative to examine our nation's addiction to oil, the cost of securing oil resources and call for a shift in energy policy away from oil to one that promotes conservation and renewable alternatives.

Self Assessment

We track the effectiveness of our efforts by meeting with national groups and solciting feedback from recepients of our e-mail bulletin.

Chief Executive Profile

Greg Speeter founded the National Priorities Project in 1982 in a response to his first hand experience working in local communities. As a community organizer, he saw how the tremendous increase in Pentagon spending in the early 1980's was accompanied by huge cuts to social programs that were successfully fighting poverty and providing affordable housing and good schools. Greg decided that the best way to have the public and our elected officials grasp the true effect of the change in federal spending priorities was to show the impact on local communities. This lead to the creation of the National Priorities Project (NPP) and the release of a 1983 report, "In Defense of the First District", documenting how communities in western Massachusetts were severely affected by the new federal policies. The local Republican Congressman, after initial resistance, was persuaded by NPP's findings and became a national spokesperson for those who were opposed to efforts to balance the federal budget by cutting social programs.

Financial Data

Revenues and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Revenue
Contributions $698,092
Government Grants $0
Program Services $1,400
Investments $6,346
Special Events $0
Sales $0
Other $0
Total Revenue $705,838
Expenses
Program Services $394,247
Administration $64,010
Other $94,927
Total Expenditures $553,184
Net Gain/Loss $152,654

Balance Sheet: Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

Note: The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

  January 1, 2007 December 31, 2007 Change
Assets      
Cash & Equivalent $334,605 $411,420 $76,815
Accounts Receivable $0 $0 $0
Pledges & Grants Receivable $319,391 $469,669 $150,278
Receivables/Other $0 $0 $0
Inventories for Sale or Use $0 $0 $0
Investments/Securities $0 $0 $0
Investments/Other $0 $0 $0
Fixed Assets $6,241 $3,431 ($2,810)
Other $62,249 $41,362 ($20,887)
Total Assets $722,486 $925,882 $203,396
Liabilities      
Accounts Payable $28,097 $20,095 ($8,002)
Grants Payable $0 $0 $0
Deferred Revenue $179,378 $238,122 $58,744
Loans and Notes $0 $0 $0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities $0 $0 $0
Other $0 $0 $0
Total Liabilities $207,475 $258,217 $50,742
Fund Balance $515,011 $667,665 $152,654

Financial Comments from the Organization

We believe in transparency on the part of our government and hold ourselves to the same standard. Our annual report contains our audited Statement of Activities and Statement of Finacnial Position. We are pleased to offer a copy of the NPP annual report and our complete audited financial statements upon request.

Basic Information